Rejoining this group after many years of absence. My 1986 F-36 needs a new shaft seal. I used a Volvo-Penta unit when last replaced about 15 years ago. No longer available. Suggestions about sourcing and brands for replacement?
Presuming you have the same space limitations as others, call Paul Dennis for a tides seal. Some others prefer Lasdrop.
*https://www.warrenriverboatworks.com/for-sale.html
Here is a recent exchange which discusses the potential scope creep of this project.
https://freedomyachts.org/t/motor-mount-replacement-and-engine-alignment/11646
After all the customers who have had the same issue with the Tides seal, Paul is now started recommending the modified Lasdrop seal. It needs to be cut down a bit, and the hose it comes with is too stiff. I used the red hose that came with my failed Tides seal, and it works nicely. Call Lasdrop and tell them to cut off as much of the seal as they can without compromising it before sending it to you. It’s a much beefier product than the Tides seal.
I did not realize the Tides was having a lot of issues. I guess that is something to look forward to down the road.
One issue with tides is the seal must be replaceu in its entirety including housing when the seal wears out. The lasdrop lip seal itself can be removed and replaced within the housing thus saving a couple hundred dollars. A replacement Lasdrop lip seal costs around $30. I have both and the tides Lip seal looks identical to the Lasdrop but the tides is permanently adhered to the housing. I was going to transition to the tides but will only be using the flexible housing to shaft race coupling tube. My current tube is a very inflexible wired exhaust tube which, I believe, is causing excessive seal wear due to transmission of engine vibration to the seal via the stiff tubing.