HELP with stuffing box
- Thread starter maxxx
- Start date
- Status
Well you need two water pump type pliers and if not familiar with how to do it then do a search and you'll find an excellent post from one of our contributers on stuffing boxes also you might need to replace the packing but first try and tighten but don't over do it cause you'll score the shaft
Here's a link but I encourage you to do a search any way cause you'll get an excellent education
http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/stuffing_box
http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/stuffing_box
be careful! once my friend tightened his stuffing box too tight and eventually affected the shaft's ability to rotate so best to gently tighten it and test it 
First loosen the lock nut (aft-most nut). (I like to use packing nut wrenches -- Home Depot for about $15). Put a wrench on the lock nut and the compression nut (fore-most nut). Then turn the compression nut, one "flat" at a time. After you turn the nut, check the drip rate (depends on what type of packing material is in the gland, but on most you should get no leak withe engine off). Then try to turn the shaft by hand to get a feel for how much friction is on it. You should be able to turn it by hand (I turn it at the transmission coupler); if you cannot, you have over-tightened. Then, with a wrench on both nuts, turn the lock-nut to lock it against the compression nut. Now, run the engine in gear (tighten up dock lines if in a slip -- don't try this at a mooring!) at about 1500 rpm and check the drip rate again. If it drips too much --- more than a few drops per minute, you may have to the procedure all over again -- but no more than one "flat" on the compression nut at a time. The idea is to adjust it just enough to keep the gland no more than warm to the touch.
Next time the marina does something like that for you...watch them, take good notes, then you can do it next time.
Thanks !! I'll do a search but have found a good starting place with this forum in the past. Unfortunatly, my boat is 4 hours away and I thought it needed the attention sooner rather than the next time I could get days off. By the way, what type pliers do I ask for at the Depot??? Thanks again to all!! max
I have tried various wrenches and pliers for adjusting the stuffing box. Finally settled on two aluminum pipe wrenches, eight inch I think. They are lightweight and don't slip off the nuts. As was pointed out be sure to secure the front nut which is actually the "box". You don't want the hose to twist on the stern tube. While you are there check those hose clamps or replace.
P.S. there should be four stainless clamps, not two.
P.S. there should be four stainless clamps, not two.
Attachments
Believe or not I found the best deal for a packing nut wrench at West Marine
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...001&storeId=11151&partNumber=290280&langId=-1
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...001&storeId=11151&partNumber=290280&langId=-1
Here too.. I also found that two pipe wrenches work much better.
http://www.google.com/products/cata...log_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CCgQ8wIwAg#
http://www.google.com/products/cata...log_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CCgQ8wIwAg#
- Status