Stuffing box..... 423
- Thread starter NYSail
- Start date
NYSail,
We put one on about 10 years ago and don't regret it. Have had no issues of any kind.
Tried to put on myself, but had issues removing the propshaft. The yard had to remove it since it is pressed fit (from what I understand). Not sure if you have the same design on the 423.
Chris
We put one on about 10 years ago and don't regret it. Have had no issues of any kind.
Tried to put on myself, but had issues removing the propshaft. The yard had to remove it since it is pressed fit (from what I understand). Not sure if you have the same design on the 423.
Chris
We've had one since 2014 so no long term experience, but no problems in that time. Just squeeze it a little to purge any air when the boat is first launched, and use a soda straw to grease it with Volvo grease annually.
The Beneteau dripless shaft seal is different than the PYI variant. The rubber boot IS the seal. And you likely have a small hose that supplies raw water to the shaft attached just behind the boot. It exits at the cutlass bearing. To maintain the dripless you load an epoxy syringe with marine grease, pinch the rubber boot in the bilge and shoot some grease into the lip area. I like to rotate the shaft and inject grease at 4 quadrants of the circumference.
Planning to add marine grease to our Beneteau 323's dripless shaft seal tomorrow because it drips a lot when underway. Is the amount of grease added important? I plan to add 2-3 mL to each of 4 quadrants, working quickly to avoid flooding the shaft bilge area too much, but am unsure about the amount. Also, is this something I should simply do whenever it starts to drip again? The area does not drain properly so I'm currently needing to sponge it out dry after every time we go out... any advice welcome.
I added the Volvo dripless seal this spring before I launched.
Very simple design, rubber lip seal. No moving parts, my bilge is dry as a bone.
As was mentioned, you grease it every season, between the 2 lip seals. You “purge“ air out of the seal by giving it a little squeeze once in a while…certainly after launch, but also if you reverse hard and it can force air into the shaft log. On my boat, hard reverse will blow air bubbles up into shaft log, so give the seal a little squeeze when I open the water intake thru hull.
My runs cool…much cooler than old stuffing box.
It was also a lot shorter than my old stuffing box, and gave me space in the bilge area behind the engine.
Greg
Very simple design, rubber lip seal. No moving parts, my bilge is dry as a bone.
As was mentioned, you grease it every season, between the 2 lip seals. You “purge“ air out of the seal by giving it a little squeeze once in a while…certainly after launch, but also if you reverse hard and it can force air into the shaft log. On my boat, hard reverse will blow air bubbles up into shaft log, so give the seal a little squeeze when I open the water intake thru hull.
My runs cool…much cooler than old stuffing box.
It was also a lot shorter than my old stuffing box, and gave me space in the bilge area behind the engine.
Greg
Adding grease may temporarily fix the drip but I suspect it wouldn’t be a permanent solution. The grease is meant to lubricate the inner seal , but my understanding is that the seals themselves are supposed to actually keep the water out.
I usually add one or two pea sized amounts using a straw. I just put it all in at once and spin the shaft to distribute it. Not much water comes in when doing it this way. Only a minor inconvenience - not anything like the scary but manageable amount that comes in when replacing the speed transducer for example. I’ve read that if you add way too much it can interfere with the water flow and cause more damage.
Do you know how old the seal is? It might just be due for replacement.
I think you are correct that it might be due for replacement. Likely the original (2007). Will first try adding some pea-sized amounts and rotating. Thank you!
Dont forget to burp it as well…….
I replaced mine prior to this season. It was the original (2005) within boat I bought when I started this thread. It did not leak but was there so figured I would. Very simple and effective design and easy to change once you get your coupling off…….
I also had to replace the water injection nipple as it crumbed when I touched it while dealing with dripless gland.
good luck!
Greg
I replaced mine prior to this season. It was the original (2005) within boat I bought when I started this thread. It did not leak but was there so figured I would. Very simple and effective design and easy to change once you get your coupling off…….
I also had to replace the water injection nipple as it crumbed when I touched it while dealing with dripless gland.
good luck!
Greg
Thanks everyone. Although I plan to replace the seal over the winter, adding a small amount of marine grease has stopped the dripping entirely, at least temporarily. Again, thanks for all the comments. Big help.
Use only volvo FETT grease others may harden the rubber over time making it leak. Flaten a plastic straw at one end to insert under rubber fill straw with grease ,then squeeze it out of straw turning shaft. Looks like you live in Ontario ,buy seal and grease from General Propeller in Florida ,they ship worldwide and are the cheapest