[C320-list] PSS Shaft Bellows Placement

[Jeff Hare]

Hi Bruce,

The bellows on ours fit directly over the shaft log (the fitting where the
shaft goes through the hull).  If yours has an extra rubber hose over it,
maybe they ordered a larger size than they intended and had to add a chunk
of hose to make the shaft log a bit larger so the bellows would clamp on.
In any event, I wouldn't worry about that if it's not leaking.  

It sounds like you did the right thing by sliding the SS Ring aft and
compressing the bellows a bit.  It's an approximation, and if it still leaks
some after running the engine in gear for 15 or 20 minutes, you may just
need to compress the bellows a little more. 

Be sure to keep the wooden board covers in place when you're running the
engine in gear.  If the seal isn't perfect yet, and there's any dripping,
you'll get a spray of black graphite that spins off the shaft and it'll
stain the interior of your cabin if that happens!

Also, you might want to plug up the drain hole that leads under the engine
pan and soak up any drippings with a towel while doing this.  No sense
letting water run into a place that really doesn't drain well on its own.

Cheers!
-Jeff

PS:  I called PYI to ask them questions about adjusting mine and when I told
them I had the model that wasn't vented, they took my name/address and sent
me free replacement parts to upgrade mine to the vented version.  I never
installed it and changed back to my original stuffing box with the GFO Brand
Dripless Packing.  I find this actually lets less water in the boat overall
than the PSS did and there's almost no chance of a catastrophic failure.   I
still have my PSS in excellent shape along with the unused Vented upgrade
kit in a box.



-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Bruce Hunter
Sent: Sunday, April 07, 2013 8:32 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] PSS Shaft Bellows Placement

Getting ready to splash, I figured I'd check the PSS Dripless seal since it
dribbled here and there when we had the boat for the 6 short weeks last year
before we pulled it. I loosened the collar set screws and slid the SS
collar foreward to see if the bellows had any compression, it didn't, it was
basically fully relaxed but by maybe 1/16" (Yes I took a before
measurement). At this position it left very little clearance for bellows
compression. Looking at the instructions it says NOT to place the bellows
too far aft but to only go as far down on the shaft housing as the bellows
collar length. I did as the instructions said and compressed the bellows
just about 3/4". I also backed up the SS collar using a shaft anode as
a security clamp. I also noticed the bellows actually went over a rubber
bushing and not directly to the bare shaft housing, I didn't see that in the
instructions but it looks like it came with the kit. Anyway I think I have
it  right, just checking here to see how anyone who has this on their 320
would have any input.
 
Thanks,
Bruce
Nauti Time #719