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Advice Please???

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Created by Wavesong > 9 months ago, 16 May 2020
Wavesong
QLD, 145 posts
16 May 2020 12:54PM
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Hi all

In need of some advice.

Splashed yesterday after two days on the hard having the old stuffing box removed and dripless seal installed. All good, no drip whatsoever.

Prior to the boat coming out, I was very fortunate to have an almost completely dry bilge.

Since relaunching yesterday, though, I am making water somewhere. Not dangerous quantities but enough to annoy me and trip the float switch every few hours.

I think it may be entering at the skin fitting for the speed transducer. I had the blank plug in, not the paddlewheel.

The forward sling was covering the transducer. When I commented on this to the travelift guys, they said it was only the canvas cover, not the sling webbing itself on the transducer and assured me it would be fine.

Thoughts???? Advice?????
Thanks in advance.

garymalmgren
1100 posts
16 May 2020 11:48AM
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Dry your suspected area very carefully and then apply talcum powder.
This will very quickly expose a seeping leak.

But , " trip the float switch every few hours ", would indicated a leak a little more that a seep.


gary

Ilenart
WA, 249 posts
16 May 2020 2:41PM
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I swapped the speed transducer plug for the paddlewheel two weeks ago which started leaking. Looks like it was suppose to have two O rings, however only one was present. Ended up coating the plug O ring will liberal amounts of grease and that stopped the leak. I used a lanolin based grease that I use for the batteries, but I believe any thick grease on hand will do. Checked a week later and the bilge was completely dry. Will add another O ring next month when the yacht is out of the water, looks like only one O ring has been in the plug for years.

Hope this help.

Ilenart

r13
NSW, 1427 posts
16 May 2020 5:15PM
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Good suggestions obviously. Would do the talc powder trial as per Gary first up to find the leak.

Is it possible to remove the plug and insert the paddle wheel (all cleaned up and with proper number of o rings and well greased as per Ilenart), and tactile and visually inspect the skin fitting housing inner surface while doing so? Realise the changeover needs to be done quickly so as to minimise water coming in, but if you can rig up a powerful torch straight above the area so that it shines straight down the opening this and the tactile inspections could show up any damage? Fully inspect the plug after the paddle wheel has been inserted. If the paddle wheel does not leak, then the plug must be the issue.

But that's a bit suspect with "the forward sling was covering the transducer. When I commented on this to the travelift guys, they said it was only the canvas cover, not the sling webbing itself on the transducer and assured me it would be fine". The canvas cover of the sling will certainly not avoid the tension load in the sling webbing from potentially damaging the skin fitting or plug or both. The cover is there to avoid damage to the webbing - eg from barnacles or worse...............the sling and its canvas cover should not have been anywhere near any skin fittings - the the people doing the lift would know this. If the skin fitting and plug were working properly before the lift out, but are not now after the lift in, then surely you would have a case for the slipway to rectify this at their cost?

Ramona
NSW, 7403 posts
16 May 2020 5:34PM
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I would suggest permanent marks on your toe rail where the travel lift strops should go to avoid this sort of thing next time.

Wavesong
QLD, 145 posts
16 May 2020 6:05PM
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Well, I did the talcum powder test and it's actually not the transducer leaking.

So, today I emptied the bilge completely...twice.
It refilled both times (with definitely saltwater) but stopped just short of tripping the float switch. It seems to have stabilised to this level. No higher, no lower.
This level is pretty much at the waterline.

I'm confused

SandS
VIC, 5904 posts
16 May 2020 6:43PM
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did someone burp the stern gland when it went back in the water before starting to spin the prop ?

SandS
VIC, 5904 posts
16 May 2020 6:47PM
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sorry , i shouldn't assume it was a Volvo drip-less gland , but if it is they need burping prior to spinning the prop

r13
NSW, 1427 posts
16 May 2020 6:53PM
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Ok great that it's not the transducer skin fitting or the internal plug into it leaking. That's good news.

But not good news is that saltwater is coming in still, and that it seems to be "pretty much at the waterline". Sorry to say but if you have water coming in to around the waterline level and the float switch is not tripping then the float switch is set way too high - it should be down in the bilge way lower than the normal waterline and has to trip and activate the pump way before the waterline level. Please clarify this so we can know?

So where is it leaking? Seems like more talc powder tests are needed.

But also more yacht details would be useful to try and diagnose this issue remotely. So I see you have a Mottle 33 which is probably 1980s build? What are all the hull skin fittings and entries - are they all bronze fittings (needed) or are some plastic? How old are they all? Besides the speedo skin fitting assume you might have inlet and outlet loo fittings (unless blocked off to change to a portaloo system - but the "blocked off" old fittings could still be a source of problem), sink skin fitting, diesel cooling water inlet skin fitting, prop shaft stuffing box, and rudder through hull up to deck system. Probably more - please advise.

