LASDROP Shaft Seal Problem

[markpj23]

Man these things can leak a lot of water when they start.... this one is relatively new, with about 300 hours on it as best I can tell. I suspect I have an alignment problem and/or something worse.

I'm told that they install these with the boat waterborne. Has anyone gone through that experience?

[Sonny]

To the best of my knowledge it's best to do it on the hard.

[Fishspearit]

Interesting, their website Lasdrop Installation says to do it out of the water and not to seperate shaft and coupling while in the water. I was always told though that shaft alignments need to be done in the water because fiberglass hulls flex enough to make a difference between being on stands and in the drink.

[Sonny]

I used a Strong Shaft Seal and installed it on dry dock before it was launched and then adjusted the shaft, seal and coupling right after launch. I think that if you take out the stuffing box and the hose connection while in the water that you will have water entering the bilge. To prevent this you would have to dive and stuff rags(towels) between the shaft and the shaft opening so that you limit the amount of water entering the boat.

[AnchorageGuy]

After the install OUT OF THE WATER you need to mate the coupler and transmission and align as close as possible. After the boat is launched the final alignment needs to be done by adjusting the ENGINE and not the shaft.

[SkiprJohn]

I have a great deal of sympathy for anyone with these new fangled systems. I've decided to keep my old stuffing tube with packing because I've heard these stories over and over again.
Mark, I hope you can make the repair without having to haul out. That would be really great!
Please keep us posted.
Regards,
JohnL

[AnchorageGuy]

Mark, There should be set screws holding the retainer ring. If you loosen them you should be able to slide the ring against the bellows. Be careful not to compress the bellow too much. If the bellows or ring or any of the parts for that matter are damaged then a haul out is in order. That is the big downside when you choose these systems. Any repairs need to by done on the hard and a failed system when haul out is not available can be serious.

[markpj23]

Originally Posted by Chuck Baier

Mark, There should be set screws holding the retainer ring. If you loosen them you should be able to slide the ring against the bellows. Be careful not to compress the bellow too much. If the bellows or ring or any of the parts for that matter are damaged then a haul out is in order. That is the big downside when you choose these systems. Any repairs need to by done on the hard and a failed system when haul out is not available can be serious.

Thanks Chuck... not sure what you mean by the "bellows." This unit is installed inside a black hose vice a bellows-type cover on the previous dripless seal. Previous owner said the seal was installed while waterborne, and from the comments here that might be a clue...

Searching for the documentation on it now... I think I'll let a professional handle this one since the risks are a bit greater.

[windthief]

Sounds like like something I started in a thread last week. I am hauling out next week and installing, and funny same company.........

[delmarrey]

Like Chuck B. was saying; there should STILL be a load factor on the seal ring. In the instructions it should give you those spec's, bellows or not.

Which one of the 3 types do you have???????