Prop Shaft Sealant?

[JHud]

We have an 01 X-Star and the seal comin through the boat on the prop shaft seems to be leaking....i have heard you have to use some packing material? Is this true? And if so where do i get some and what is it called? Thanks

[TMCNo1]

Originally Posted by JHud

We have an 01 X-Star and the seal comin through the boat on the prop shaft seems to be leaking....i have heard you have to use some packing material? Is this true? And if so where do i get some and what is it called? Thanks

Shaft packing/rope packing here, http://www.skidim.com/products.asp?dept=1032 and here are two tutorials that will help, from the FAQ here, http://www.mastercraft.com/teamtalk/...ead.php?t=5427,
http://mastercraft.com/teamtalk/show...0&postcount=31
and here,
http://www.mastercraft.com/teamtalk/...9&postcount=52

A tag on the transmission tells what gear ratio, and if std 1:1, 1/4" is used for 1" shaft, and if PowerSlot, 1:52:1, 1 1/8" shaft, it's 3/16". That is, unless your boat has a leaking dripless shaft log.

[JHud]

thank you so much...i'll be ordering it on monday

[FrankSchwab]

It's really unlikely that you need new packing; most likely, a slight tightening will seal it right up. That is a normal (though often ignored) maintenance item.

How much water is leaking in? Some must always be dripping from the joint while underway; a drop every 5 to 10 seconds, IIRC. If it's dripping continuously or a stream is coming in, then it's time to do a bit of maintenance.

/frank

[cbryan70]

Took my boat out for the first time yesterday......i have a solid stream doing this same thing tomorrow

[TMCNo1]

Originally Posted by cbryan70

Took my boat out for the first time yesterday......i have a solid stream doing this same thing tomorrow

I would bet that next weekend it will leak 1/2 as much since the packing has got saturated, mine will leak a bit the first time out and next weekend there is little if any dripping. Happens every year. If it continues to leak more than I like, I just tighten the packing nut about 1/3 turn and that's all it takes to make me happy.

[cbryan70]

its been a while since I changed it out. Called the previous owner im thinking 5 or 6 years

[JHud]

So i can tighten the nut and that may solve my problem? The boat has almost 600 hours on it

[FrankSchwab]

Yes, you can. It's your first step on this problem.

If you tighten the packing nut, and you can't stop the leak, you have two options:
1. Add another piece of packing
2. Remove all packing, and repack per the tutorials linked above.

Frankly, on the V-Drives, by the time you've got the joint apart to do #1, you might as well do #2. I renewed mine, and used the Gore-Tex from SkiDim.

Remember that you have to have some leakage through the packing - too tight, and it will overheat and/or damage the driveshaft.

Good luck,

/frank

[XPC Sealman]

Or.... you can go to the XPC Dripless Shaft Seal and forget all of the adjusting.