Carbon Seal Education

[Gasngo]

Ok I have read things about a carbon ring and carbon seal. Ill assume the ring is in the impeller housing and the seal is behind the PTO clamped to the bellows. That being said fit and finish is the ?. The hat as I read somewhere sits against the carbon seal. Ill assume again that the hat contact to the seal should be centered and even pressure or surface contact. It looks like I could put some fender washers under the rear motor mounts and raise the rear of the motor slightly for a full even contact and center. How important is this?

 

[artr]

I do not think you want to change the height of the motor mounts with washers because you will change the alignment of the engine to the jet pump. If you know that the engine was in alignment, I think you look at the condition of the hat, carbon seal (same as carbon ring) and bellows. The hat is on the driveshaft and the bellows holds the carbon seal against it and centers the seal around the drive shaft. Check that the seal correctly seated in the bellows and the bellows is attached correctly to the hull. If there is a problem, you would experience water leaking at the hat/carbon seal interface or cavitation due to air leaking into the jet pump under hard acceleration.

 

[Gasngo]

Thanks for the input. Being a 97 model and the fact that its been taken apart and put back together somewhere down the rd Im not to concerned about shaft alignment. I have not yet ridden the ski so I have no idea about anything. I do understand its important. I would also think the original rubber mounts have sagged some. Ill take a pic and post it up for some input. I just appears to me that its slightly off center and has more contact around the 9 to 3 position [ upper half] than the lower 6 O clock area. I might be able to simply loosen the bellows and refit it and achieve what Im looking for.

 

[mikidymac]

If you have any indication the engine has been moved or removed then you need to check the alignment with the correct alignment tool. You will ruin the driveshaft splines and or PTO/Impeller splines too.

 

[DooWacka]

I would doubt the hard rubber mounts can "sag " much.

Miki is right that the alignment is important and should be verified.

The issue you are seeing can often be corrected by just loosening the boot clamps and rotating the boot to a better position.

Remember, the minimum boot compression on the carbon ring is a requirement for a good seal, and spacers can be inserted on the hull side of the ring. This method is written up in the manual. I have used split ABS or PVC ~2" rings (cut from plastic pipe) to increase the boot compression so you don't have to pull the shaft to install them.

 

[Gasngo]

Ok back on task and thanks for the input. Heres a couple of pics of the seal. I have another issue that Ill post a new post just wanted to follow through.

One shot is straight down and the other form the side. I thought I had them rotated for a decent view but look to me like a pretty good flush fit.

 

[mikidymac]

Looks perfectly normal.
Now stop playing in the dirt and clean that bilge.

 

[Gasngo]

We did give it a clean. Who knows where this thing has been. Under a tree at one point in time. It look good for a 97 just got to get the pump rt and should be good.