'89 Mariner 25hp EL -- two prop shaft seals or one???

[SteveVT]

I have an '89 Mariner 25 hp EL, and I'm replacing the prop seal(s). When I opened the lower unit up there were two separate prop shaft seals -- an inner and an outer. I have as replacement a genuine Quicksilver 26-85090A1 kit.

But in the kit there is only a single prop shaft seal. This seal looks like it is maybe two seals in one -- I can see inside two plastic wipers. Also in a parts diagram I have for my engine it shows only one seal.

The original 2 seals that came out were both stamped with the same number "Mercury 26-41132" although they were different diameters and fit in stepped recesses in the housing.

The new seal seems to fit in the inner recess, though I haven't pressed it in yet. I just wanted to check here to make sure this is a new style replacement for the other two seals.

Also want to double check that the side with the stepped metal face faces out (toward the propeller).

Thanks in advance for clarifying if you know what I've got here.

 

[SteveVT]

I've tracked down the oil seal I got in the Quicksilver 26-85090A1 kit and it is a: "# 26-98283 prop shaft seal". Some exploded diagrams of my engine show this single seal. Some show two seals (as originally found in my motor) : 26-41131 and 26-41132.

The single seal seems to seat where the inner seal would normally be, leaving the outer seal journal exposed to water, which would likely degrade over time. In other words, if I install the single seal, there would probably be no going back.

I'm kind of curious whether the single seal was the latest/best thinking, or did Mariner Mercury go to double seals as preferable? Which came first, and does anybody prefer one over the other, who has experience with these?

 

[SteveVT]

More info after researching: the single seal is no longer manufactured. The two seals are still manufactured and widely available.

Looks like my NOS seal kit 26-58090A1 contained the single seal, the A2 version of the same kit had the two seal version. Seems like the two seals are the later modification. So yeah, looks like two seals are preferable.

Hope this info helps someone else.