Replacing 460 Shaft Seals

[Graham Lorimer]

I have bought two sets of the latest Tides seals for my shafts, and planning on lifting and carrying out the change over in May.

Can anybody advise from experience, on a 460 do the Props have to be removed or is there enough room to be able to pull the shafts back to the rudders and do the change over that way.

many thanks

Graham

 

[Russ Calasant]

Sorry, never done it but curious how you made out. Why are you doing it?

 

[fwebster]

No, the shafts have to come back about 18". I find it easier to pull the props, then use a slide hammer to ease the shafts back far enough to pull the seal off the front end of the shaft. Then slide the shafts back to where the seal run son them to almost the end of the stern tube to give you as much room as possible to polish the shaft.

 

[ttmott]

They won't slide back far enough with props on the 400DA to clear the gear so - props off here anyway. Easier to polish the shaft under the boat and easier to get the bellows installed with the shaft pulled out.
If replacing the entire seal assembly then quite possibly time to look at replacing the cutlass bearings also. A cheap change at this point....

 

[Graham Lorimer]

Thanks for the input on this one..........

As an update, I did the job last week, once the shafts were pulled back so that the props were up against the rudders, there was sufficient room to change the complete seal units without a problem. Removing the shaft couplings was the major part of the job, about 16 man hours in total.

Once the shafts were cleaned and polished and the seals reassembled with all new components, including two new seals in holders on each shaft, the relaunch went without problems and absolutely zero water coming through the seals, made a nice change!

My next question is this, my boat often sits for 3 - 4 months at a time without being used or the shafts being turned, when this happens, is there any up or down side to spraying some silicone lubricant onto the seals before use?

In answer to Russ's question, the Port seal was leaking quite badly, ie several litres an hour, and the Starboard one leaked a little.



Graham

 

[fwebster]

We questioned Tides about silicone lube spray on my last seal replacement. Their answer was that "It wouldn't hurt and might keep the lip seal more pliable"

 

[Graham Lorimer]

Thanks Frank

At least if they say "it wouldn't hurt" I think it is worth doing.

GL