to seal or not to seal with brittle carbon seals

[Crosbyman]

basic question on the subject…

most engines today and many for years on end have had no carbon seals, carbon seal shaft plate , bottom cork seal pushed up by the carbon seal assembly on the drive shaft…etc.. etc...


so is all this hardware really necessary ???

or could a custom cut base plate fitted in the driveshaft cavity leaving a 7/16 or 15/32 hole for the drive shaft itself to spin freely

this is a fresh water engine and the splines will be well greased anyway

this is not like the engine will self destruct if basic care is provided by keeping the engine upright to reduce the possibility of water working itself up to the PH base ,

 

[F_R]

I maintain that most of those 5.5 & 7.5 hp motors with connecting rods thrown through the case are due to defective or improperly installed carbon seals. After it happens, somebody swears it was caused by lack of oil. It's an argument that I'll never win, so I mostly shut up.

Yes, there are motors that have no seal at all, but look and you will probably find that the crankshaft doesn't stick into the exhaust housing. EDIT: Yeah, I know, there are exceptions

Do whatever you want. It'll last awhile, till it finally blows.

 

[jimmbo]

so is all this hardware really necessary ???

I doubt the engineers added unneeded parts...


Why did you start a second post/thread on this?

 

[racerone]

There is nothing wrong with the design of those carbon seal.-----Why complain because a few in a million cracked.----Was used on the 5.5 / 6 HP from say 55 to 79.----Used on the 10 / 18./ 20 / 33 / 40 hp and some V-4 models too !!

 

[Crosbyman]

I doubt the engineers added unneeded parts...


Why did you start a second post/thread on this?

one dealt with procurement /availability at a reasonable price (local dealer asking $47.50 + 15 % tax)

one dealt with necessity

yep.. could have continued on one just searching for a less costly alternative on a 59 year engine

 

[muc]

I doubt the engineers added unneeded parts...

2 words----- clipper circuit

just kidding ---- they rarely install unneeded parts.

 

[Scott Danforth]

just searching for a less costly alternative on a 59 year engine

That motor is almost 45 years past its design life....its going to cost money to keep going. Kust be thankful you can still get parts