New sea pump front seal walking out. Causes? Fixes?

[twalt42]

Installed a new sea pump (probably a rebuild) at the end of the season last year on a 1995 Mercruiser 454 Magnum serial F305183. While dealing with some other issues this season, I noticed the front seal on the pump was working itself out. It was cockeyed a bit on it's way out protruding more so on the starboard side of the pump housing. It looked ok and I managed to get it back in but not fully seated. There was no leaking of oil or water. Note, the pump also drives a mechanical fuel pump.

Questions: Is there a easy means of reseating this seal? Also, what might cause such an issue outside of a bad seal or rebuild? My first thought is the belt might be too tight even with a half of play in it.

I would appreciate any thoughts you might have. Thanks!
Tom

 

[dingbat]

Installed a new sea pump (probably a rebuild) at the end of the season last year on a 1995 Mercruiser 454 Magnum serial F305183. While dealing with some other issues this season, I noticed the front seal on the pump was working itself out. It was cockeyed a bit on it's way out protruding more so on the starboard side of the pump housing. It looked ok and I managed to get it back in but not fully seated. There was no leaking of oil or water. Note, the pump also drives a mechanical fuel pump.

Questions: Is there a easy means of reseating this seal? Also, what might cause such an issue outside of a bad seal or rebuild? My first thought is the belt might be too tight even with a half of play in it.

I would appreciate any thoughts you might have. Thanks!
Tom

Seals can walk for any number of reasons:
Not properly seated
Wrong size seal
Out of tolerance housings and or seals
Bent shafts
Bad bearings
Thermal issues

 

[twalt42]

Seals can walk for any number of reasons:
Not properly seated
Wrong size seal
Out of tolerance housings and or seals
Bent shafts
Bad bearings
Thermal issues

Thanks for the response Dingbat. I managed to dig up the invoice and found this was apparently new in the box and not a rebuild. It doesn't mean it can't be bad but the original units seal did the same thing last year when I was winterizing. I will be doublechecking its alignment and belt tensioning.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I would pull the seal, get a new one and install with a bit of permatex around the outer edge.