Repair and Maintenance

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Should the boat need to be towed, the drive shaft should be immobilized or the engines allowed to idle to provide lubrication water for the shaft seals. If a crossover line is fitted on a twin engine boat only one engine need to be idled.

If a twin engine boat is to be operated with one engine shut down, a crossover line needs to be installed or the nonworking shaft immobilized.

Maintenance

Tides Marine shaft seals require no winterization but the winterization fluids will not harm them. The shaft seal assemblies should be inspected at least annually.

1. Inspect the blue hose for damage. Inspect the hose clamps for corrosion and proper tensioning. With Strong Seals, hand tight with a screwdriver or nut driver is sufficient.
2. Remove the water lubrication hose from the shaft seal. Make sure the fitting on the seal is clear and inspect for corrosion. If the boat is in the water, there should be a strong inflow of water from the slip into the boat. Use the inspection cap attached to the fitting to stop this inflow.
3. In a twin engine installation, repeat step 2. Compare the inflow of water from side to side. They should be about equal.
4. If the boat is fitted with a crossover hose, remove it from the shaft seal fitting and make sure it is clear. You should have about as much water out of the crossover as from the primary supply fittings. If the inflow is good, you may reassemble the crossover.
5. Inspect the engine fitting to make sure that it is clear and check for corrosion.
6. If the boat is equipped with a spare seal assembly, make sure that it is separated for the Strong Seal and secured firmly on the shaft.
7. With the vessel in the water, idle each engine. Check the water flow from the lubrication hose at the shaft seal. The flow rate should be about one gallon per minute at idle.
8. Make sure that all hoses and clamps are reassembled securely.

Troubleshooting

1. Does the shaft seal leak even when the shaft is stationary and the engine’s is off? If so, the lip seal may be completely worn out or damaged, the shaft may have defects, such as pits or scratches, or the shaft seal housing may be damaged due to overheating.?
1. Closely examine the surface of the drive shaft in the 1/2" area immediately forward of the shaft seal. Polish this area radially with a 300 grit abrasive. There should be no defects deep enough to be felt with a fingernail.
2. Loosen the clamps on the aft end of the blue hose where it clamps onto the stern tube. Move the seal assembly forward 1/2" so that the lip seal rests on the polished and inspected portion of the shaft.
3. If the lip seal still leaks, replace the lip seal. You may use a lip seal from the spare seal kit, if one is present.
4. Thoroughly check the lubrication water supply system.

2. If the seal assembly only leaks while the boat is underway, how many hours are on the current lip seal in the assembly??
1. If less than 200 hrs., perform the adjustment from the "Sure Seal Initial Adjustment" page. If this does not correct the leak, the lip seal should be changed.
2. If over 200 hrs., the lip seal should be changed.
3. Make sure to follow the instructions on the "Sure Seal Initial Adjustment" page, located HERE, after changing the lip seal.

If you can not determine exactly what the problem is or the problem persists after trying the above, turn the call over to a technician at Tides Marine. (800) 420-0949 or (954) 420-0949.

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Tides Marine 3251 SW 13th Dr. Suite A Deerfield Beach, Fl 33442
Tel: (800) 420-0949 Tel: (954) 420-0949 Order Fax: (954) 420-0945 General Fax: (954) 420-5234

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