"Can You Repack My Stuffing Box?"

[Maine Sail]

Sure..... Ummm maybe not...:cussing:

Why builders and installers do stuff like this is well beyond my level of what I consider to be common sense thinking.....

Owner did not like the high or low side estimates so is going to opt for an "adjustment"....

 

[Charles Erwin]

Was the shaft isolator original? Was the shaft shortened when this stupid arrangement was installed? If the shaft is still long enough -- do you think one might install packing if the shaft isolation were eliminated?

Charles

 

[Maine Sail]

Was the shaft isolator original? Was the shaft shortened when this stupid arrangement was installed? If the shaft is still long enough -- do you think one might install packing if the shaft isolation were eliminated?

Charles

The shaft is original length and the engine is the original, Perkins 4-108, and in the original location. The Drive Saver was added, for what reason one can only guess, but probably lack of skill on the person trying to align it.. Even with the drive saver out the packing nut is still wider than the distance between the aft end of the coupling and the nut so it is physically impossible to re-pack as installed... In order to re-pack this box the entire shaft has to come out which will very likely necessitate a new flange and fit and face of the flange based on how badly rusted it is.. The rudder may have to be dropped to get the shaft out...

The owner also reports a "squeaking" in reverse...

 

[Charles Erwin]

This is rather interesting. Whoever put the drive saver in would have had to to go through the entire exercise as well. Do you think maybe the original stuff box - before the drive saver was added - was the clamped compression ring type instead of threaded?

Charles

 

[Maine Sail]

This is rather interesting. Whoever put the drive saver in would have had to to go through the entire exercise as well. Do you think maybe the original stuff box - before the drive saver was added - was the clamped compression ring type instead of threaded?

Charles

That is the original stuffing box type for that boat. Owner later admitted that each time it has been re-packed it has necessitated full removal of the shaft hence the split coupling.... The split coupling was a tad shorter than the original and the last yard to work on it led them to believe that removal of the Drivesaver would allow it to be re-packed. They were off by a little over 1/4"...

 

[Nom De Guerre]

Wow.

At some point in it's life you'd think the owner would have come up with a plan to address this. Maybe some easy way to move the engine/trans fore/aft a half inch.

Failing that my plan B would be a 'For Sale' sign on the pulpit.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Outta sight, outta mind. Hck, look at the lovely corrosion on that red wire connector(?)!!!

My stuffing box probably has the best access of any stuffing box I've ever seen. That said, it did take me some time to get up the gall to properly service it.

Now it's a snap.

 

[All U Get]

If it was possible to cut the black hose back the width of a hose clamp, that would give a little wiggle room. Does the gland need the length of threaded pipe or could some of that be cut off as well. Too bad there isn't an approved wide clamp that would replace all the singles but still have enough clamping screws to meet the standards. Are new flanges that wide, or are there narrower drivesavers? Just random thoughts.
All U Get

 

[FastOlson]

If the owner really likes the boat in general and is planning to keep it for another decade, then perhaps the engine could be moved forward a half foot or so. Lots of fun with glassing the extension of the bedlog and making any needed cabinet changes...
Then, put in a PSS to replace the present inacessable packing.

Over time, the labor cost to do that upgrade might save back some $ of the constant cost of major surgery just to repack it in the present setup.

This could all the fault of the designer, or maybe only partly.
After all, the builder could have re-jiggered the interior layout and engine placement around to make the boat easier to sell to newby lookers at a January boatshow! (Very few new boat buyers ever seem to base their purchase decision on systems access.)

(Big Sigh)



LB

 

[Stu Jackson]

Good point, LB. I always suggest to prospective owners that the first thing they do when they board a new boat is to see how easy it is to check dipstick!

 

[Bill Roosa]

Sounds like a clear cut case of somebody was not paying attention when installing the engine mounts. I'm thinking that a 1"ish movement of the mounts forward would have resulted in more normal install.

 

[Maine Sail]

Sounds like a clear cut case of somebody was not paying attention when installing the engine mounts. I'm thinking that a 1"ish movement of the mounts forward would have resulted in more normal install.

Unfortunately there is not 1" to move the engine forward without major cabinetry work. The boat is a 1979 and has a beautiful "old teak" interior none of the new "plantation grown teak". I suspect when the leaky old 4-108 meets her end the new engine Beta, Westy, Yanmar etc. will be about 8" shorter, have more HP and no leaks....

The stuffing box could be cut shorter but the end facing the stuffing would need to be re-machined. Not a big issue and it might give enough room to re-pack..

This is a Sabre 34 MK-I and they are not much better. The packing needs to be crammed in for a re-pack because there is slightly less than the 1/4" thickness of the packing between the nut and box..

Oh and on these boats it is a ONE ARM REPACK!!!! No possible way to get two arms in there. Takes a 30-40 minute job and turns it into hours. Getting the old stuff out is like a Houdini trick..

 

[Charles Erwin]

Would such installations be possible to service if one used the Bronze Packing Boxes, Self Aligning Bolt Gland Type?

Charles

 

[RonRelyea]

re: Can you repack my stuffing box?

Maine ... that sure looks familiar .... luckily I could remove the shaft saver the PO installed and get enough clearance on the packing nut! ...and again ... THANKS for your detailed how-to instructions!

Sure..... Ummm maybe not...:cussing:

Why builders and installers do stuff like this is well beyond my level of what I consider to be common sense thinking.....

Owner did not like the high or low side estimates so is going to opt for an "adjustment"....

 

[Maine Sail]

Maine ... that sure looks familiar .... luckily I could remove the shaft saver the PO installed and get enough clearance on the packing nut! ...and again ... THANKS for your detailed how-to instructions!

jeez, guess you better hang a for sale sign on the pulpit...

 

[tedsbeds]

I had the same problem with a Hunter 27. The PO installed aYanmar2GM to replace a one cylinder engine. I put a hoist across the companionway, disconnected the motor mounts, picked up the engine and slid it 4" forward. While it was up I cleaned the engine beds, repacked the stuffing box and did other things. Was easier than pulling the rudder and sliding the shaft. Also gave me more room to work. Didn't have to disconnect any hoses or wiring.
Good Luck!