Reply To: Water Lubricated Shaft Seals

Nick,
I have an newly acquired HT 27 with deep sea seals. Like you have done, the seals although attached with tubing to the engine compartment, are not supplied with water from the engine pump (as recommended). They work well without the water supply as far as I can see, but I was worried about this since reading the manufacturers installlation manual it said water supply was necessary; so I am pleased to read you came to the same conclusion. When I ran the engine on purchase I noticed water in the pipes, a good check I think that the seal is being supplied by water from it squeezing past the cuttless bearing.
A worry for me though is that when I put the boat on the hard for the winter I inspected everything on the boat (as you would on a new purchase). I naively found the (emergency) red jubillee clips on the seals were loose and so tightened them. Subsequently, having read the installation manual acquired from T. Norris, I realised my error and loosened them again (never ran engine with them tightened). I am hoping that the emergency contraction of the gland is reversible when you loosen off the jubillee clips (T. Norris didn't know). Hve you any idea if it's reversible? The boat goes in the water this Saturday (21st) so I suppose I will soon find out! I will go with a thick plastic role and ties to shut off the seal if it leaks!