7.3.3 Shaft line maintenance

Component	Maintenance	Notes and precautions
Shaft support bushings	Periodical checks (at least once a month) Assembly/disassembly	The Neoprene bushing of the shaft support, when sailing in waters with sandy suspensions, may wear rapidly. The bushing wear causes a vibrations increase. With the yacht in a dry shore, a good technician can easily evaluate, by moving the shaft, if the wear is so bad as to need the bushing to be replaced.
Stuffing box seal	Maintenance and check	With yacht moored at the marina, daily and before set up navigation.
Shaft lines	Periodical checks (at least once a month)	It is essential to keep always the propellers and shafts clean; the formation of parasites or the presence of foreign bodies like cables, cloths or plastic bags lead to propulsion power reduction, to propellers cavitation with consequent surface damage, and to vibrations causing damages to the stuffing box seals and to the bushings of the shaft supports. Checking and eventual cleaning may be carried out with the yacht in a dry dock or with the help of a diver. To clean scrape the barnacles, without engraving the metal, polish them with sand paper at thin grain.

MAINTENANCE

At least once a week check for water penetration.
At least once a month carry out the cleaning.
Periodically:

Check the status of the seals;
Check the compression of the seal and when necessary carry out the compression;
Check and service the cooling circuit of the seals in order to prevent dirt, seaweeds and foreign bodies from blocking the cooling water flow, thus causing the seals to overheat and, consequently, their irreparable damage.

Periodical checks

Check the shaft backlash (1) trying to move the shaft on a side back and forth to verify the backlash of the shaft supporting bushing (2).

Assembly/disassembly

If the propeller shaft (1) shows backlash, the water lubricated neoprene bushing (2) could be worn out; in this case replace it.
Remove completely the antifouling to reveal the screwdriver screws (3) which lock the bushing positioned.
After the propeller (4) and the shaft (1) have been disassembled, by means of a plastic tube with a slightly smaller diameter, pull out the bushing (2).

For reassembly, repeat the above-mentioned operations in reverse sequence.

Do not use grease between propeller shaft and bushing. Remember to fasten the screws (3).

CAUTION

For spare part request contact the RIVA After Sales & Service department.

CAUTION

Remember to retighten the fixing screws (3) of the bushing on the shaft support. Never use grease or other lubricant between propeller shaft and Neoprene bushing.