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Rustic Charm · 08-03-2015, 23:34

Sorry my photos aren't all coming up. The first photo in this post is out of order. This is with the SS collar backed off.

Rustic Charm · 08-03-2015, 23:37

This is a picture in situ, but as was requested with the SS collar backed off. You will notice that there is 'no' response in the bellows relaxing as you would expect. I've also undone the two clamps on the tube and made sure it was loose. Still no change.

Rustic Charm · 08-03-2015, 23:38

This one is taken on my chart table.

Rustic Charm · 08-03-2015, 23:40

And now back in place after a clean with collar done up as much as possible.

GILow · 08-03-2015, 23:44

Well that (SECOND) last photo (you posted another between me typing this and hitting reply) does look a little more "scrunched up" than I remember ours looking. But that's almost academic as it appears from what you are saying that the elasticity has pretty well gone from the system altogether...?

Matt

GILow · 08-03-2015, 23:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rustic Charm

Another apology, I'm doing this via my iPhone and iPad. This picture is insitue with the collar backed off.

Certainly does not look as relaxed as I remember them. Silly aside, but I have to ask... no chance the breather hose is pulling back on the bellows slightly?

Matt

gah964 · 08-03-2015, 23:54

that breather hose will not push up one more inch, I cant see?

Rustic Charm · 08-03-2015, 23:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by GILow

Certainly does not look as relaxed as I remember them. Silly aside, but I have to ask... no chance the breather hose is pulling back on the bellows slightly?

Matt

No. As you can see in the second photo the breather tube is off.

Between doing all the measuring, washing and reassembling, I did gain perhaps 5mm at the most. I'm not sure why? Perhaps if I left it overnight it would grow in length. Of course I can't do that and risk my boat sinking if something happens to my bilge pumps over night.

But, it shouldn't be like that. I bet in six months time it's going to leak again when under power?

GILow · 09-03-2015, 00:00

Yes, I think you have a problem. I remember ours as very elastic, very springy and giving the strong impression (perhaps incorrectly) that it could soak up at least an inch of fore and aft shaft movement without leaking. This is nothing like what you are experiencing.

Hey, on the upside, it has done you a favour and let you know about the alignment problem... but could it be the alignment problem was creating some heat which has damaged the bellows in some way? Seems unlikely I admit, given you had a breather hose and therefore a good flow of water.

Matt

gah964 · 09-03-2015, 00:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rustic Charm

No. As you can see in the second photo the breather tube is off.

Between doing all the measuring, washing and reassembling, I did gain perhaps 5mm at the most. I'm not sure why? Perhaps if I left it overnight it would grow in length. Of course I can't do that and risk my boat sinking if something happens to my bilge pumps over night.

But, it shouldn't be like that. I bet in six months time it's going to leak again when under power?

my bet is it should work like that, but if your shaft has a wobble that's whats making it leak. if you don't have the room what can you do? move the engine forward?

Rustic Charm · 09-03-2015, 00:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by GILow

Yes, I think you have a problem. I remember ours as very elastic, very springy and giving the strong impression (perhaps incorrectly) that it could soak up at least an inch of fore and aft shaft movement without leaking. This is nothing like what you are experiencing.

Hey, on the upside, it has done you a favour and let you know about the alignment problem... but could it be the alignment problem was creating some heat which has damaged the bellows in some way? Seems unlikely I admit, given you had a breather hose and therefore a good flow of water.

Matt

I doubt it. I suspect any heat would have come from the engine bay, but hey, if the thing can't take the heat from the engine then it's faulty anyway. I've got a very good flow of water. Unless of course the water 'in the tube' was getting hot? Boiling? Is that possible?

I'm going to just have to wait and see what the supplier says I think. I might have to purchase a new one just so I can send them the old one. I guess it depends how helpful they are.

Rustic Charm · 09-03-2015, 00:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by gah964

my bet is it should work like that, but if your shaft has a wobble that's whats making it leak. if you don't have the room what can you do? move the engine forward?

No, I've already established on Saturday that the leak was caused because there was a lack of 'tension' in the bellows on the ceramic to the SS collar. It was pretty obvious on Saturday just to the touch.

gah964 · 09-03-2015, 00:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rustic Charm

No, I've already established on Saturday that the leak was caused because there was a lack of 'tension' in the bellows on the ceramic to the SS collar. It was pretty obvious on Saturday just to the touch.

so the leak is aft?