Allen key for PSS shaft seal

[bobsadler]

Hi

I have a PSS seal on my 40mm prop shaft. I have been trying to find Allen keys that are long enough to set the first two grub screws (i.e. nearest to shaft) with a torque wrench but haven't had any luck.

The Allen keys need to be suitable for use with a 1/4inch drive.

Does anyone know where I could source such Allen keys?

Thanks,

Bob

[Nicholson58]

Can’t tell where you actually are.

Auto parts stores
Hardware, Home Depot, Ace etc.
Grangers
Harbor Freight
McMaster Carr on line. https://www.mcmaster.com/

[gonesail]

if it is a regular allen wrench fitting .. auto parts stores usually have these. not sure of their length though.

[jamhass]

take a "long-enough" allen key, cut off the short handle and put it in a regular socket.

[fstbttms]

You would need a 1/4" to 3/8" socket adapter:



https://www.harborfreight.com/hand-t...set-67885.html

[stormalong]

Why do you think you heed a torque wrench. With the second set of screws tight against the first set they never come loose. Also use the Locktite blue that comes with the kit. I have has a PSS for 30 years, now on my third bellows and never had a problem.

[Sailmonkey]

You’re torquing the set screws with a torque wrench?

I’ll bet you’re the only one!

[avanderschans]

I have a 1.25" PSS shaft seal. I initially tightened the set screws by hand with an Allen wrench, without a torque wrench. That did not go well... you won't believe how much water comes in when the shaft seal slips.



The problem was finding a torque wrench that goes down to 6 ft.lbs. 3/8" drive torque wrenches don't.


I ended up buying the following from Amazon:
- Wiha 76096 10 piece Allen bit set with 1/4" drive $16.99
- Tektron TRQ 21101 torque wrench, 1/4" drive, 10-150 inch.lbs $42.75


This solved the problem. I also added a 1.25" shaft collar to the shaft to prevent the shaft seal from slipping. I believe some people use a shaft anode instead. I hope this helps.

[sailcrazy]

We, too, have had the shaft seal slip. Turned out to be my own fault, as I reused the allen screws and the point had been flattened in the first use......new set screws fixed the issue. But we also installed a zinc collar in front of the shaft seal. Not an issue since we did that.

[Cadence]

Bob,
I had a torque screwdriver that could be set for values like that and I believe it was 3/8 drive. I doubt it was company specific so they probably exist on the market.
Roger

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by Cadence

Bob,
I had a torque screwdriver that could be set for values like that and I believe it was 3/8 drive. I doubt it was company specific so they probably exist on the market.
Roger

I may have to stand corrected, it may have been inch lbs.. After looking at the prices for them you don't want one.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by bobsadler

Hi

I have a PSS seal on my 40mm prop shaft. I have been trying to find Allen keys that are long enough to set the first two grub screws (i.e. nearest to shaft) with a torque wrench but haven't had any luck.

The Allen keys need to be suitable for use with a 1/4inch drive.

Does anyone know where I could source such Allen keys?

Thanks,

Bob

I just cut the short end off a normal L shaped key and found a small socket that gripped the cut end.

[Group9]

Originally Posted by sailcrazy

We, too, have had the shaft seal slip. Turned out to be my own fault, as I reused the allen screws and the point had been flattened in the first use......new set screws fixed the issue. But we also installed a zinc collar in front of the shaft seal. Not an issue since we did that.

We have stainless steel hose clamps as back ups. Due to the first time our PSS collar slipped and a lot of water came in!

[bobsadler]

The reason I want to use a torque wrench to set the grub screws is we almost lost the boat just out of Regio de Calabria in Italy. The PSS had been professionally installed in Portugal 2 years earlier but the rotor had slipped. Luckily we were only about 1km from what passed for a marina and we got back in and I could push the rotor back up the shaft and stop the leak (which was terrifyingly large) Had to re-use the old grub screws as we had to cross to Greece. We survived but don't let anyone tell you these grub screws don't need to be properly set. I now have two hose clamps tightened around the shaft 3mm (1/8 inch) from the rotor so even if it slips it will still maintain contact - under reduced pressure - with the carbon seal face.

[SailFastTri]

If your PSS collar slips using hand-tight Allen wrenching, then I would question if your engine mounts are allowing too much movement in reverse? (That’s the only logical explanation I can think to allow the shaft to pull outward with that much force. It’s not from water pressure pushing inward, unless it’s a submarine.)