Dripless Seal Leaking Under High RPM (2009 Air Nautique 216v)

[p2im0]

We noticed recently that our dripless seal (PSS) has been leaking the entire time that we're wake-surfing. It only leaks at high RPM 2500+/High speed. I'm not sure what needs to be done to remedy this (video below). I ordered a replacement set-screw kit as the initial thought is that maybe there wasn't enough pressure from the bellows, but after pushing on the bellows it definitely seems like plenty of pressure as I can't easily push back the bellows at all.

However, I do notice that the carbon ring sits about 1/8" below the top of the stainless collar - not sure if this matters. While I can't compress the bellows easily by hand (super hard to reach under the V-drive) I can push up on the carbon ring which breaks the seal and lets water in.

Thoughts? It's not causing any serious issues, just bilge coming on after every time we wake surf, but I know the PSS is supposed to have zero water coming in.

[p2im0]

[BUMP]

Any thoughts on what I should check?

[ohioocean]

same thing mine is doing .... pretty sure just usage has taken its toll , mine is a 2008 , so same era. I just order a new on today , been trying to get someone to give me step by step for install or a video , and i have had no luck . Not sure why , i'm sure pleanty of boats have replaced v-drive shaft seals. I'll let you know if dig into mine , i may wait till end of season .

[p2im0]

same thing mine is doing .... pretty sure just usage has taken its toll , mine is a 2008 , so same era. I just order a new on today , been trying to get someone to give me step by step for install or a video , and i have had no luck . Not sure why , i'm sure pleanty of boats have replaced v-drive shaft seals. I'll let you know if dig into mine , i may wait till end of season .

Thanks,

We were thinking the same thing of servicing it at the end of the season and trying to figure out how the drive shaft comes out of the V-Drive. Looks simple enough but not sure of torque specs, etc for putting it back together or any gotchas.

If you do it, please do a write up!

[p2im0]

Bumping this back up - it's now spring of the next season and we're about to take the boat out of storage and get it ready for the lake.

What's the step-by-step to service the dripless seal on Nautique V-drives? Any pointers on where I can find some guidance?

[charlesml3]

Yep, it's worn and needs to be replaced. Same thing happened to my buddies G23. For some reason it would ONLY do this while surfing. Wakeboarding it was fine.

[p2im0]

Yep, it's worn and needs to be replaced. Same thing happened to my buddies G23. For some reason it would ONLY do this while surfing. Wakeboarding it was fine.

Yeah, this is happening while surfing w/450lbs of added ballast in the rear.

Any pointers on a how-to? Does the entire prop/drive-shift have to come out of the v-drive? Is it just that one nut on the front side of the v-drive to slide the drive shaft out???

[charlesml3]

I don't know. The one up here ended up going down to White Lake Marine for service. They fixed this as well as several other nagging issues the owner was having.

-Charles

[SilentSeven]

I've always wondered how they worked and how they were different. Quick websearch found this article.

https://waggonerguide.com/dripless-s...0deterioration.

While the article does not cover R&R, it sure looks like the you'd have to pull the shaft to refresh.

[p2im0]

I've always wondered how they worked and how they were different. Quick websearch found this article.

https://waggonerguide.com/dripless-s...0deterioration.

While the article does not cover R&R, it sure looks like the you'd have to pull the shaft to refresh.

Thanks, found that site last year.

I know t he process for the seal, but not sure how to get the shaft out on Nautique V-Drive.