Kevin: I posted this question earlier and got no response. Perhaps you can address it now that you are back... thanks. Anyone having hands on experience with the new dripless packing. Please share your exp and comment. Does it really work that well? Is it hard to install? Can a do it yourself type novice do it? My boat is a 1990 Pearson built Oday 280 with 12 hp Westerbeke. Thanks in advance: Jim jimsullivan@qwest.net
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
T
Tom Lukas
I've had mine 2 years. Best $140 boat dollars I've spent. Installed it myself, about 2-3 hours work (hunter 28.5)and out of the water. I would not attempt installation in the water, although some have done it. Not a drop of water through it. tom
D
Don
I know people that have used it...
with good results. However, I used the old flax packing with teflon grease. After 250 hours, my stuffing box is wet static, but no drip. About 1 drip per minute running and stays cool. I don't think it is worth what they charge for the stuff.
with good results. However, I used the old flax packing with teflon grease. After 250 hours, my stuffing box is wet static, but no drip. About 1 drip per minute running and stays cool. I don't think it is worth what they charge for the stuff.
M
Michael McCann
Jim; Are you asking about replacing the flax (stuffing) in your current dripping 'stuffing box'? If you are, I replaced the original flax with the teflon impregnated variety 3 years ago with good results. You will need to have the boat out of the water (it will make it easier), and some sort of pick to remove the old packing. Once you get the old stuff out, just duplicate with the new and "stuff" it back in. Mike
J
Jim Sullivan
Thanks
Thanks to Michael, Don, Tom and all who responded to this request. I will proceed with cautious optimism.
Thanks to Michael, Don, Tom and all who responded to this request. I will proceed with cautious optimism.
L
Les Murray
Two thuimbs up for Gortex packing
I have used the GFI Gortex dripless packing this season. My shaft does not drip a bit and the bearing stays nice and cool. I would give this product two thumbs up. Costs about $14 bucks and goes in just like normal flax packing. Les Murray s/v Ceilidh '86 C-36 #560
I have used the GFI Gortex dripless packing this season. My shaft does not drip a bit and the bearing stays nice and cool. I would give this product two thumbs up. Costs about $14 bucks and goes in just like normal flax packing. Les Murray s/v Ceilidh '86 C-36 #560
G
Guest
Hmmm!
Sounds like something worth looking into. Just a note of help; you don't need to haul out to change the packing. There is only .040 to .060 clearence between the shaft and the tube. It would take a really long tome for enough water to get in to cause a problem. Just keep yopur bilge pump pumping. The boatyards around here never haul to do a stuffing box repack. Save some bucks and do it in the water.
Sounds like something worth looking into. Just a note of help; you don't need to haul out to change the packing. There is only .040 to .060 clearence between the shaft and the tube. It would take a really long tome for enough water to get in to cause a problem. Just keep yopur bilge pump pumping. The boatyards around here never haul to do a stuffing box repack. Save some bucks and do it in the water.
J
Jim Sullivan
Hmmm! Thanks
Thanks for this one whoever you are. My boat is sitting on a trailer now in front of the house (trailerable sailing anyone?) but cherish your advice anyway. I plan to do it myself.. thanks again: Jim
Thanks for this one whoever you are. My boat is sitting on a trailer now in front of the house (trailerable sailing anyone?) but cherish your advice anyway. I plan to do it myself.. thanks again: Jim
J
Jerry Smith
Jim, I don't know if you are talking about the new PSS carbon graphite dripless packing or not, but I just purchased one of these. I am scheduled to install it in about a week. I saw about 4 Hunter boats with these a few weeks ago and was very impressed. It costs about $190.00 but it appears to be well engineered and works very well. According to the installation instructions you must have the boat out of the water. The shaft has to be pulled back away from the transmission and a stainless collar installed over the shaft. The shaft has to be polished with fine sandpaper where the stainless collar is to be installed. The installation appears to be quite simple. None of the boats I looked at even had moisture.
J
Jim Sullivan
Thanks Jerry
thanks jerry I am learning lots more than I thought. My understantding was that it was teflon impregnated stuffing for the box and needed to be snug enough not to leak..
thanks jerry I am learning lots more than I thought. My understantding was that it was teflon impregnated stuffing for the box and needed to be snug enough not to leak..
S
steve f.
one last idea
This might not be for you but there is another system similar to the PSS dripless system, it's called Lasdrop. I've had it on my boat for years and has worked with not a single drop of h20 in the bilge for 5 years and zero maintance. The kicker with these systems if that once the boat is hauled you must "burp" the bellows. In other words, you must get the air out of the system or it will burn the seal, I know from experience the hard way. Overall, I've had boats with stuffing box/flax and a boat with a dripless seal, my personal choice is a dripless system. Just wanted you to know that PSS is not the only maker of a dripless system, Lasdrop also makes a good seal. Lots of choices huh? Good luck, no matter what you do I'm sure it will be a good choice for you as long as it's installed correctly.
This might not be for you but there is another system similar to the PSS dripless system, it's called Lasdrop. I've had it on my boat for years and has worked with not a single drop of h20 in the bilge for 5 years and zero maintance. The kicker with these systems if that once the boat is hauled you must "burp" the bellows. In other words, you must get the air out of the system or it will burn the seal, I know from experience the hard way. Overall, I've had boats with stuffing box/flax and a boat with a dripless seal, my personal choice is a dripless system. Just wanted you to know that PSS is not the only maker of a dripless system, Lasdrop also makes a good seal. Lots of choices huh? Good luck, no matter what you do I'm sure it will be a good choice for you as long as it's installed correctly.
B
Bob Miller
To Jerry Smith - Not Simple!
Jerry, I replaced my stuffing box two years ago with the PSS Dripless Seal. The problem I had was the flange on the end of the prop shaft was stuck very tight. My boat (Hunter 37C) is a 1984 model and the flange was probably not removed since the boat was built. The accepted procedure is to place a socket between the flange on the engine and the flange on the shaft. Then, with longer bolts, pull the two flanges together. This forces the shaft out of the flange. However, in my case, I couldn't tighten the bolts tight enough to move the shaft. I had to alternately hit the flange with a hammer and tighten the bolts. The space was limited so I couldn't swing the hammer very far (get the picture?). I repeated this process for two days, but finally got the flange off. That was the only problem. After that the job goes very easy. In my research, the PSS Drippless Seal was by far the most recommended by everybody and has worked perfectly for me. I highly recommend it.
Jerry, I replaced my stuffing box two years ago with the PSS Dripless Seal. The problem I had was the flange on the end of the prop shaft was stuck very tight. My boat (Hunter 37C) is a 1984 model and the flange was probably not removed since the boat was built. The accepted procedure is to place a socket between the flange on the engine and the flange on the shaft. Then, with longer bolts, pull the two flanges together. This forces the shaft out of the flange. However, in my case, I couldn't tighten the bolts tight enough to move the shaft. I had to alternately hit the flange with a hammer and tighten the bolts. The space was limited so I couldn't swing the hammer very far (get the picture?). I repeated this process for two days, but finally got the flange off. That was the only problem. After that the job goes very easy. In my research, the PSS Drippless Seal was by far the most recommended by everybody and has worked perfectly for me. I highly recommend it.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.