prop shaft packing questions

My brother has an 02 x-star and we're wondering what preventative maintenance we should do on the packing around the prop shaft. I haven't found too much info on it anywhere. How often do you change it or if you do at all. Any help at all from anybody. Are all v-drives fairly identical under the floor? Thanx for the help.

The 02 probably has the old wax & rope version of prop packing, as opposed to the newer, no maintenance version made now.

I've never heard of any preventative maintenance on them, other than to watch how much it leaks. It's water cooled & supposed to leak like 1 drip every 10 seconds or some crazy low amount. If it's leaking too much, then there is a big nut around it that can be tightened a bit.

Bill K, thanx for the info. Do I need to pull the floor panel to access the nut and gland? Where should I observe this 1 drip per whatever? Thanx

you might have to pull the floor. im not familiar with that boat. the drip occurs where the shaft enter the packing.

open you engine cover and look toward where the shaft exits the hull. I would think you are going to have to pull the floor panel though.

I think on the X-Star it's under the engine. Like Nick says, it's where the prop shaft enters the boat. The packing will be behind a big nut & collar around the shaft.

To check it your going to have to empty the storage areas beside the engine, pull the partitions out, get in there & get down low so you can see where the prop shaft comes thru the hull. With the boat floating, and the engine running, just put it in gear at idle speed. Look for the leak. It'll be very little..... or at least it's supposed to be. Just like 10 drips per minute. Too much & your boat is sinking. Too little & it can burn the glass, prop shaft & packing. So err on the side of too much...... and make sure your bilge pump & float switch work.

There are articles on both rope packing and PSS seals at http://www.wakeboatworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=category&section id=4&id=13&Itemid=35