tenders
Innocent Bystander
How would that work? You buy quoits of flax that slide over the end of the shaft, without having to be cut and without having to so carefully offset the joints? Interesting.
32-3 “Dripless” PSS v traditional stuffing box. Opinions, please?
- Thread starter windblown
- Start date
Dave G.
1984 E30+ (SOLD)
My last 2 boats had PSS seals when I purchased them. Both were older units and while doing other work requiring the shafts to removed I purchased rebuild kits from PYI as "while I'm in there might as well get it done" work. The newer bellows that came with both rebuild kits were considerably more robust in thickness and compression in comparison to the originals. Mine did not have the vent and I just burped it when launching and it was good to go. Maybe the older original units had some issues ? I don't know but I would be confident in using their current products on any of my boats FWIW.
Pete the Cat
Sustaining Member
They have a slit in them. The point is that when companies that actually make seals for other stuff (my guys had a contract with the military) they make perfect rings of the perfect length (very hard to cut GTX cleanly on your own), and press them in a die to make prefab rings. Much more precise than you can do yourself. This makes them easy to install (they are compressed and will not roll when you seat them in the box). and fit very tight when you clamp down but will allow water to cool them without leaking. With grease and a bit of the special green clay you can make them dripless. I have had them installed on my Tartan for 1200 hours in 5 years. No drips. It takes a break in period and it requires careful monitoring in the first 10 hours--so I think the new PSS probably work fine for most folks who do not want to fool with it.
Dave G.
1984 E30+ (SOLD)
I looked at your post and WOW that bellows looked totally rotted. I have to say the 2 I replaced were thin and way too soft to provide a lot of compression seal. That said they never leaked and showed no signs of the degradation yours did. Curious if you sent those photos or even better the old bellows to PYI and if so what their answer was ? None of mine had an aluminum locking collar, both were SS.
Never sent it to PSS just replaced with a new PSS unit. The bellows on the new unit are MUCH thicker rubber. The old one was ridiculously thin material for the application, as you can see. The poor access to the aft end of the engine made inspection nearly impossible (even the surveyor reported the unit in good shape), and replacement even worse so it just sat there soaking in diesel and bilge gunk for years.