B361 and Volvo Shaft Seal grease and burp?

[luken7]

Evening all. I've been searching across the web regarding the Volvo shaft seal and the need to grease and burp it annually. I'm finding varying responses from not needing it to must do it. Today, we have a slow leak which fills the area under the shaft, but takes a while to do it. We'll take the boat out for the weekend, and it seems to fill up quite a bit to the point that it runs over to the area under the engine, but takes several days to do so. I'll leave to go back home and when we return the following weekend, it's full. Bu it doesn't fill up right away, takes several days after we're gone. Any comments would be appreciated.

Also, from the picture attached, wanted to be sure we're talking about the same seal.

 

[DougM]

That is the same seal. I assume thatyou do not have the valve in the photo shut off while under way. That is the source of the water lubrication. Check to see that the nipple at the shaft seal is not cracked. They are notorious for eventually failing.

It is important to grease the seal periodically. I usually do mine upon re launch after winter haulout. Its pretty simple to burp the seal, that just assures that water is getting to the area around the shaft. If its dry, the heat from the rotating shaft can eventually deteriorate the point at which seal contacts the shaft.

 

[Lee Hadjiosif]

If it leaks that much, it must be replaced. Just make sure is from the shaft seal and not the lubricating hose or anywhere else. If you replace it, you may want to consider the PSS dripless seal which is more expensive but needs no lubrication. Good luck.

 

[luken7]

Yes, I always close the thruhulls when we're gone. Heading down later this week to see and talk to my boatyard. Just wanted some feedback first.

 

[Philip_Oceanis 361]

I believe the volvo seal should not leak when the shaft does not rotate. If yours does make sure whether is indeed that or the nipple. A corroded nipple will leak even with the throuhull closed due to the water coming from the shaft.
Try first greasing the seal and see if now there is less water under the shaft. It should be less. If not most probably you have a prolem with the nipple. But be very careful with that. If you brake it while the boat is in the water a closed throuhull means nothing (why do you close it anyway?). I do not know if you can replace it without lifting the boat out. It depends how much water will be coming through the shaft tube in the boat.

 

[luken7]

I believe the volvo seal should not leak when the shaft does not rotate. If yours does make sure whether is indeed that or the nipple. A corroded nipple will leak even with the throuhull closed due to the water coming from the shaft.
Try first greasing the seal and see if now there is less water under the shaft. It should be less. If not most probably you have a prolem with the nipple. But be very careful with that. If you brake it while the boat is in the water a closed throuhull means nothing (why do you close it anyway?). I do not know if you can replace it without lifting the boat out. It depends how much water will be coming through the shaft tube in the boat.

Thanks, it not the nipple, I had that changed last year from that brass to bronze and beefed up the glass around it. When they tool out the old nipple, it sure was ugly

 

[GWG]

how do you get the grease in there?

I've tried, but there is no simple way, and I'm not comfortable forcing the seal open. is there a special tool?

 

[Captn TJ]

Volvo makes a grease insertion tool. I'll be at my boat tomorrow and take a picture of it

 

[marian]

Can you release the 2 clamps, slide it forward and then fill up with grease?

 

[dugsmith98]

Use a drink straw and squirt the grease into the straw. Then insert the flattened end under the seal at the shaft and slide it under while burping the seal. Then squeeze the straw to get the grease under the lip of the seal. Very simple and quick.

 

[Captn TJ]

The straw is a great idea if you don't have the red applicator.

The grease is intended for the forward (bow) end of the seal. It lubricates the seal against the shaft. Taking the clamps off and inserting grease from that side (aft end) will not get it forward where it's needed.

 

[Randylb]

Sounds like it may be time to replace the seal. Compared to most boat tasks it is relatively inexpensive. Before doing so you can try adding some waterproof grease into the seal. It can be done using the straw method. Use a large drinking straw. Insert the straw into a tube of grease and remove the straw some grease of course will now be in the straw. Flatten that end enough to insert into the shaft seal and squeeze the grease out of the straw into the shaft seal. Turn the shaft a few times and that may do the trick for now. The shaft seal comes with a red plastic tool that is used to hold the veins of the seal in place when installing it on the shaft. Once on the shaft this plastic piece is removed. Some use this piece of plastic which is formed to fit around the shaft to try and push grease into the seal as well but the straw probably works better.

Randy

 

[luken7]

I had it greased this week and ran in gear for a while. Will know next weekend when I head back down. But it did take quite a bit of grease.

 

[DougM]

The only part of the Volvo seal that needs to be greased is the lip that contacts the shaft. You are not supposed to,fill the whole thing with grease! The instructions indicate that to burp the seal all one has to do is squeeze it near the neck until some water drips out. If you pack the thing full of grease you defeat the purpose of the water flowing around the shaft. When new, the seal comes with a packet that contains less than a teaspoonful of grease.