PSS Shaft Seals for my 54ED

[svaron]

I know that this has been discussed quite frequently in the past. That being said, does anyone have any recent experience upgrading the traditional stuffing boxes with the PSS Dripless system. I am refurbishing my original stuffing boxes and replacing cutlass bearings in the spring and thought that I might upgrade to the PSS system at that time.

I have a 1990 54 ED with 892 TA's

Thanks for your guidance and suggestions

[SKYCHENEY]

I've had PSS for the last 16 years. No problems, but I never really had any issues with the traditional packing either other than an adjustment every so often.

[Photolomy]

Mine has had PSS since 2012 when the PO rebuilt the engines. No issues.

[Photolomy]

I've had PSS for the last 16 years. No problems, but I never really had any issues with the traditional packing either other than an adjustment every so often.

Have you replaced the bellows as part of maintenance? Did you do it yourself?

[oldawg]

Make sure the clamps are maintained. MAKE SURE THE CLAMPS ARE MAINTAINED! It is ugly when they fail. Trust me.....

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

Make sure the clamps are maintained. MAKE SURE THE CLAMPS ARE MAINTAINED! It is ugly when they fail. Trust me.....

That's good advice. Aboard Aslan, I pull the clamps annually and inspect. I also spray them with Boe-Shield and clean the bellows before reinstalling. I freshwater spray the area every time I clean the adjacent generator sea strainer. There are also clamps on the cooling lines that need attention. Don't forget, like I did in the pic, to double clamp those too. Since taking this shot, I've also begun indexing all double clamps 180 degrees apart. It's easy to over tighten which has a bad effect on the bellows.
IMG_0137.jpg
PSS is good stuff. Still, it's advisable to get a couple of extra seals in carriers for each shaft. In six years, I've not changed any seals, but I'm ready just in case.

[Photolomy]

I suspect that you have to haul the boat out to clean the bellows? Also, what is involved when replacing the bellows as the manufacturer suggests? Actually, how do you clean the bellows? Remove them completely (doesn't that require detaching the shaft from the transmission)?