Lube leak from around propshaft

[<Tom>]

I was replacing the gear lube this week when I noticed a leak around th shaft. When I replace the gear lube I have always pumped in from the bottom, and I loosen the top screw as far out as possible without removing it, I leave my screw driver on the screw while I pump the lube. I watch for it to spill out the top hole and and simply tighten when full. I know I'm supposed to remove the screw completely but its always been sufficient to simply loosen, its also real easy to reseal because you just a couple turns away. Well maybe this time I didnt have the screw out far enough so that lube could pass by it because when I saw the lube leaking around the shaft I pulled the screw out entirely and heard a little pfft (release of pressure). After I filled the gear case and cleaned up the leak at the propshaft I watched the shaft for an hour or so and it didnt leak anymore.

Are th seals ruined if this is in fact what happened? Are they ruined even if after I released the pressure there were no further leaks?

Thanks
Tom

[<Hamfisted>]

Its an area to watch now. I don't have the book in front of me but a normal pressure test of the lower unit should be about 10psi and it should hold that without leaking. But if its not leaking now I would just keep an eye on it. Not hard to change but you can do the driveshaft seal and the prop shaft seal at the same time whenever you decide to do it.

Mike