So if the new stuffing box is all working fine then another skin fitting or the rudder system is under the microscope - assuming your keel bolts and associated hull structure are all sound. Have you had any altercations with sandbanks or worse lately. Sorry to go to the worst case scenario.

The rudder stock should go through the hull skin and then up to the deck exit, with appropriate bearings and hull and deck structure, also a large diameter grp tube surrounding the stock and the hull and deck bearing assemblies so that if the hull bearing became a bit worn the tube would contain the water ingress.

The fact that the leak seems to stops at a certain level is maybe a clue - maybe something is tightening up with water ingress and ceasing the leak.

Appreciate response to the above, and more, and we all should be able to solve this for you.

cisco
QLD, 12311 posts
16 May 2020 8:23PM
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If the only thing you changed during the slipping is the stern gland and now you are taking water the logical place to look is the stern gland.

Jolene
WA, 1554 posts
16 May 2020 8:56PM
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Select to expand quote
cisco said..
If the only thing you changed during the slipping is the stern gland and now you are taking water the logical place to look is the stern gland.



Check to see if you are making water with the engine running.
Also sometimes water can lay in hidden areas. When the boat is lifted, there can be a change of level or a swing of inertia in the slings that shifts the water to a different place or finds its way to the bilges

Wavesong
QLD, 145 posts
17 May 2020 6:46AM
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Thanks all for your help.

After another emptying and sponging of the bilge, it now remains dry. Hopefully this will continue. I am still confused but very relieved.

Ramona
NSW, 7403 posts
17 May 2020 8:41AM
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Select to expand quote
SV Wavesong said..
Thanks all for your help.

After another emptying and sponging of the bilge, it now remains dry. Hopefully this will continue. I am still confused but very relieved.


That's good to hear. Always nice to find out the source though. I notice you mentioned a float switch. When that fails consider installing a Waterwitch. These have no moving parts but most importantly can be mounted very low. They are expensive.

www.whitworths.com.au/swch-waterwitch-mini

Wavesong
QLD, 145 posts
17 May 2020 9:33AM
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Select to expand quote
Ramona said..

SV Wavesong said..
Thanks all for your help.

After another emptying and sponging of the bilge, it now remains dry. Hopefully this will continue. I am still confused but very relieved.



That's good to hear. Always nice to find out the source though. I notice you mentioned a float switch. When that fails consider installing a Waterwitch. These have no moving parts but most importantly can be mounted very low. They are expensive.

www.whitworths.com.au/swch-waterwitch-mini


Thanks Ramona. I think it would be $100 well spent.

Wavesong
QLD, 145 posts
17 May 2020 9:33AM
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Select to expand quote
Ramona said..

SV Wavesong said..
Thanks all for your help.

After another emptying and sponging of the bilge, it now remains dry. Hopefully this will continue. I am still confused but very relieved.



That's good to hear. Always nice to find out the source though. I notice you mentioned a float switch. When that fails consider installing a Waterwitch. These have no moving parts but most importantly can be mounted very low. They are expensive.

www.whitworths.com.au/swch-waterwitch-mini


Thanks Ramona. I think it would be $100 well spent.

Lazzz
NSW, 857 posts
17 May 2020 10:09AM
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Select to expand quote



Ramona said..
.................. consider installing a Waterwitch. These have no moving parts but most importantly can be mounted very low. They are expensive.




www.whitworths.com.au/swch-waterwitch-mini




I have a Waterwitch - IMO worth it!!

Mine has another sensor a bit higher up that you can hook up an alarm or secondary bilge pump if the primary pump is not keeping up.
Great idea!!

Yara
NSW, 1250 posts
18 May 2020 9:46AM
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If you want a mostly dry bilge you need a small pump sump. The suction of the pump needs to be covered with water, otherwise it sucks air. A sump does this, so the rest of the bilge can be dry. A float switch in that small sump will match the pump. There is also the problem of the little bit of back flow when the pump cuts out, so the float switch needs a differential between cut in and cut out.

It is amazing how hard it is for some people (including engineers) to understand the concept of having a little sump. (This is personal, I have been battling for 20+ years to get the message across in my field.) My current boat does not have one in the bilge, so it is back to the "hi-tech" sponge.

UncleBob
NSW, 1199 posts
18 May 2020 12:44PM
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Select to expand quote
SV Wavesong said..
Well, I did the talcum powder test and it's actually not the transducer leaking.

