Early prop shaft packing gland info PLEASE

[Buzzlovelace]

Hello, I am hauling my early 27' (Hull #15) out for bottom paint and figured its a good time to replace my stuffing box. To my surprise the shaft is 3/4". I expected an inch. What I am asking, doe anyone know the log size? I am hoping to have all the parts on site when I haul it out. The threads that show on the fitting of the packing gland are 1 1/8 " OD but there is a hex fitting, an I assume its the same as the hose id. But until I take it apart its hard to say.
Anybody want to help me?
Also what do you think of the dripless shaft seals

Thanks Buzz
"The Vital Spark"

 

[Buzzlovelace]

This may be a better picture

 

[Stu Jackson]

Buzz, buy a few different sizes of packing material. Most likely 3/16" and 1/4". If you buy it in a plastic box, return the one you don't use.

This link also has a link to Maine Sail's 'site, too.

If you do it out of the water, you will HAVE TO readjust the gland once you go back in the water.

http://www.c34.org/wiki/index.php?title=Stuffing_box_packing

 

[Buzzlovelace]

Hey Stu. Lots of valuable ifno here. I was hoping to replace the whole unit. but in looking at the flange in the photo, I see a lot of deterioration and am thinking clean up and repack is the way to go.

Super helpful, Thank You

 

[hvbaker]

I went with a dripless system after my stuffing box disintegrated when it was being opened to replace the stuffing. The dripless system has worked great.

 

[TLW]

I went to dripless last year, also. Seems great so far. I also replaced shaft & coupling (flange) since it was all apart, and I could avoid doing it again later. Mine looked much better than what I see in your photo. You may want to have a line on a new shaft so you can obtain it quickly, if needed. I can't imagine that your shaft would be reusable (certainly not the flange) given age and apparent condition.

 

[Meriachee]

PSS is a great solution, if you go that way, get the retention collar, and do the cutlass bearing too.

 

[hvbaker]

PSS is a great solution, if you go that way, get the retention collar, and do the cutlass bearing too.

I agree with the retention collar. I have since put one on mine after snapshot I posted previously was taken.

 

[jrowan]

Say guys, I don't know much about PSS shaft seals but am interested in them, as a dryer bilge is tempting. What is the hose mounted to the side of the seal for, Cooling water?

 

[Meriachee]

The hose is a breather tube. The facing between the carbon and the stainless uses water as a medium, and the hose prevents an air bubble from getting in the way. The hose is run up above the water line and just left open. I put a brass fitting into it, and the end is hose clamped to a fixture so it's solid.

 

[Ryhno]

Hi guys.

I'm facing the exact issue with my 27 (1973). I was looking for the right solution (as I didn't want to try replace the packing in the water afraid of it falling to pieces). I am being pulled out the water next month. Seeing as though you guys have found the answer is there any chance you could supply me with part numbers to your dripless accessory???

 

[Ryhno]

 

[Meriachee]

Yuk. That shaft is pretty ugly. You might want to consider a new shaft and coupler, cutlass bearing and if you're going down the PSS road, get the retention collar too. That's cheap insurance. I got the shaft and coupler from CD, but in hindsight, I would have got one of the "split coupler" things instead. It just makes changing the bellows, in 5-6 years so much easier.

 

[Ryhno]

Thanks for the response. One of the problems that I'm facing is that there is no visible shaft between my packing gland and the coupling (it's a mess there). But am definitely going to be replacing the coupling due to corrosion, and install a dripless pss system. As I am still in the water it's still tricky business. So relying on my auto bilge pump to flush water out once every two days... Thanks for all the help and suggestions has been very much appreciated