Packless Shaft Seal

[ChrisHunter]

I have a recently purchased 1992 Hunter 30 that has a Packless shaft seal. I can not tell if it was added by Hunter or an after market add-on. Over the last few months, the amount of water coming through the seal has increased to gallons, over the course of an hour under power.

Can someone let me know if this was an add-on or did Hunter add this seal. As the prior two owners are not available to ask, I wanted to see what other sailboat owners know about the seal and replacement.

Thank You,

 

[Phil Herring]

That's definitely aftermarket.

 

[seadaddler]

PSS

Is it a PSS or other.
Nick

 

[seadaddler]

Dealer

The dealer added my PSS but could be another type of packless and need to know which it is to help you.
Nick

 

[Don12364]

If your problem only occurs when under power I suspect it is due to insufficient compression of the rubber bellows between the halves of the coupling.

I fitted one to my H376 many years ago and it has been very successful. BUT when under power the engine forwards thrust is trying to move the two halves (stationary and rotating) apart and the flexibility in the engine AV mountings is allowing this.
The trick is to have the rubber bellows that spring them together adjusted to a suitable compression so I suggest you move the part on the prop shaft rearwards between 1/4" and 1/2" and towards the stationary part on the end of the shaft tube.

The makers of the PSS actually have a small gauge that one uses to set it up and possibly someone has one handy - mine is on board a car and a dinghy trip away - to let us know the recommended distance between parts for their shaft diameter.

However your bellows might now be somewhat weakened and need a closer setting anyway.
Good luck.

 

[ChrisHunter]

It is a PSS product. One of the previous owners kept all the receipts of the work he had done. Nothing is mentioned, so it must be the original owner.

How long do the bellows usually last? Besides tightening the bellows, is it time to replace the unit?

Thank You,

 

[seadaddler]

PSS

Go to PSS web site for all the info on maintenance and you will see video
all info adjusting and never saw any gauge on their web sit.
I just changed the rubber bellows,some times what happens the stainless collar
and the composit part get pitting and will cause water to leak when motoring
and than you need to put a piece of fine sand paper to clean so they seat.
Mine was leaking for this reason and went on the hard for bottom paint and decided to change bellows while out of the water is only way to change bellows
and the shaft and coupling needs to be removed.
Try putting a piece of sand paper in between 2 parts to get smooth surface and push in bellows 1/4 at a time for proper pressure.
Go to mainsail for more info or ask more here.
nick