black soot mark

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Apr 22, 2009
342
Pearson P-31 Quantico
Look like "soot" but I suspect it is oil and rust. To the right of the picture is a motor? To the left a transmission or genset?

Get new rear seal.
 
Dec 19, 2006
5,832
Hunter 36 Punta Gorda
Check

Is the boat in water or on hard,I have same system but never seen that before and if you move the collar water should spray out.
If boat not in water than unscrew set screws and see if stainless colar moves free and check the rubber O rings are OK.
Go on PSS web site for helpful info and replacement kit and see Mainsail web site for helpful info.
Maybe O rings are wearing or froze but not sure what is happeening.
Nick
 
Dec 19, 2006
5,832
Hunter 36 Punta Gorda
Hose

Where is the hose hooked to and maybe something got sucked into the hose,free the hose high above water level to release air and water.
Nick
 
May 8, 2011
189
ODay 25 Cambridge
I had a shaft seal on my Irwin 41 that did not have the nipple/hose. The seal would get air in it in rough seas. When it got air in it heat would be produced and the flange would burn up. I would hear it squeaking and burp it. I would see this sort of residue where the flange was burned up.
 
May 8, 2011
189
ODay 25 Cambridge
It is a good idea to put a hose clamp on the shaft above the donut in case the set screw give way.
 

WayneH

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Jan 22, 2008
1,121
Tartan 37 287 Pensacola, FL
My first thought was OMG!!!!! Then I settled down a bit. I think your seal is dying. That looks like the carbon face is wearing and the shaft is slinging the carbon off. Is that a little bit of salt residue on the right face about halfway down?

If this installation was in a chemical plant, this pump would be scheduled for maintenance. What I am seeing looks to me like you are about to start seeing water coming through. That's a PPS Dripless seal?

Let's see if I remember this stuff correctly. I've been retired nearly a year and I've tried my dammest to forget this crud. The rotating face on the left rides lightly against the stationary face on the right. The rotating face is highly polished to reduce the wear on the station face carbon. The water behind the stationary face carries away the heat from the friction to give longer service life to the carbon face. When all these things work correctly, you get a long lasting seal that doesn't leak or even drip. (We measured seal leakage in parts per million at a distance of 1/8" and it had to be less than 50 to remain in service.)

What I "think" I'm seeing in your picture is something has gotten between the faces and is eating on the carbon face. You "may" be able to save the seal if you can get a piece of paper between the faces and clear out the debris. But personally, I doubt you'll be able to correct the problem. From my experience in petrochemicals, you're looking at a seal replacement.

YMMV. Get a second opinion from someone who knows something about the seal you have.
 
Sep 25, 2008
1,096
CS 30 Toronto
You better contact PSS quickly. You may have debris, scratched SS surface or the bleeder hose is plug. The last is most likely because the lack of dripping water in your photo.

http://www.pyiinc.com/

When the bleeder hose is plug (spider or something), there will be an air pocket in the graphite side. The friction heats up due to lack of water. The older PSS has to be burped when launch to release the air pocket. The newer ones like yours has a hose to go above the water line so there is no need to burp. But can get clog by spider or something.

svchickadee is right. put a hose clamp or a PYI collar (optional item) behind the SS collar just in case it slip.

Otherwise, the unit is solid and quite reliable. I had it on for 6 years without touching it.
 
May 21, 2006
321
catalina 25, 30 montauk / manhattan
thanks for all the replies.

called pyi. easy and willing to offer any assistance; just need to figure out what i'm asking! sounds like first thing to check is if there is water going in since that would be most likely problem? (waiting for more mechanical friend to come help however step by step advise would certainly be welcomed)
 

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
MY PYI shaft seal is of the older variety and every spring I burp it, which simple involves pressing the bellows away from the SS collar until a little water runs out after that I ignor it for the season We are into our 13th season with never a drop. I fear that what has een said is the answer, that the carbon seal is wearing. If you don't feel any wet around the interface push the bellows away from the SS collar and let some water run through and flush out and junk.
 
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