So, today I emptied the bilge completely...twice.
It refilled both times (with definitely saltwater) but stopped just short of tripping the float switch. It seems to have stabilised to this level. No higher, no lower.
This level is pretty much at the waterline.

I'm confused


Now I too am confused, if the water level is pretty much at the waterline then your boat should be totally awash, cabin sole, bunks, engine are pretty much well below the waterline.

Achernar
QLD, 369 posts
18 May 2020 7:29PM
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Select to expand quote
SandS said..
did someone burp the stern gland when it went back in the water before starting to spin the prop ?


+1.

Changed my prop recently, and got a steady, running drip until we burped the seal. However, I didn't do it until after I had motored back to the mooring (5 - 10 min under motor). Since then, all dry.

By "burping", I mean keep squeezing the soft rubber outer until you get the air out, or until it stops dripping.

Wavesong
QLD, 145 posts
18 May 2020 9:39PM
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Select to expand quote
UncleBob said..

SV Wavesong said..
Well, I did the talcum powder test and it's actually not the transducer leaking.

So, today I emptied the bilge completely...twice.
It refilled both times (with definitely saltwater) but stopped just short of tripping the float switch. It seems to have stabilised to this level. No higher, no lower.
This level is pretty much at the waterline.

I'm confused



Now I too am confused, if the water level is pretty much at the waterline then your boat should be totally awash, cabin sole, bunks, engine are pretty much well below the waterline.


Kk...bilge is lower than waterline. Nothing is awash, nothing .

Mechanic was aboard on launch, and beyond. Burping is apparently not required with the Volvo dripless seal he installed. As I said, I had a bowl under the seal and general area, and there was no ingress there.

The mystery remains. I'm not 100% happy about that but what can I do

Yara
NSW, 1250 posts
19 May 2020 9:51AM
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"Burping is apparently not required with the Volvo dripless seal he installed."
That goes against the many, many, times I have read that burping a Volvo seal is needed. However, it is simple engineering. Take a look for yourself.

The seal is a closed pocket with internal ridges which form the seal against the shaft. It needs water on the rubbing surface to provide a little lubrication and cooling. Some mechanical seals have a hose connected to the cooling water circuit which provides the lubrication/cooling. The original Volvo seal does not have that, and the burping is to get rid of any air pocket in the seal, so the water level can rise into it. You just have to squeeze it.

If it is hard to get at, one of those long handled tongs that are used to pick up things on the ground without bending over, could help.

Yara
NSW, 1250 posts
19 May 2020 10:08AM
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Should not be doing this at work!. However, thinking about the problem, it could be just the water in the bilge pump discharge pipe. Flows back after pump stops, and just below trip point for pump. if you have a bumpy mooring, the water slops about and starts the pump. Runs for a little while, and then stops. Water runs back in pipe, and the cycle starts again. Sponge that little bit of water out, and and cycle is broken. Could that be what has been happening?

Wavesong
QLD, 145 posts
19 May 2020 8:06PM
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Select to expand quote
Yara said..
"Burping is apparently not required with the Volvo dripless seal he installed."
That goes against the many, many, times I have read that burping a Volvo seal is needed. However, it is simple engineering. Take a look for yourself.

The seal is a closed pocket with internal ridges which form the seal against the shaft. It needs water on the rubbing surface to provide a little lubrication and cooling. Some mechanical seals have a hose connected to the cooling water circuit which provides the lubrication/cooling. The original Volvo seal does not have that, and the burping is to get rid of any air pocket in the seal, so the water level can rise into it. You just have to squeeze it.

If it is hard to get at, one of those long handled tongs that are used to pick up things on the ground without bending over, could help.


Hi Yara


I'm just going by what the mechanic informed me. He's a very established operator in the area and swears by the Volvo seal over the PSS.
There is a tube of blue grease which comes with the seal. I need to insert some into the seal every 6 mths.

Cheers


SandS
VIC, 5904 posts
19 May 2020 8:14PM
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Select to expand quote
Yara said..
"Burping is apparently not required with the Volvo dripless seal he installed."
That goes against the many, many, times I have read that burping a Volvo seal is needed. However, it is simple engineering. Take a look for yourself.

The seal is a closed pocket with internal ridges which form the seal against the shaft. It needs water on the rubbing surface to provide a little lubrication and cooling. Some mechanical seals have a hose connected to the cooling water circuit which provides the lubrication/cooling. The original Volvo seal does not have that, and the burping is to get rid of any air pocket in the seal, so the water level can rise into it. You just have to squeeze it.

