AquaDrive limits stuffing box space

[Joe Perez]

Hoping for some ideas. I have an AquaDrive that limits the space for repacking my stuffing box. I recall a boatyard being able to repack my stuffing box without removing the AquaDrive. However, I don’t know how they would have done that. Whatever they did worked, since it held for 10+ years. Of course, I could take the boat out if the water, remove the prop shaft, etc, but that’s a pain. Any thoughts?
See attached pic.

 

[capta]

From that pic, I don't see any way of repacking your stuffing box as it stands. You can't really repack your stuffing box with the shaft out, so I don't see your reasoning there.
From what little I can see, it appears as though it might be time for some maintenance on the AquaDrive and the adjacent fittings as well, so perhaps it is best you bite the bullet and do it all at once.

 

[Joe Perez]

Thx Capta. I’m sure you’re right. I just wish I knew what the yard had done 10 years prior, last time I had stuffing box issues. The AquaDrive is fine other than surface rust.

 

[jssailem]

@Joe Perez Looking at your stuffing box I looks to me like one "without" a locking nut.
Here are a couple of images that might help.

A new designed box

one more like yours. Note the locking ring. Think this is missing from yours.

I have also provided your photo modified as to how I think the yard completed the task in the past.

 

[Joe Perez]

Thx jossailem. So you think they the yard may have just stuffed the flax into the nut, rather than doing wraps around the shaft? That would make sense. I'm happy with that since it's help this long (10 yrs). I'm going to try that.
I don't think I need PB Blaster. Nothing is locked up. Unless I'm missing your point on that one.
Also, the locking nut is pictured just above your PB Blaster arrow.
Thanks for the feedback!

 

[Justin_NSA]

The boatyard repacked it in the water? I'm no expert, nor do I play one on TV, but I don't see how they did it.
I can only see a scenario with the boat out of the water. Had to Google an AquaDrive.
https://www.aquadrive.net/how-it-works.html

 

[Joe Perez]

Hi Justin, it was packed out of the water. However, it's not a big gush when the nut is backed out since the cutlass bearing only allows so much water flow in.

 

[jssailem]

First. It can be done in the water. Expect to get water coming up the shaft. Wrap a towel or some cotton string to minimize the water while you work on the flax. You can pump the water out of the bilge to stay afloat.
Out of the water solves that problem.

I would follow the flax prep procedure of wrapping the flax around a shaft (same size as yours) and cutting it on the diagonal. Then with your precut flax on hand wrapping it around the shaft, then pushing it into the flax nut by pushing it against the log. Stagger the cut lines around the shaft to minimize leak bypass. It will take 3 or 4 wraps of flax. Then screw the nut back onto the shaft "stuffing" the flax up and into the "box". Once hand tight move locking screw up to the box nut. Then tighten the box to stop water flow when sitting and a drip every minute or two when shaft is rotating.
Tighten lock nut to stop box from releasing.
Adjust as needed. If out of the water when you refloat the boat the shaft log will leak. Should stop with in the hour. I was on the hard for 60 days and my log dripped for 20 minutes. I monitored the log and it stopped and then was fine as before the haul out.

 

[Justin_NSA]

MainSail has a good pictorial how-to on his site of what John is describing . https://marinehowto.com/ For some reason my firewall at work is blocking it. Incoming water freaks me out. I could never do this unless it was an emergency. I went with a LasDrop GenII dripless unit but it would never fit in your space.

 

[Joe Perez]

Thanks Guys. I'll see how much room I have once I totally loosen the nut. I know the nut is almost bottomed out in my picture, so I don't know how much thread engagement I have and how much I can back it out.
I still don't think I'm going to have much room for properly wrapping the shaft with flax. That's why I'm thinking the flax will literally have to be stuffed in some way into the nut. But again, the yard that did it 10 years ago, must have done something similar, so it's worth a shot.
I also get nervous removing the nut once I start to see water pouring in. I just need to be ready.
Great link to marinehowto, by the way.

 

[jssailem]

Joe. One trick used is to get a piece of PVC pipe with the inside diameter of your shaft and an outside diameter that lets it slide into the box nut. (usually sched 20 or thin wall) and use it to push the flax into the nut.
Know you do not have a lot of room to work with but the PVC does not have to be a long piece. Just stuff and pull out.
Of course the water coming in is always an exciting moment.