[C320-list] Bilge pump cycling excessively

[Chris Burti]

I think that the PSS shaft seal is product with a well deserved and
excellent reputation. I certainly don't believe I would remove one if I
purchased a boat with one installed. However, as failure can be so
disastrous when it occurs, however rarely, and GFO produces a dry bilge so
much more inexpensively and, in my view, more reliably, I chose not to
spend couple of hundred bucks installing one. I installed my GFO in the
water for less than $10 fourt years ago and have only had to readjust it
once. I am not making any argumeent against installing them as much
as pointing out that there are very good reasons to choose the alternatives.

That said, Boat U.S. (which has no dog in the fight) has an excellent
article addressing the most common problems and maintenance issues which
should be useful for those that have them and informative to those
considering them. Here is the URL

http://www.boatus.com/diyarticles/2004_4pss.asp

Purely in the interest of clarifying propaganda I see commonly repeated, I
believe there are there actually are documented failures (most as a result
of maintenance or installation issues) as I seem to recall a Boat U.S.
article about a sinking  and one merely needs to "Google PSS shaft seal
problems" or  "PSS shaft seal failures" to find evidence of the same
See:
http://usauctions.com/ItemDetails.aspx?ID=8205#Directions

FWIW,  in an earlier search on the subject, I also noted that the Coast
Guard is specifying packing seals again in its written maintenance
specifications.




On Fri, Jul 16, 2010 at 9:01 AM, Jeff Hare <catalina at thehares.com> wrote:

>
> GFO is a brand of packing material. It's goretex and is virtually dripless
> when properly adjusted and has a predictable failure mode.  Ie: it drips.
>
> PSS is also pretty dry, but the graphite can make a mess.  Ie: I wouldn't
> advise motoring with the board covering the prop shaft off or you could end
> up with a black graphite stripe on the cabintop if you've recently burped
> it.  Might as we'll let a 2yr old loose with a black sharpie. :)
>
> While I've only heard rumors of a couple PSS units failing (all
> unconfirmed, and probably poor installation related), a slipped collar would
> produce a lot of water quickly.  I'd advise clamping a doughnut shaft zinc
> in Front of the SS collar to ensure this doesn't happen. It also makes
> adjustments to the SS collar position easier.
>
> -Jeff
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Walter Schaffer <bohpilot at yahoo.com>
> Sender: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
> Date: Fri, 16 Jul 2010 05:12:42
> To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
>  Reply-To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Bilge pump cycling excessively
>
> What is GFO packing?thanks,Walt Schaffer#515Middle River, MD
>
> --- On Thu, 7/15/10, Jerry Clayton <jsea at prodigy.net> wrote:
>
> From: Jerry Clayton <jsea at prodigy.net>
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Bilge pump cycling excessively
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Date: Thursday, July 15, 2010, 9:10 PM
>
> I had GFO packing installed 3 years ago and have been happy with it. Dry
> bilge, not expensive, and it lasts, over 3 years and 300 engine hours and
> counting. Would highly recommend it.
>
> Regards,
>
> Jerry Clayton
> #988
> Marina Del Rey, Ca
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Fred LEcuyer" <fred.lecuyer at live.com>
> To: "Catalina320list Catalina320list" <c320-list at catalina320.com>
> Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2010 3:48 PM
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Bilge pump cycling excessively
>
>
>
> OK, thanks for the input, everybody. We just put the boat in the water a
> few weeks ago and the stuffing box had just been repacked. This past weekend
> we just finished a five day trip and I tightened the stuffing box but maybe
> not enough. I wanted to be sure to keep things cool. I had thought about a
> PSS dripless seal but was talked out of it. Opinions?
>
>
>
> Fred
>
> > Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:35:10 -0400
> > From: clburti at gmail.com
> > To: C320-List at catalina320.com
> > Subject: Re: [C320-list] Bilge pump cycling excessively
> >
> > Place a small spacer block or a few washers and longer screws to raise
> the
> > switch. This should eliminate the cycling from the lift return flow. I
> would
> > caution against a check valve as that is potential source of problems for
> > both failure and blockage.
> >
> > On Thu, Jul 15, 2010 at 2:55 PM, Fred LEcuyer <fred.lecuyer at live.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > I'm wondering if anyackone else has seen this and has a solution.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Our bilge pump cycles on way too frequently. When the pump goes on, it
> > > pumps out all but about 1.5 inches from the bottom of the bilge. Then >
> some
> > > of the water that it pumped leaks back into the bilge and as more comes
> > in
> > > eventually from the stuffing box, the cycle starts again. I'm guessing
> > > there's not much more than one pint of water before the pump goes on >
> again.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Does anyone know if there is supposed to be a check valve between the >
> pick
> > > up hose and the bilge pump?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Fred
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > First Light
> > >
> > > Hull #926
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > _________________________________________________________________
> > > The New Busy is not the too busy. Combine all your e-mail accounts with
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> > >
> > >
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> >
> >
> >
> >
> > -- Chris Burti Farmville, NC
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> The New Busy is not the too busy. Combine all your e-mail accounts with
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>
>
>
>


-- 
Chris Burti Farmville, NC