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Jan 3, '11 4:10 PM
by Mark for everyone

Hi all,

This year the stern gland on my Albin Ballad, Triola (Ballad number 50) started to leak after I launched her at the beginning of the season whilst her engine was running. After pumping grease into the stern gland under pressure, the leaking stopped, however, since then it has always been in the back of my mind that the leaking might start again, especially when it gets a little bouncy! So, I resolved to refurbish the stern gland this winter (it was long overdue anyway).

The stern gland is the original lip seal arrangement, with a white metal bearing around the prop shaft. Getting hold of the new lip seals is not a problem, however, I don't know where I could buy the knackered white metal bearing that connects with the prop shaft.

The white metal bearing is on the left. If anyone has any idea where I could find one of these, I would be very grateful indeed.

I would love to replace the stern gland with a more modern affair, however, finances in these hard times disallow, so it comes back down to finding somewhere I can source the white metal bearing from.

Best regards, and thanks again,

Mark

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8 CommentsChronological Reverse Threaded

ydalir wrote on Jan 3, '11

Hi!
At http://www.ballad.no/pakkboks.htm there is an article in Norwegian concerning the renovation of the stuffing box. The author bought the white metal bearing at a local yard. You could try to send a request to the yards email: butikken@padda.no

I made a request last year and I think they had the parts, but I decided to go for the Volvo Penta rubber stuffing box. Works well.. so far

markryan1981 wrote on Jan 3, '11

Hi there,

Thank you so much for the response, the article is very interesting, and the chap who wrote it faced a similar problem to me in sourcing the white metal bearing. I tried the yards email address, however it failed so I have emailed the author of the article directly (google translate is a wonderful thing!)

Best regards,

Mark

jespermilling wrote on Jan 4, '11

Hi Mark! Thanks for the video! Reminds me of better times. (Better than office work in the darkness of winter). Jesper Milling

jocotton wrote on Jan 4, '11

Try your friendly Glacier Garlock Bearings dealer. He will find you a bush with the correct OD, ID and length, probably bronze lined.
Good luck and have a good sail in 2011.
John Cotton
N 3092

markryan1981 wrote on Jan 10, '11

Hi Jesper, I feel exactly the same way, with the boat out of the water for her winter TLC, there is plenty of longing staring at the river going on at the moment, especially on the rare nice days we have.

Ta John, I've called up GGB in the UK, and they put me onto Waukesha bearings (01923 845101), I have left a message with them to see if they could source the white metal bearing (25 ID, 28 OD and 30 long). Vega marine in Sweden also offered a white bearing of those dimensions for me, however have yet to hear back from them, was going to cost 98 Swedish Kroner (about £10 I think).

Oh and thanks ydalir, the Volvo Penta stuffing box is a great idea too, one that would be my preferred option as I hear they are a great unit, however, that would cost some £100 and as I am getting married this year, it's all hands to the pumps financially speaking, so if I can just replace the white metal bearing for £10, I'll stick with that as the old style Albin stuffing box has lasted since Triola was born in 1971!

Best regards,
Mark

markryan1981 wrote on Jan 11, '11

Hi all,

Here is what I have finally done with my wayward stern gland: After postage and an admin charge, the new white metal bearing would have cost some £30 from Sweden and I was not sure I would be able to get the bearing back into the fitting without destroying it, so I have gone for the Volvo Penta stern gland to get something that will do the job right from French Marine.

Ydalir, do you have to "burp" the stern gland (pull it about until you get a spurt of water into the boat) when you put the boat in the water to ensure it is full of water and not air?

Ta,

Mark

gem2martin wrote on Jan 14, '11

Had to replace the packing gland on Alte Liebe last year. Bought a replacement from Vega Marin in Sweden; their part no, I think, was 30003. It's an oil filled gland.Talk to them as I also needed a rubber hose adapter, Cost was 1174 SEK shipped to California.

Jerry Martin
Alte Liebe #1266

h4marine wrote on May 17, '11

You can replace white metal bearings directly with Maritex for oil or water lubrication, Maritex can be used as a very thin wall bearing material. We change a number of these units every year, melting out the old white metal and inserting a new Maritex bearing as a clearance fit bedded on epoxy. You can check if there is enough space by using the online calculator just enter shaft OD and carrier ID (after white metal removal) http://www.h4marine.com/Downloads/Maritex%20AQUARIUS%20General%20Calculator%20REV%2020100519.xls

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