STERN TUBE

[wilhelm]

Has any member undertaken a service on stern tube seals, advise in owners handbook change every three years, also can seals still be obtained. Our engineer in yard does not appear to  have seen the bukh installed fitting.

[Charles]

Which LM do you have Wilhelm? This summer my LM27 started to ship water in increasingly large quatities via the stern tube. (The engine is now a Sole 26hp/Mitsubishi 3 cylinder.) I took the boat out of the water and got the trusted engineer who services the engine every winter to cure the problem. He said that the seals were of a standard size and he simply ordered them on line. I see no reason why the stern tube should be different on my boat to yours.
Good luck!
Charles

[wilhelm]

Hello Charles, we have an LM 27 1984 with a 36hp eng. Having read your comments and the difficulty encountered when inspecting seal, I intend to search out an engineer to advise and if necessary replace.
Regards

[oceandancer]

Hi willhelm,

I don't know how much the job is professionally but full details on how to change the seal yourself can be found under "LM27 how to change the Cutlass Bearing"

The bearing on it's own is about £40-50 and they are common items,  readily available. It is usual to take the old one to the chandlery in order to get the right replacement. The rudder and propeller shaft will probably need to be removed, however, it is a good idea, when changing the bearing, that about 12mm is left showing of the new one so that you can get hold of it with grips and possibly remove it with the shaft in place. This MAY avoid the need to remove the rudder and shaft next time with considerable cost saving. Talk to your engineer about this.

Regards

Mick

[wilhelm]

Hello Mick, The seals I am referring to are inboard on the stuffing box. If you have the bukh owners handbook its mentioned on page 20, at present there are no drips unit looks ok, problem is I do not have any confirmation of the fitting ever having been serviced and having had a seal fail in a previous boat consider its a winter job.
Wilhelm

[oceandancer]

Hi Wilhelm,
Sorry for the confusion I have a traditional stuffing box which drips all the time. It sounds like you have a proprietry dripless system fitted. I would buy the seals and do it when it starts to drip. It's unlikely to sink the boat.


Mick

[Sula]

There is lots of information on different types of stern tube seals here: coxeng.co.uk/stern-gear/stern-glands/

If you can clarify which type you have, Wilhelm, we may be able to offer more advice.

[wilhelm]

Thank you for advice Sula, our problem is identifying the gland we think its an original fitting, however having spoken to the engineer who has serviced the boat for many years he advised from his files (Very efficient) gland was inspected some 5 years ago. When the boat is serviced next we will have gland checked again then decide fitting new unit.

[Sula]

Mick, you say your traditional stuffing box drips all the time. It should drip only rarely.

If it drips frequently you need to nip up the packing a little (but not so tight it gets hot when under power). If dripping can't be virtually stopped by compressing the packing more, then you need to replace the packing. (It's only about a £6 for plenty, once you've worked out the thickness.) Once you've got the packing adjusted, an occasional turn on the greaser should pretty much stop any drips altogether. (More on this at the link I posted above.)

Apologies if I'm teaching my grandmother to suck eggs.