but it looks just like a PSS seal

[steven f.]

My H33 was recently hauled for a cutlass bearing change and after several day trips and a recent three day outing we noticed the drive shaft was leaking when it NEVER had a single drop leak from it before. It looks just like a PSS dripless system but I'm sure its at least a few years old (guessing 5+, possible up to 10 years old). There are no stainless steel hose clamps holding the bellows on. Instead there are two plastic clamps that can't be adjusted. I keep hearing people talk of "burping" the bellows. This is probably a stupid question but how?? I'm planning an extended cruise in five weeks so I really need to get this thing fixed soon. The more RPM's the more H20 leaks in. When the engine is off (or no RPM's) there is no water leaking. I really hate to think I need to pull the shaft, on the H33, removing the shaft means possibly removing the rudder or strut. Any advise on this most recent problem appreciated.

 

[Al]

BBURRRPP

steven: to burp the seal ,compress the bellows to allow water to enter thus expelling the air

 

[Stanley J. Rogacevicz]

Burp BEFORE use

The PSS should have been burped Before you put the trans in gear after a haulout. The PSS Needs water to lube the graphite to SS bearing that keeps the water out of your boat. The bellows need to be Filled with water and burping forces the air out to be replaced by lubricating water. Since you say it didn't leak before, and you have run it a few times without burping it it's quite possible the bearing face was scored/ruined by being run while dry, or not wet enough.Good luck.Stan"Christy Leigh"c320 #656

 

[Kevin l. Woody]

Slipped Rotor?

Dear Steven,PSS has always used stainless as our hose clamps. Of coarse this does not mean that someone has not changed them out to your current non-adjustable plastic ones. At one point in time the company “Las-Drop”, installed plastic clamps on their seals. If the sealing surface is green it is a Las-Drop. Another tell tail is the stainless rotor is held in place by three screws. If it is a Las-Drop the plastic face can melt causing the problem you described. Regardless of who’s make it is, it is very important to burp the seal by separating the two sealing surfaces. As one other person commented, simply press the bellows aft, the seal separates, air escapes and water rushes in. The thing we want to make sure is that it stops once we burped it. I would be worried to much if it was a PSS running dry. You would hear a very high pitched scream coming from the seal if it was without water.It does not sound like you need to remove the shaft. What it sounds like is that the rotor has moved on the shaft forward towards the coupling. Severe shock to the shaft could have caused it to move forward. If it has moved forward, when you put the transmission into gear the mounts allow the engine to be driven forward, the more Rpm’s the more thrust the further forward the engine and shaft moves. Thus creating a bigger gap for water to enter. I would first start by adding compression to the seal. Loosen the set screws or bolts, which retains the stainless rotor to the shaft. Slide the rotor aft compressing the bellow an additional ¼”. Run it and see if the leak is gone. If so make sure to retighten the sets crews or bolts. If leak is not gone, compress again another ¼”. If by chance the rotor has slipped forward and away from the other half of the seal, this could happen again. I would suggest that you place a clamp forward of the rotor to reduce the chance of anyone’s rotor from migrating forward due to any circumstance. In my own boat people see that I have my spare collar zinc inside my boat. It serves as a place to keep my spare zinc but most importantly it keeps the shaft in my boat if it tries to leave and it keeps my rotor in place and not migrating up the shaft. Hope this helps. Sincerely, Kevin L. Woody

 

[steven f.]

your probably right

Kevin, I think your correct about it being a Las-Drop. The collar ring is not the large stainless ring but rather a smaller almost greenish ring. I burped the bellows and no air came out that I could detect, just water. I also noticed that if I pushed the bellows to one side or another it would leak slightly. I studied the set up in detail this AM and here is what I found. The greenish ring is set up against the bellows and in front of that is what appeares to be a piece of high pressure hose around the shaft with the three non-adjustable plastic clamps holding that piece of hose VERY tightly against the shaft. If front of that is a stainless hose clamp, like you advised. I really like the collar zinc idea. I ran the engine (tied to the dock) at low RPM's today and not a single drop came out after I did some adjusting, hopefully she'll be fine again. If not than I'll weight my options, either way we're heading to the Tortugas in May. It is, afterall, a sailboat. Really appreciate your advise and I'll keep you informed if there are any further leaks.