water where its not supposed to be

[J.Calway]

well i greese up but still get water up through the shaft, a little only on first run but more on second run and so on... how often should i greese up and what sort of greese to use ? is there a after market seal i can put at the wet end of the shaft to limit water getting into the boat or is it mabe the type of greese i am using...?

[Rumdog]

How do you know that is where the water is coming from?

[J.Calway]

good point .... i have a line of water droplets accross the hatch from one side to the other above the shaft is the only evidence i can come up with. what greese should i be using ?

[martin]

If the water is coming up through the tube (common problem even when greased), to stop this cut a piece of silicon water tube around 1/2" long & put it over the end of the stuffing tube so 1/4" of the tube over hangs the tube. this piece that over hangs forms a seal against the flex, just make sure the i/d of the silicon tube is not to tight on the flex.

[J.Calway]

Thanks martin i will give that a go. what sort of greese should i be using ?

[martin]

Allways make sure where the stuffing tube joins the strut its sealed as water enters their & is forced up the tube, water tends to go up easier if no teflon liner is used ( other benifits to not using a liner as well ). Everybody seems to have their preference on greases, personally i use Grimracer Speed Grease & sometimes if i want thinner stuf i use chainsaw bar oil ( for an oil its nice & sticky but much thinner than grease).

[J.Calway]

how do i get a seal in the strut? i usually greese by slipping the rudder off then removing the strut to get at the drive shaft. is this the correct way. ? i figure this seal you talk of is the root of my water issue as the first run after greesing yeilds no water. the next run ,even with the silicone tube in place , i get water through the tube.. or is it that i have to greese after each run ?

[J.Calway]

Well i finally got water into that speedy . now i have a nice black finish to the inside of my hull. it was a dodgy speedy anyhow from what i have read . now i can get a better one. : )

[electric]

By the way, you can also put a piece of shring wrap where the copper tube meets the strut and shrink it around there. Sometimes water pushes through that seam at speed and then it pushes the water up the shaft. Dosen't hurt to do it.

[JIM MARCUM]

FYI - I use lithium grease on my shafts. JIM

[J.Calway]

well i was looking at the swordfish 200a speedy.... anyone use this speedy before ? thanx Jim and thanx also Electric, thats a bonza idea as that is where the water was getting in.