If it is hard to get at, one of those long handled tongs that are used to pick up things on the ground without bending over, could help.




Yes , if it has no additional water cooling , the rubber seal will run dry as the air pocket is created when going back in the drink. those seals also require rubber grease at regular slip intervals to lube the little sealing fins inside the seal . this is type i,m on about ,this one must be burbed on entry to water ,before spinning the prop !

SandS
VIC, 5904 posts
19 May 2020 8:31PM
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also , another caution with these type of seals is when water blasting crap of the hull be very careful not to blast crap up the stern tube . as when relaunched the rubbish will be pushed up into the sealing fins , get caught in the grease and trash the seal

Wavesong
QLD, 145 posts
19 May 2020 9:59PM
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Select to expand quote
SandS said..

Yara said..
"Burping is apparently not required with the Volvo dripless seal he installed."
That goes against the many, many, times I have read that burping a Volvo seal is needed. However, it is simple engineering. Take a look for yourself.

The seal is a closed pocket with internal ridges which form the seal against the shaft. It needs water on the rubbing surface to provide a little lubrication and cooling. Some mechanical seals have a hose connected to the cooling water circuit which provides the lubrication/cooling. The original Volvo seal does not have that, and the burping is to get rid of any air pocket in the seal, so the water level can rise into it. You just have to squeeze it.

If it is hard to get at, one of those long handled tongs that are used to pick up things on the ground without bending over, could help.





Yes , if it has no additional water cooling , the rubber seal will run dry as the air pocket is created when going back in the drink. those seals also require rubber grease at regular slip intervals to lube the little sealing fins inside the seal . this is type i,m on about ,this one must be burbed on entry to water ,before spinning the prop !


Thank you Sands

fishmonkey
NSW, 494 posts
19 May 2020 10:16PM
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the Volvo Penta shaft seals are definitely meant to be burped, you can read it for yourself in the installation guide available here:

www.generalpropeller.com/Volvo-Shaft-Seal

at minimum you want to do this whenever the boat comes out of the water. you just need to squeeze the seal until some water squirts out.

Ramona
NSW, 7403 posts
20 May 2020 8:51AM
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I never burp mine. Mainly because it never occurs to me till a couple of days after I come off the slips!

SandS
VIC, 5904 posts
20 May 2020 6:04PM
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Select to expand quote
SV Wavesong said..

SandS said..


Yara said..
"Burping is apparently not required with the Volvo dripless seal he installed."
That goes against the many, many, times I have read that burping a Volvo seal is needed. However, it is simple engineering. Take a look for yourself.

The seal is a closed pocket with internal ridges which form the seal against the shaft. It needs water on the rubbing surface to provide a little lubrication and cooling. Some mechanical seals have a hose connected to the cooling water circuit which provides the lubrication/cooling. The original Volvo seal does not have that, and the burping is to get rid of any air pocket in the seal, so the water level can rise into it. You just have to squeeze it.

If it is hard to get at, one of those long handled tongs that are used to pick up things on the ground without bending over, could help.






Yes , if it has no additional water cooling , the rubber seal will run dry as the air pocket is created when going back in the drink. those seals also require rubber grease at regular slip intervals to lube the little sealing fins inside the seal . this is type i,m on about ,this one must be burbed on entry to water ,before spinning the prop !



Thank you Sands


your welcome

Jolene
WA, 1554 posts
22 May 2020 8:13AM
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I had a look at a boat yesterday that was leaking water into the bilge. The owner had washed the bilge out and sponged it dry only to return the next day to find water in the bilge. He mopped up and then later in the day found water again.
I had a look at his bilge pump and found that the anti drainback valve slightly leaks and is basically dumping the contents of the bilge hose back into the boat over the period of a few days. It was a brand new Rule type pump with the anti drain back valve. The valve is similar to a joker found in the Jabsco sea toilets.

Craig66
NSW, 2436 posts
22 May 2020 12:02PM
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Select to expand quote
Jolene said..
I had a look at a boat yesterday that was leaking water into the bilge. The owner had washed the bilge out and sponged it dry only to return the next day to find water in the bilge. He mopped up and then later in the day found water again.
I had a look at his bilge pump and found that the anti drainback valve slightly leaks and is basically dumping the contents of the bilge hose back into the boat over the period of a few days. It was a brand new Rule type pump with the anti drain back valve. The valve is similar to a joker found in the Jabsco sea toilets.


Just a thought, if you put some food die into the water in the bilge (making sure it wont stain anything first) pumped it out, sponge it dry, if it was running back from pump / hose you would know due to the colour, if it was clear you can then hunt for the leak else ware.



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"Advice Please???" started by Wavesong