Finally got my stuffing box opened! Does anyone know the diameter of packing used on a 1986 272? My guess is 3/16ths but I forgot to bring a ruler out to the yard and won't be back there for a week or two. Also, is it totally necessary to remove all of the old packing? Couldn't seem to get much out of there with a piece of stiff wire. Rich
- Status
Rich, just back from my 272
Re-packing the stuffing box was on my agenda, so I thought I'd measure and report back to you. I've had the boat since spring, '04 and have never had a problem with the stuffing box, so I have not yet re-packed it. I have periodically tightened it down a little to adjust the drip, but until last year it was very dependable. Last year I had a hard time regulating between no drip and too fast, so I figured while I was hauled out, I'd take care of it this spring. Thats all my background. The upshot is that it was not configured the way I expected it to be. Instead of room for three or four rings of packing, which I had expected, there was just room for one ring in a "V" shaped gap under the packing nut. Yes, I used 3/16" flax and this seemed to fit the groove. I took a bicycle spoke which I sharpened on the end and bent to probe the groove, but again, no room as the bottom of the "V" barely had any clearance from the prop shaft. So...I hope I'm not confusing you further. I'd be interested to hear if anyone else has experience with a stuffing box configured this way. I'm a little nervous to learn if I'm missing something once the boat is launched in about a week or so!!
Re-packing the stuffing box was on my agenda, so I thought I'd measure and report back to you. I've had the boat since spring, '04 and have never had a problem with the stuffing box, so I have not yet re-packed it. I have periodically tightened it down a little to adjust the drip, but until last year it was very dependable. Last year I had a hard time regulating between no drip and too fast, so I figured while I was hauled out, I'd take care of it this spring. Thats all my background. The upshot is that it was not configured the way I expected it to be. Instead of room for three or four rings of packing, which I had expected, there was just room for one ring in a "V" shaped gap under the packing nut. Yes, I used 3/16" flax and this seemed to fit the groove. I took a bicycle spoke which I sharpened on the end and bent to probe the groove, but again, no room as the bottom of the "V" barely had any clearance from the prop shaft. So...I hope I'm not confusing you further. I'd be interested to hear if anyone else has experience with a stuffing box configured this way. I'm a little nervous to learn if I'm missing something once the boat is launched in about a week or so!!
Another possibility
I've just been reading a document on a link posted by CalebD on another thread here about nylon stuffing box nuts on Hunter boats, and it makes me wonder if I missed something. I'll go back to my boat on Thursday to see. The document Caleb referenced showed an "old style" stuffing box that did not have a compression spacer. Instead, the flax rings are up inside the stuffing box nut. This looks like it might be the arrangement I've got. I'll check it out next time I'm at the boat, and report back!
I've just been reading a document on a link posted by CalebD on another thread here about nylon stuffing box nuts on Hunter boats, and it makes me wonder if I missed something. I'll go back to my boat on Thursday to see. The document Caleb referenced showed an "old style" stuffing box that did not have a compression spacer. Instead, the flax rings are up inside the stuffing box nut. This looks like it might be the arrangement I've got. I'll check it out next time I'm at the boat, and report back!
Same thing???
Hey Lou, I kind of noticed the same thing. There's not much room in there and I couldn't really get any old flax out. Spoke to Rudy at d&r and 3/16 is the right size packing material. Rich
Hey Lou, I kind of noticed the same thing. There's not much room in there and I couldn't really get any old flax out. Spoke to Rudy at d&r and 3/16 is the right size packing material. Rich
Just back from the boat again, and as suspected...
...the stuffing box is "old style" and the flax is in the nut. I'm not proud of the fact that it took three times disassembling the stuffing box before I realized that I was looking in the wrong direction. Power of suggestion I guess. Much thanks to Caleb! I was able to get four rings of stuffing material out pretty easily. It was pretty dry. I repacked it with 3/16" flax and used teflon grease. We'll see when I splash the boat next week if it keeps the outside for the most part out, as intended!
...the stuffing box is "old style" and the flax is in the nut. I'm not proud of the fact that it took three times disassembling the stuffing box before I realized that I was looking in the wrong direction. Power of suggestion I guess. Much thanks to Caleb! I was able to get four rings of stuffing material out pretty easily. It was pretty dry. I repacked it with 3/16" flax and used teflon grease. We'll see when I splash the boat next week if it keeps the outside for the most part out, as intended!
Got it!
OK, It took the better part of an hour but I got all of the old dried up packing out of my box. Looks There we're 4 rings and they appear to be 5/16th flax
OK, It took the better part of an hour but I got all of the old dried up packing out of my box. Looks There we're 4 rings and they appear to be 5/16th flax
- Status