PSS Shaft Seal for 38mm Shaft

Stainless steel rotor

The PSS stainless steel rotor is slid down the shaft and is secured to the shaft with set screws at 90° for maximum holding power. Precision tolerances are maintained by computer controlled lathes. The faces have a number 9 micro finish and are perpendicular to the bore to prevent run-out as the collar rotates. The carbon graphite stator will polish the face of the rotor during the first few minutes of operation. The stainless steel rotor should not need to be replaced under normal operating conditions. The stainless steel rotor used on the PSS Type A Shaft Seal are made from 316L stainless steel.

Carbon Stator

The high density, resin impregnated carbon/graphite stator is a space age composite that is first mixed, molded and then formed under pressure. The grade of carbon used in the PSS has an operating temperature over 500° Fahrenheit (+260° Celsius), and cannot melt if the seal runs dry, unlike a rubber lip seal or plastic face seal. The high density of the carbon greatly increases the longevity and wear resistance. Several commercial vessels have recorded over 40,000 (over 4-1/2 years of continuous operation) engine hours on the same, original components. The carbon should not need to be replaced under normal operating conditions.

Bellow

The PSS Type A Shaft Seal bellow is made from rubber (Nitrile), and has a temperature rating of -25°F to +225°F (-31°C to +107°C). Nitrile is known for its good resistance to weathering. Nitrile rubber's single most important property is its exceptional resistance to oils and non-polar solvents. It also offers good gas impermeability, abrasion resistance and better thermal stability than most general purpose elastomers

Hose barb

For high speed vessels it is required that a positive water supply be plumbed to the PSS Shaft Seal for the purpose of lubricating and cooling the seal faces. There are many sources of water supply, review the PSS Shaft Seal Installation Instructions for more information and note all plumbing must follow the standards and practices of proper boat plumbing. In most cases a slow speed boat that does not have a bearing the shaft log does not require positive water feed and can simply be "vented". Ideally the vent line will be run at least 2-3 feet above the water line and is close to the center line as possible to ensure the vent hose is never below the water line, even if the boat heels. Review the PSS Shaft Seal Installation Instructions for more details on venting the seal.

The PSS shaft seal is a mechanical face seal that is created between the flat surfaces of the rotating stainless steel rotor and the stationary carbon flange. The stationary carbon flange is attached to the vessels stern tube with hose clamps and the carbon flange is attached to the front side of the bellows with hose clamps. The stainless steel rotor is fit on the shaft in front of the carbon flange. The stainless steel rotor is used to compress the bellows before the collar is secured to the shaft with set-screws. This compression (pre-load) maintains contact between the faces and allows the PSS to compensate for the thrust from the propeller. The carbon flange is bored larger than the shaft diameter allowing it to “float” around the shaft and thus compensate for most misalignment and vibration problems. The stainless steel collar is sealed to the shaft by two o-rings that are recessed into the bore of the collar. These o-rings rotate with the shaft and stainless steel rotor and do not experience wear during operation.

Note: You must not use any grease on the seals. These mechanical seals are water lubricated.

Please specify the exact shaft diameter and stern tube outer-dia when ordering.