Replace Carbon Ring?

[Michael211_2000]

How can you tell when it's time to change the carbon ring on the pump seal? Ok obviously if water is flooding in thru the seal then it's probably way PAST time to change it... but what are the symptoms of a carbon ring wearing out otherwise? How long do they generally last? Mine's at 74 hrs so far (drought last summer in Texas severely limited the boating season).

I'm just curious because mine chatters a little on trailer with flush port water if I give it any throttle (yes I limit to less than 5 minutes of run time on flush port and I let it idle almost exclusively), but while riding it on the lake it sounds fine. I'm pretty sure the chatter comes from the carbon ring seal, but not 100% positive and can't find anything else wrong/loose anywhere. I'm just curious if the chattering on trailer could be a sign the carbon is about gone or something. I've not held one of these carbon rings in my hand yet to see how thick the carbon part is, it's a bit of trouble to replace however if there's nothing really wrong with mine.

Regards!

- Michael

 

[trapperjack1]

you get cavatation meaning you floor it and you feel vibration and you
dont go right a way, I took mine out and used 800 grit wet and dry sand paper
on a very flat surface and worked it smooth and bought a new bellow,
as for changing it out cut a peace of 1x1 or 2x2 5 1/2 inch long wood
and find a peace of oak 2 ft long 3 inch wide and cut a you (U) in the end
and put it over the ring that the carbon ring touches and put the 5 1/2 inbetween
that and the motor and pry it back to get the c -clip out
pm me your email and ill send you a pic, ive tryed and cant get pics on here :cuss:

 

[Michael211_2000]

you get cavatation meaning you floor it and you feel vibration and you
dont go right a way

That's odd, why would it cavitate because of the carbon seal wear? Cavitation would occurr if air is being sucked thru the seal into the pump water flow, and if the bellows "spring" is properly adjusted that shouldn't happen.

I took mine out and used 800 grit wet and dry sand paper
on a very flat surface and worked it smooth and bought a new bellow

Why did you need a new bellows? You replaced the bellows, but simply resurfaced your carbon ring seal face? Was the surface of the carbon ring messed up somehow? I take it that the carbon must have some thickness to it if you were able to resurface it instead of replacing it.... I'm very confused why you needed a new bellows though. What was wrong with your original bellows? It acts like a spring pushing the carbon ring tightly against the stainless steel ring on the driveshaft this much I understand.

as for changing it out cut a peace of 1x1 or 2x2 5 1/2 inch long wood
and find a peace of oak 2 ft long 3 inch wide and cut a you (U) in the end
and put it over the ring that the carbon ring touches and put the 5 1/2 inbetween
that and the motor and pry it back to get the c -clip out

Well that's a novel approach and sure beats spending ~$80 or so for a specifically made tool to push that stainless steel ring back. I may have to try making one of those "fork levers" out of wood, it's not like it's a tool that needs to be used very often after all but if you don't have it and need it it can really cause pulled arm and shoulder muscles trying to get that ring pulled back enough to push that clip off the shaft!

Thanks.

- Michael

 

[trapperjack1]

after a while the bellow gets hard and dont have the spring in it
thats why i put one in 15 bucks the carbon ring is thick your only
taking off maybe .005 just getting the scratches out
if the carbon ring seal is bad you will suck air witch mine was
after the fix shes just like new

 

[Michael211_2000]

Well thank you very much for the explanation/clarification. This was on your '04 RXP I presume? Any idea why the carbon ring developed scratches?

If your bellows wasn't holding the carbon ring firmly against the stainless steel ring on the drive shaft, wouldn't you think that was the primary reason for the pump getting air in thru the carbon ring seal?

Thanks for the info Jack!

- Michael

 

[trapperjack1]

that was why and the scratches, clean surface more pressure
problem solved
a new belows standing along side an older one
the new one stands taller