Hi all,
It's been project week on the boat, and included on that list was tightening up the packing nut. It was staying dry at rest, but was a constant flow when the prop was turning. The nut came loose fairly easily, and I was able to adjust it down to ~1 drip a minute (when at relatively low RPM, tested while tied to the dock).
However, I forgot about Ahab's 3rd law...for every problem you fix on a boat you'll create another.
After getting the packing nut tightened down I went to dinner and came back and saw a some water in the prop bilge (my term). However, the drips weren't under the packing nut, they were on the other end, where the tube is connected to the log. When loosening the packing nut it did torque the tube a little. I held it with my hand, to offset the pressure (and used two packing nut tools to offset), but I'm guessing that little bit of torsion was enough to perhaps "un-seal" whatever crud is/was around the tube space. The tube appears to be relatively new and in decent condition, so I don't think that it's a tear/defect in the material.
I tightened down the hose clamps (they were already quite tight), but it has continued to drip. I should be clear...its more of a slow weep than a drip. I let it sit over night and had maybe 3oz of water in the prop bilge (a minimum enough that it was easily wiped up with a washcloth). I'm not worried about this sinking the boat or anything. However...this used to be dry, and I would prefer not to have any lake water entering the boat.
I've tried repositioning the hose clamps a little, but no avail. I'm starting to think that the hose clamps/tube are not the issue. I'm wondering if folks have addressed something similar. Where do I look next? Is the stern bearing/shaft log typically "sealed" when installed? Is there a chance that it needs to re-bedded? Did that bit of torsion on the tube somehow damage the shaft log/barb where its attached (is that possible)?
I've included a couple of pictures for reference.
Thanks!
It's been project week on the boat, and included on that list was tightening up the packing nut. It was staying dry at rest, but was a constant flow when the prop was turning. The nut came loose fairly easily, and I was able to adjust it down to ~1 drip a minute (when at relatively low RPM, tested while tied to the dock).
However, I forgot about Ahab's 3rd law...for every problem you fix on a boat you'll create another.
After getting the packing nut tightened down I went to dinner and came back and saw a some water in the prop bilge (my term). However, the drips weren't under the packing nut, they were on the other end, where the tube is connected to the log. When loosening the packing nut it did torque the tube a little. I held it with my hand, to offset the pressure (and used two packing nut tools to offset), but I'm guessing that little bit of torsion was enough to perhaps "un-seal" whatever crud is/was around the tube space. The tube appears to be relatively new and in decent condition, so I don't think that it's a tear/defect in the material.
I tightened down the hose clamps (they were already quite tight), but it has continued to drip. I should be clear...its more of a slow weep than a drip. I let it sit over night and had maybe 3oz of water in the prop bilge (a minimum enough that it was easily wiped up with a washcloth). I'm not worried about this sinking the boat or anything. However...this used to be dry, and I would prefer not to have any lake water entering the boat.
I've tried repositioning the hose clamps a little, but no avail. I'm starting to think that the hose clamps/tube are not the issue. I'm wondering if folks have addressed something similar. Where do I look next? Is the stern bearing/shaft log typically "sealed" when installed? Is there a chance that it needs to re-bedded? Did that bit of torsion on the tube somehow damage the shaft log/barb where its attached (is that possible)?
I've included a couple of pictures for reference.
Thanks!
.
