SpeedSeals

[rabend]

I recently purchased a SpeedSeal saltwater pump cover kit for my engine. Their advertisement and web-site shows the screws that come with the kit are slotted. When I got the kit the screws were not slotted making removal difficult on my engine. When I contacted SpeedSeal, they refused to provide the screws they advertise. The whole purpose of the kit is to make the saltwater impeller easier to replace.

[maxingout]

I had speed seal kits for my catamaran, and they never worked for me as well. From the advertising, you would think that they are dead easy to install. Maybe for some people, but on my Yanmar 3GM30F, it wasn't that way.

[Solitude]

I looked up their add and they do show slotted bolt heads. What is the reason the gave?

[GordMay]

Finger-Tight should be adequate (which seems, to me, the whole point):

I’ve never required screwdriver slots to install or remove the knurled screws; but rabend is correct, the SpeedSeal website photos do indicated knurled & slotted screws.

However this photo, from a Torrenson review, clearly hows knurled-only thumbscrews (no slot).

➥ http://www.torresen.com/news/?p=354

➥ http://www.torresen.com/sailing/speedsealinplace.jpg

Excerpted from the Practical Sailor review:
“... Some years ago, a man in England, named Alex Parker, apparently got fed up with scenes like the one described above, and decided he would have no more of them. So he machined a new cover for awater pump impeller out of 1/4" naval brass. Into it he set a nitrile O-ring, so as not to have to deal with cork or paper gaskets any more. Instead of slotted screws, he used big, knurled, thumb-driven screws...”

➥ http://www.speedseal.com/Pages/Pract...ept%202005.pdf

[roberttigar]

Speed seal has always shows a knurled nut...It simplifies removal of the water pump cover considerably. Bob

[rabend]

My problem is that on my engine the impeller cover plate is under a hose making it difficult to get a good finger grip on the screws. After the screws have been hand tightened and in place for a while, they are difficult to remove. If they had the slots as advertised, I could break them loose with a screw driver and then continue to loosen them by hand. Speedseal says they no longer make them with the slot. Bottom line is that they should sell what they advertise.

[Christian Van H]

Call 'em back and ask for a spare set. Slot them yourself with a wheel on a dremel. Ta-Dah!

[Blue Stocking]

Originally Posted by Christian Van H

Call 'em back and ask for a spare set. Slot them yourself with a wheel on a dremel. Ta-Dah!

--or 2 blades in a hacksaw

[David M]

Something just does not seem right about making a bolt finger tight on something that vibrates like an engine....just a gut feeling.

[s/v 'Faith']

Originally Posted by Christian Van H

Call 'em back and ask for a spare set. Slot them yourself with a wheel on a dremel. Ta-Dah!

Yup, that is what I was thinking.

I bet they changed the design after they had to replace many of them. With a slotted head that big (diameter increased to provide leverage for the finger screws), I bet some folks insisted on using a screw driver 'just to get that final snug' and broke many of them off in the motor.

Something to be careful of when you do slot them, and only use the slot to remove them.

Also, anti-seize is a really good thing to use on any motor, espceally one in a marine environment.

I like Permatex 80078 Anti-Seize Lubricant I use it on everything from spark plugs to automotive lug nuts. It has some limited corrosion preventive properties, but does a good job of keeping corrosion from sticking things together.

[neelie]

I have it on my 2 Volvos and they work well - easy to get on and off with the knurled screws and an O-ring seal. The original was slotted screws whose slots were mangled and a paper gasket..paper!!. They were not a delight to change in a hurry and in the dark. The Speedseal thing has been a huge improvement.

I am indeed surprised that Speedseal were unhelpful - I had quite the opposite experience with them and have nothing but praise.

[markpj23]

I too had speed seals on Nauticat when we bought the boat. They both leaked from day 1, in part because they have 4 screws vs. the 6 that come on the standard VP unit. They also had a very thin (IMHO) o-ring seal that was a pain to re-seat correctly.

Decent idea but not sure the executed product meets expectations.

[rabend]

I asked them for another set of four screws so that I could slot them myself, and they wanted to charge me significant dollars for the screws. I felt I was going the extra mile and even offered to send back the old screws at the next impeller change. The refused that offer as well . . . not very helpful.

[Solitude]

Originally Posted by rabend

I asked them for another set of four screws so that I could slot them myself, and they wanted to charge me significant dollars for the screws. I felt I was going the extra mile and even offered to send back the old screws at the next impeller change. The refused that offer as well . . . not very helpful.

That sounds like poor customer sevice. Sometimes people dont understand what trearting a customer poorly can do.

I worked on a tourist sailboat in the Algarve during the summer breaks from Uni. The captian always said that one displeased touist lead till 10 lost sales. People always speak more about bad experiences than good ones.

If you had this leak free on your boat for 5 years I doubt you would write a post about it.

[rabend]

I just thought I would provide the outcome. SpeedSeal refused to provide the slotted screws as shown in their advertisement, but they have changed their advertised pictures so that they no longer show the slots. I would not recommend them to anyone based on the lack of customer service I have experienced.