Wondering if you can help me. I have a O'Day 28 and I am new to sailing. I have a significant collection of water in the engine compartment. Speaking with other sailing friends they mentioned that the stuffing box is dripping to much. It drips once every 2 sec and they said it should only do so about every min. Do you know if the Stuffing box is suppose to be drip less? If not, what is the best way to tighten it in order to slow the dripping. Also I was wondering if there is a place to find a owners manual as I can not find the drain in the engine compartment to the bilge. Any help would be much appreciated Thanks very much for any help
Dripping Stuffing Box
- Thread starter Seekswind
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some info on stuffing boxes
http://www.practical-sailor.com/newspics/charts/886stuffingbox.pdf http://www.c34.org/faq-pages/faq-stuffing-box.html
http://www.practical-sailor.com/newspics/charts/886stuffingbox.pdf http://www.c34.org/faq-pages/faq-stuffing-box.html
Look for the ground wire
It does sound like your stuffing box could stand just a slight tightening, but your drip is not excessive yet. The engine has its'own drip pan to catch any oil that might get out. When cleaning this it is important to use caution to avoid any oil from getting into the bilge and over the side. The build up of water in the engine compartment from the stuffing box is the only drawback I have on my O'28. Remove the front engine cover and feel around where the sill and hull come together right at the front of the compartment. You should find a bare copper wire that is part of the grounding system for the boat. The hole that the wire comes through from the bilge is the drain for the engine compartment. It is very small and will clog up with the slightest bit of debris. I can usually get mine running again with a little working of the wire back and forth until the clog flows down into the bilge. If it is really plugged I have to use a guitar string to work the clog through. Hope this helps, PM
It does sound like your stuffing box could stand just a slight tightening, but your drip is not excessive yet. The engine has its'own drip pan to catch any oil that might get out. When cleaning this it is important to use caution to avoid any oil from getting into the bilge and over the side. The build up of water in the engine compartment from the stuffing box is the only drawback I have on my O'28. Remove the front engine cover and feel around where the sill and hull come together right at the front of the compartment. You should find a bare copper wire that is part of the grounding system for the boat. The hole that the wire comes through from the bilge is the drain for the engine compartment. It is very small and will clog up with the slightest bit of debris. I can usually get mine running again with a little working of the wire back and forth until the clog flows down into the bilge. If it is really plugged I have to use a guitar string to work the clog through. Hope this helps, PM
RE: Look for the ground wire
I am currently experiencing the same stuffing box drip, and lack of drainage from the bilge under the engine bilge pan. But I can't find any grounding wire, as suggested. My boat is an '86. Any other suggestions? Thanks.
I am currently experiencing the same stuffing box drip, and lack of drainage from the bilge under the engine bilge pan. But I can't find any grounding wire, as suggested. My boat is an '86. Any other suggestions? Thanks.
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