Shaft seal V drive 320 DA

Aaronpav2001

Aaronpav2001

Member
Mar 5, 2017
141
Lake Norman
Boat Info
2002 320 Sundancer "Jela-Sea"
Engines
Merc 350 MPI V-drives
So I have had the shaft seal replaced twice in the last two years. I also had the shaft taken to shop to ensure it is straight. The first time was preventive maintenance and the second time it got messed up when a line got wrapped around it towing someone in. No good deed goes unpunished, right?

Long Story short It is still leaking. Not badly bilge comes on for a a couple seconds every few minutes after running it. It really doesn’t come on if it is just sitting at the dock. I know it’s not ideal but can this be tightened or fixed while the boat is in the water? Besides finding a new mechanic do you have any suggestions besides pulling the boat and starting over. This is starting to feel like an annual ritual. An expensive time consuming annual ritual
 
If it's the Tides Shaft Seal, have you replaced the entire assembly or just the seal.

If just the seal, try the entire assembly. I had a bent shaft (with a leaky seal) and opted to replace the entire assembly after I had my shaft straightened. No leaks since.
 
I would to assume the entire assembly but now I’m wondering what was done as it’s been leaking all season. So definitely pull it and do it right?
 
Double check on what was replaced. Parts only the seal is about $75, entire assembly is over $200.

If it's leaking that little, personally I'd just keep an eye on it and wait until my winter haul out to replace it (not sure if you haul out for the winter down there).
 
Aaronpav2001 said:
I would to assume the entire assembly but now I’m wondering what was done as it’s been leaking all season. So definitely pull it and do it right?
Click to expand...
Even with a new seal and the shaft running true (Tides assemblies) if the bearing inside of the seal housing is worn out and/or the rubber boot is not aligned correctly on the shaft log it will leak. The lip on the seal isn't compliant enough to allow for much misalignment. You can see in the below pic that alignment critical Derlin bearing (white).
Grab ahold of the seal housing and try to move it to and from the shaft; if it has any play that bearing is worn out.
IMG_5472 tides bearing.jpg
 
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Aaronpav2001 said:
So I have had the shaft seal replaced twice in the last two years. I also had the shaft taken to shop to ensure it is straight. The first time was preventive maintenance and the second time it got messed up when a line got wrapped around it towing someone in. No good deed goes unpunished, right?

Long Story short It is still leaking. Not badly bilge comes on for a a couple seconds every few minutes after running it. It really doesn’t come on if it is just sitting at the dock. I know it’s not ideal but can this be tightened or fixed while the boat is in the water? Besides finding a new mechanic do you have any suggestions besides pulling the boat and starting over. This is starting to feel like an annual ritual. An expensive time consuming annual ritual
Click to expand...
Think of it this way...if your bilge pumps fail to pump, for whatever reason, that leak will sink your boat.
 
Woody said:
Think of it this way...if your bilge pumps fail to pump, for whatever reason, that leak will sink your boat.
Click to expand...

Should be at minimum two bilge pumps. For those of us with ole school packing, incoming water is part of the ride. OP mentioned it doesn't leak when docked - only when cruising - which mimics us with older rigs. Granted I dont know how much water he is taking on - and the level of any imminent failure given the seals he has.
 
Confirmed we did do the entire assembly and seal. It really only leaks and kicks the bilge after running. At the dock she is all good. Going to keep an eye on it. Will address when I pull her in the upcoming weeks. Damn Boats!
 
Hmmm - two things then. They didn't use the seal installation tool and the seal was damaged or the boot on the shaft log isn't properly aligned.
 
ttmott said:
Hmmm - two things then. They didn't use the seal installation tool and the seal was damaged or the boot on the shaft log isn't properly aligned.
Click to expand...

What about the shaft? Any imperfections that could cause it to leak? Its a 2002 - so I doubt that the normal wearing of the shaft in that area would reduce the diameter enough to cause it to leak -- but if its not the seals, then perhaps the shaft?
 
markrsimon said:
What about the shaft? Any imperfections that could cause it to leak? Its a 2002 - so I doubt that the normal wearing of the shaft in that area would reduce the diameter enough to cause it to leak -- but if its not the seals, then perhaps the shaft?
Click to expand...
Damage and wear on the shaft will cause leakage but I would think it would leak all of the time. I, for some reason, thought you had the shafts out of the boat and refurbished.... When you look at the shaft when the boat is running is it running true and straight? Or is it moving the seal assembly around?
A warped shaft moving the seal around can cause a leak only when running.
 
After my shaft was straightened, the marina reinstalled it without the protective sleeve and flipped part of the seal.

It did leak as soon as it went in the water, without running the boat, so it was quickly caught and addressed.
 
Ensure you have good water flow to the bearing/seal assembly. I fried a bearing, and seal due to a clogged water line. It’s a ~3/8” line that comes from your exhaust manifold. The fitting on my manifold was clogged with mil scale from inside the manifold water jacket. I have since rerouted the water supply point to upstream of the manifolds.
 
firecadet613 said:
After my shaft was straightened, the marina reinstalled it without the protective sleeve and flipped part of the seal.

It did leak as soon as it went in the water, without running the boat, so it was quickly caught and addressed.
Click to expand...
It's pretty important that the seal installation tool be used. It sounds like the seal is damaged if they inverted it then attempted to fix it and install again without the tool. I would doubt the leakage will get any worse for some time. But the right thing to do is have them pull the shaft back and do the installation correctly. Do you have a spare installed on the shaft BTW? If they put the spare on without the installation tool it is probably also questionable.
 
ttmott said:
It's pretty important that the seal installation tool be used. It sounds like the seal is damaged if they inverted it then attempted to fix it and install again without the tool. I would doubt the leakage will get any worse for some time. But the right thing to do is have them pull the shaft back and do the installation correctly. Do you have a spare installed on the shaft BTW? If they put the spare on without the installation tool it is probably also questionable.
Click to expand...

Yep. I was onboard when she was launched as I rebedded some thru hulls as well.

Unfortunately, no room with my v drives for a spare seal, so the shaft had to be pulled. I tossed the seal they put on then put the new seal on myself, using the installation tool.
 
Anyone have a part number or link to purchase the dripless seal kit / kits? For some reason my sea ray dealer cannot find it
 
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