ZF Transmission Seals
- Thread starter jmeirhofer
- Start date
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2009
- RO Number
- 30972
- Messages
- 2,127
Okay, after looking closer at the picture. (staring at it for about an hour actually) I compared it with the service manual overhaul section. As well as with previous pictures. The leak has been there since I bought the boat. I knew eventually I would be taking the shafts out to replace it. Even now, it is not such a big drip that it really needs replaced. I am doing mostly because I will already have the shafts out.
Anyway, the engine was aligned when they replaced that motor. It was again aligned at the 10 hour mark. And I will be aligning both again when I re-commission after this work. So I don't think it is an alignment problem. But it does not hurt to check.
What I did figure out by studying a bit is that the output shaft/gear set is the part that appears mis-aligned. In looking at some other photos I have taken it is actually sticking out this much all the way around. The seal is the outer ring with the divits in it. I can see where having that shaft spinning for 15-20 could eventually get it to leak. Especially if it sits for long periods without use. This boat had just over 700 hours when I bought it three years ago. It has 902 on it now. The challenge is going to be to get the old seal out. In the manual they do it with the entire transmission disassembled. However, this seal is the last step in the re-assembly process. There is a special tool that ZF sells to put the new one in over the output shaft. I may consider purchasing it. Definitely think I will replace both seals at each end though. Should be good to go for the rest of the time I own it after that.
Anyway, the engine was aligned when they replaced that motor. It was again aligned at the 10 hour mark. And I will be aligning both again when I re-commission after this work. So I don't think it is an alignment problem. But it does not hurt to check.
What I did figure out by studying a bit is that the output shaft/gear set is the part that appears mis-aligned. In looking at some other photos I have taken it is actually sticking out this much all the way around. The seal is the outer ring with the divits in it. I can see where having that shaft spinning for 15-20 could eventually get it to leak. Especially if it sits for long periods without use. This boat had just over 700 hours when I bought it three years ago. It has 902 on it now. The challenge is going to be to get the old seal out. In the manual they do it with the entire transmission disassembled. However, this seal is the last step in the re-assembly process. There is a special tool that ZF sells to put the new one in over the output shaft. I may consider purchasing it. Definitely think I will replace both seals at each end though. Should be good to go for the rest of the time I own it after that.
so the seal is flat but the shaft is not. I would like to see what happens when the shaft is rotated 180 and the drive shaft uncoupled.. Could the output shaft be misaligned? There is a big bearing right next to it.
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2009
- RO Number
- 30972
- Messages
- 2,127
It is just an optical illusion. It is the same all the way around. I don't have a picture that shows it very well but if you look closer at the first picture I posted it is about equal all the way around as best I can tell. Definitely something I am going to take a closer look at though next trip out there.
Since it is snowing again now I have a feeling it may be June before I get started.
Since it is snowing again now I have a feeling it may be June before I get started.