PSS faulty Bellows

[Rustic Charm]

Does anyone know for a fact that they are reducing the number of available sizes for stern tubes?

Does anyone know for sure there has been a change?

[phorvati]

No.
Here is what i know for a fact.
1. I have original bellow(2004) for 1" shaft and 2" stern tube, it does not have rubber insert. Meaning the mold used to make the bellow was for a 2" stern tube.

2. Replacement kits are specified in Stern tube diameter ranges. When I purchased a kit(2015) for a stern tube with diameter range that covers my need(i.e. 2" tube), bellow had a rubber insert to accommodate a 2" stern tube diameter. Meaning the bellow was made from a mold that accommodates larger diameter stern tube, and an insert was used to get to a 2" size.

I explained my situation in an email to manufacturer and asked if they had identical bellow to the one i purchased in 2004. I got an email reply from them:

Unfortunately that is the only bellow we make to accommodate a 2" stern
tube. It has 1 rubber bushing that reduces the 2 1/4" inside diameter down
to 2". Please let me know if you require any further assistance. Thank you.


This is probably not a big deal, but given the criticality of the part, and that me and my family live aboard on a mooring/anchor, 6 months out of the year, I need to digest this change.
My initial reaction when i got the kit was not good. I was pretty ticked off. I'll have to hear some positive feedback regarding the replacement kit, read up on it a bit, and by launch time, I'll likely have the new below with the bushing installed. But i will formulate a plan B that does not involve a coast guard rescue, in case of a failure.

So if anyone knows the year of their PSS model, and weather there is a bushing or not, that would help build some confidence that this change has indeed received some decent real-life testing.

[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by phorvati

No.
Here is what i know for a fact.
1. I have original bellow(2004) for 1" shaft and 2" stern tube, it does not have rubber insert. Meaning the mold used to make the bellow was for a 2" stern tube.

2. Replacement kits are specified in Stern tube diameter ranges. When I purchased a kit(2015) for a stern tube with diameter range that covers my need(i.e. 2" tube), bellow had a rubber insert to accommodate a 2" stern tube diameter. Meaning the bellow was made from a mold that accommodates larger diameter stern tube, and an insert was used to get to a 2" size.

I explained my situation in an email to manufacturer and asked if they had identical bellow to the one i purchased in 2004. I got an email reply from them:

Unfortunately that is the only bellow we make to accommodate a 2" stern
tube. It has 1 rubber bushing that reduces the 2 1/4" inside diameter down
to 2". Please let me know if you require any further assistance. Thank you.


This is probably not a big deal, but given the criticality of the part, and that me and my family live aboard on a mooring/anchor, 6 months out of the year, I need to digest this change.
My initial reaction when i got the kit was not good. I was pretty ticked off. I'll have to hear some positive feedback regarding the replacement kit, read up on it a bit, and by launch time, I'll likely have the new below with the bushing installed. But i will formulate a plan B that does not involve a coast guard rescue, in case of a failure.

So if anyone knows the year of their PSS model, and weather there is a bushing or not, that would help build some confidence that this change has indeed received some decent real-life testing.

Well, that's the same one I have and it's got the same rubber packing. But mine is only two years old. Personally I can't see how it can fail, if you make sure the two clamps are on it and on solidly.

What you could do to provide some more confidence is to purchase the more expensive clamps that you put a spanner on instead of a screw driver. Those ones seem to be a lot more reliable than the hose clamps that go on using a screw driver.