How sealed are sealed bearings?

[The motor guy]

A few years back, I had a shop work on my boat and they put sealed bearings inside pds housing. Basically the drive shaft that connects the outdrive and engine together. I was peeved because it's supposed to have two 6206 open bearings if I remember right. The guy said I could still grease it and it would still squeeze it's way past the seal. I have my doubts. I don't understand why they didn't just remove the seal on one side if they couldn't find open bearings, or whatever the reason was. So, with that being said, can you still force grease into a sealed bearing?

 

[meep]

Not easily, but if there is grease on the outside of the bearing, it’s less likely to leak out and dry.

 

[MasterSolenoid]

I would do some research on 'sealed' bearings (if you haven't yet).
Maybe contact some bearing manufacturers.

I would believe as 'meep' said above.
Just keep them greased as best as possible and see how long they last.

 

[thastinger]

A few years back, I had a shop work on my boat and they put sealed bearings inside pds housing. Basically the drive shaft that connects the outdrive and engine together. I was peeved because it's supposed to have two 6206 open bearings if I remember right. The guy said I could still grease it and it would still squeeze it's way past the seal. I have my doubts. I don't understand why they didn't just remove the seal on one side if they couldn't find open bearings, or whatever the reason was. So, with that being said, can you still force grease into a sealed bearing?

Are you talking about the gimbal bearing?

 

[The motor guy]

Are you talking about the gimbal bearing?

Yes, but that's a mercruiser term. They're called primary drive shaft bearings on the older volvos. I have an older aquamamatic outdrive with the borg warner bell housing which holds the pds bearings

 

[thastinger]

Yes, but that's a mercruiser term. They're called primary drive shaft bearings on the older volvos. I have an older aquamamatic outdrive with the borg warner bell housing which holds the pds bearings

Hmmm, ok. My wellcraft is volvo/penta I/O and my gimbal bearing is sealed on both sides but it has a hole in the middle which you line up with a grease tube metal line which runs to a grease fitting on the side of the SX drive gimbal.

 

[The motor guy]

Hmmm, ok. My wellcraft is volvo/penta I/O and my gimbal bearing is sealed on both sides but it has a hole in the middle which you line up with a grease tube metal line which runs to a grease fitting on the side of the SX drive gimbal.

Yeah, you're correct. The newer volvos do have a gimbal bearing

 

[FTTSHO]

Sealed bearings aren’t really air tight sealed, because when temperature rises, the heated air inside has to go somewhere.

 

[lbhsbz]

Depends on which type.....

If you look at this link, https://www.skf.com/us/products/rol.../deep-groove-ball-bearings/designation-system
there are a whole lot of different seal types / designations, for different purposes and use with different lubes.

I would suggest removing the seals in a serviceable marine application if that's the OEM used.