Thrust bearing leaking?

[Crusader]

All right guys, bear with me and my ignorance on this topic.

I don't have a picture at the moment however I'll describe the best I can.

I'm assuming that were the drive shaft from the engine enters into the pump is where the Thrust bearing is located. Yesterday, while I was on the lake, I noticed I was getting more water than usual into the bilge area. I drained it out and then decided to investigate. What I found was a slight drip of about one drop per second dripping from what I think is the Thrust bearing......this is while floating and not underway. I do grease is about every other trip out on the lake.

My questions are:

1. Is this normal for the bearing to drip like that?
2. If indeed it is NOT normal for it to drip, how hard is the bearing to replace?
3. If I have to replace the bearing, do I have to remove the engine?
4. Do I have to remove the whole pump assembly?

Thanks a lot for your time fellas.

Cliff

 

[KONA77]

that is a packing seal,  and yes there is need for a small drip there,  to lubricate the seal while the shaft is turning,  rule of thumb is a drip a minute while at idle,  that doesn't sound like enough....anyway,  you can tighten it up but don't over tighten,  i do this while the engine is running on the water....  good luck

 

[Crusader]

that is a packing seal,  and yes there is need for a small drip there,  to lubricate the seal while the shaft is turning,  rule of thumb is a drip a minute while at idle,  that doesn't sound like enough....anyway,  you can tighten it up but don't over tighten,  i do this while the engine is running on the water....  good luck

Thanks Kona!!

Okay, so that is a packing seal on the thrust bearing?

It's leaking about one drop per second while floating with the engine off.....just sitting there.

 

[KONA77]

actually the bearing is closer to the engine, that seal seals the suction housing where the shaft come thru and then into the bearing housing where your grease fitting is,  and mine drips about like that to,  i just never made the effort to tighten it....  :smile27:

 

[Crusader]

actually the bearing is closer to the engine, that seal seals the suction housing where the shaft come thru and then into the bearing housing where your grease fitting is,  and mine drips about like that to,  i just never made the effort to tighten it....  :smile27:

Okay, cool......I'll try to tighten it a little this weekend at the Lavon Season opener when there's a few folks there that know more about that stuff than I do. I guess I should do one of two things with a leaky seal.....1. Not leave the boat in the water overnight or 2, Install a float switch on my bilge pump...lol.

 

[duanehydro]

give it a 1/4 to 1/2 turn on each of the 9/16 nuts. :smile30:

 

[KONA77]

no matter what,  if your leaving your boat in over night a float switch is a must,,  never trust a boat not to sink  crazy.gif

when tightening the seal,  do a little at a time and both sides equally,  it doesn't take much

 

[Crusader]

no matter what,  if your leaving your boat in over night a float switch is a must,,  never trust a boat not to sink  crazy.gif

when tightening the seal,  do a little at a time and both sides equally,  it doesn't take much

Thanks....ya, I was assuming that it didn't take much to tighten those nuts.

I'll be putting a new bilge pump in the boat anyway....probably next payday. I DO plan on spending the weekend camped out on Pebble beach with the crusader in the water this summer. Also....when Don, a fellow Northy, gets his cabin cruiser to Lavon...plan on staying on that as well.....with the Crusader moored up next to it.

 

[Crusader]

give it a 1/4 to 1/2 turn on each of the 9/16 nuts. :smile30:

Thanks Duane, I'll keep that in mind when tightening it.

 

[Last Mohecian]

Look at this exploded view of a Berkeley pump.  The packing seal (23) is in 4 pieces.  As you tighten the nuts (39) it compresses the seal thus increasing the sealing force on the shaft and reducing the amount of water allowed to seep.  As has already been stated, you want some water for lubrication.  The thrust bearing (30) is actually housed forward of the seal and retained by the bearing retainer (8).

http://www.berkeleyjet.com/images/berkeley-12JG-parts-drawing-lg.jpg

 

[Crusader]

Wow Matt, thanks for the detailed explanation and exploded view....Fantastic!

 

[wildbunch]

Take good care of that thrust bearing. Cost me $12,000.00 last year at Hydrofest.

 

[jetboatperformance]

X's 3 or 4 on adjusting the packing , its also a place for your jet to draw air in from the atmosphere and cause poor performance , but check to see how close the back of the packing gland ears are to the suction as at some point you run out of adjustment and need to replace the packings  (cheap)  Call if you need help tom

 

[Crusader]

Take good care of that thrust bearing. Cost me $12,000.00 last year at Hydrofest.

Thanks, That's why I'm asking the question now.....precautionary!!

X's 3 or 4 on adjusting the packing , its also a place for your jet to draw air in from the atmosphere and cause poor performance , but check to see how close the back of the packing gland ears are to the suction as at some point you run out of adjustment and need to replace the packings  (cheap)  Call if you need help tom

Thanks Tom...I'll certainly call if I need some advice.

 

[Crusader]

Gonna tighten down those bolts Friday evening.

Should I have the boat in the water with the engine running to do this?

 

[KONA77]

just my .02 here,  i would,  just so you know when you have the proper amount of water lubricating the packing seals

 

[Crusader]

Okay Kona, cool. What I'll do is just back the boat into the water and adjust it while it's still on the trailer....little added safety measure in case I really screw it up. Lol.

Thanks. 

 

[KONA77]

just remember to tighten both sides equally....  it's not gonna take much

 

[Crusader]

Okay...I'll just do maybe 1/8 turns on each side until I reduce the 1 drop per second leak rate.....to maybe 1 drop ever 10 seconds or so....

I was a little concerned when the engine was off and the water was just leaking in at a 1 drop per second rate. I'm sure there was more leakage while being underway....which would explain why my bilge was filling up.

We cruised probably 15 miles on Sunday.....burned a tank and a half of gas....just to put it into perspective. Never went above 3,500 rpms and never opened up the secondaries on the carb.....just an economy (best we could be) ride on the lake.

 

[Last Mohecian]

Okay...I'll just do maybe 1/8 turns on each side until I reduce the 1 drop per second leak rate.....to maybe 1 drop ever 10 seconds or so....

I was a little concerned when the engine was off and the water was just leaking in at a 1 drop per second rate. I'm sure there was more leakage while being underway....which would explain why my bilge was filling up.

We cruised probably 15 miles on Sunday.....burned a tank and a half of gas....just to put it into perspective. Never went above 3,500 rpms and never opened up the secondaries on the carb.....just an economy (best we could be) ride on the lake.

It was probably leaking at the same rate underway or less.  That seal is on the suction side of the pump.  If anything it was sucking air into the pump while underway not leaking water into the boat.  That is a big A$$ boat to be worried about 1 drop per second.  It would take it a year to sink at that rate.  If you got that much water in the bilge I'd be looking for another leak while underway.  Perhaps a pressure line that only leaks under a load.