Shaft Seal Replacement

[Coastalcruising]

My 1997 Sun Odyssey36.2is currently on the hard and getting ready for relaunch. The shaft seal is original and I'm considering replacing it. Has anyone replaced theirs? I've looked at the PSS Shaft Seal from PYI. Interested in any info or opinions. Thanks!

[Mistroma]

I don't know what type of seal was fitted as standard at that time. I have the "Volvo" seal and it is a quick and simple job to replace when ashore. Main issues on mine are forcing the end fitting off the shaft and not damaging the seals when fitting.

The first is easy to manage with a simple DIY tool (longer bolts and a large nut).
The second point just means cleaning any burrs on the shaft and being careful when fitting it over the end.

[Tafika II]

Like Mistroma, I have the Volvo seal and agree with the change out is easy...except for the flange. the boat is 13 years old and has to replace it once. As long as you grease with Volvo grease it once or twice a year, depending on your engine hours, you should have no problems. You will need to burp the seal once you get back in the water before running the shaft. I had a PSS Shaft Seal from PYI on the Catalina 320. It required quarterly adjustments to make sure the seal was under enough tension, but it worked well with no leakage. My choice between the Volvo seal and PSS Shaft Seal I is Volvo

[rxc]

I've owned boats with packing glands, the PSS shaft seal, and the Volvo seal, and I really like the PSS. The Volvo that came with the boat worked well for 2 years, and then it started to leak when we first moved to France. I wanted to change to a PSS then, but it was not easily/inexpsnsively available, so I installed a new Volvo unit for 2 more years, when I changed to PSS. It does throw off carbon around the shaft compartment, so if you don't like that, then stay with the volvo. I also like the fact that the PSS provides some protection to the shaft sliding out of the boat. You can provide similar protection with a zinc installed inside the boat, or something similar, but it is inherent in the PSS design. I only burp it when the boat has been hauled or idle for a long time - not difficult to do. I don't think it will EVER wear our.

Mechanical seals like the PSS are used in many pumps or valves that handle really nasty stuff, like sewage, radioactive fluids, or nasty chemicals. They are well known and reliable for these apps, so I don't worry about it failing. One fellow boater worried about the shaft log (the bellows/hose) failing, but it is a very sturdy hose - at least as sturdy as a standard packing gland hose. Easy to inspect for deterioration.

I still have a few tubes of blue grease, and if I find a Jeanneau boatowner who needs it, I will gladly pass it along.

[reader]

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