My 34.2 leaking water

[dave34]

Hi guys
I am relatively new to sailing and have a new issue with my Jeanneau 34.2.  We have been having loads of water in the bilges and after cleaning them out and investigating the problem I have found that it is coming from the drive shaft.  No leaks when engine is off but when shaft is spinning it leaks.  I can also squeeze the rubber and water comes out. Is it an easy fix? Can I do it with the yacht in the water? Is it a replacement seal? 
thanks

[Chris Meyer]

Aug 2, 2020 16:07:46 GMT dave34 said:

Hi guys
I am relatively new to sailing and have a new issue with my Jeanneau 34.2.  We have been having loads of water in the bilges and after cleaning them out and investigating the problem I have found that it is coming from the drive shaft.  No leaks when engine is off but when shaft is spinning it leaks.  I can also squeeze the rubber and water comes out. Is it an easy fix? Can I do it with the yacht in the water? Is it a replacement seal? 
thanks

Hi Dave34,

Hope you get a few more replies.  It looks to me that the seal might need to be replaced.   
On our Beneteau 321, i replaced this seal with a dripless seal and it worked fine for years.   I don't recall if this can be repaired while in the water, but I am sure someone can advise correctly.

What year boat is this?

[dave34]

It’s a Jeanneau 34.2 1999. I’m just hoping that I can repair it in the water because it has only just been put back in after the lockdown!

[MalcolmP]

Aug 2, 2020 17:41:46 GMT dave34 said:

It’s a Jeanneau 34.2 1999. I’m just hoping that I can repair it in the water because it has only just been put back in after the lockdown!

Dave

Yes it can be replaced in the water, but it is not for the faint hearted as you will get a reasonable (or perhaps unreasonable..) amount of water when you pull off the old seal.

The shaft of course needs to be discontented from the gearbox, then the coupling removed, which will need either a puller or some extra long bolts and a spacer to be able top ease the coupling off.

When ready with your new seal you can then take off the old seal and then carefully without damaging the seal lips put the new one on. mop up all the water and replace the coupling etc

Well worth looking at related threads on replacement and issues - this is a link to a search tinyurl.com/volvogland

good luck

[Charlie-Bravo]

Dave, if you can't face another haul out charge, get a plank, loads of fenders, and find a handy harbour wall to lean against and tie up to, whilst the tide goes out, if you haven't done this before take advise first,  doing this seal replacement whilst afloat, whilst possible, is not really a good idea, if any problems arise you will end up pumping water a lot to keep up with the flood, and if the pump should fail it all just gets worse,  at least leaning on a wall you could have a good 6 hours to complete the mission.   or ...
Often marinas offer a cheaper 'lift, hold, launch' if you are not going to be more than a couple of hours, rather than the full cradle ashore thing.
You need to get it fixed quickly, it might not leak much without the engine running now, but it could degrade soon, welcome to boat ownership ..... full of fun and challenges!

Good luck
CB

[sitara]

Greasing the seal would be a good idea if this has not been done recently. It is normal for water to come out when the seal is squeezed, and this must be done when the boat is put back in the water to get any air trapped in the seal out.

I use a flattened drinking straw filled with grease to get grease into the seal, but check the Volvo shaft seal directions.

[panoramix]

There is an easy fix for this problem. Although i use it now for ten years already and still a dry bilge.

Just put a tyrap around the seal and tighten it until no more water comes in. Don't overtighten!
A small drip is okay as the water is the lubricant.

Place for the tyrap is 1/2 inch or so from the end.

[MalcolmP]

Aug 3, 2020 6:30:49 GMT panoramix said:

There is an easy fix for this problem. Although i use it now for ten years already and still a dry bilge.

Just put a tyrap around the seal and tighten it until no more water comes in. Don't overtighten!
A small drip is okay as the water is the lubricant.

Place for the tyrap is 1/2 inch or so from the end.

Very clever 👍 suggest the original poster also adds more seal grease and make sure it has been burped

[dave34]

Thanks guys for the responses.  I might try the cable tie trick to see if I can get one more weekend out of it then get the marina to put it in the sling for a couple of hours.  
One more question though.  When I cleaned out the water from the bilges there was a lot of sand in with it.  Is this coming from the same issue?

[dave34]

I guess I should also say we are in the Bristol Channel and the water is very muddy!!!

[MickeyB]

Hi, I also have a 34.2 and love it.  

1) Put Grease into the seal - do this more often than not.  Shout if you don't know how
2) Replace when grease doesn't work or 5-8 years.
3) Burp her every trip for clear mind.

Sand in water could also be the reason it leaks more than it should.  Try going offshore a lot and burping (the seal, not you) a fair amount.

Although it works, the cable tie around the seal is not a great long term solution I feel?  Great for get me home, but don't rely on that. Put grease in and turn the propshaft whilst you put the grease in.

Mike

[dave34]

Sounds like a plan. Thanks. Just having a nightmare since lockdown. New batteries and starter motor but at least it didn’t cost to stop the squeaky wheel after looking on the forum!!!!

[panoramix]

A reason for leakage can also be due to a lowered engine. This will also lower the propshaft where it exits the hull at the volvoseal position.

I replaced all four enginemounts a few weeks ago and found out that the enginemounts had sunk by 3 mm over the years. With the new enginemounts my engine is now lifted by 3 mm and the propshaft is centered again at the volvoseal position.

When you replace the volvoseal, check that your propshaft sits in the middle of that hole in the hull. (Don't know if there is a name for that?)