GoreTex packing size question

[Hermit Scott]

This gore stuff feels like fabric infused with silly puddy. So it's kinda mallable. I thought that if I wrapped it around the shaft and cut it at a 45 degree angle that I could put that piece in the packing gland and push the shaft into it. It didn't work out that way.
In picGore1 I cut the piece like I have seen in pics online. Then I tried to put that in the packing nut (gore2). It doesn't fit.
To make it fit I had to cut it about 1/4" short of gonig the circumference of the shaft(gore3) then it fits in the packing gland but I had to smash it pretty good with shaft by inserting it into the nut(gore4). The shaft feels pretty tight in there with just one piece.
This is 1/4" goretex. Do I need to go down to 3/16" goretex? My concern is that this is too tight of a fit and the friction will burn the shaft.
I imagined that everything would slide together pretty easy and that the nut needed to

 

[Bob S]

Hermit,
In my catalina owner's manual is say 3/16 packing. Not sure where you got the 1/4"

 

[LANCE ON CLOUD NINE]

Hi there Scott-

Have you had a chance to read Maine Sails sight on how to repack? Take a minute and check it out. It is fantastic and will answer some questions that are bound to come up as you move on in you project. Good luck. And your Boat Babe is way to graceful to hang out on a mere powerboat so be gettin those sails up asap! Good luck.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Hermit, as I recall you have a Yanmar engine

and not a Universal M25. However, if you have the standard C30 1 inch shaft, most use 3/16 packing. Our C34s and the C36s do, as well. Maine Sail's packing article is superb. It looks from your pictures that the material is too thick. Your first picture is the correct way to cut the material.

 

[Hermit Scott]

packing

I posted a thread with pics and micrometer measurements of the packing gland and nut a few weeks ago. I was directed to maine sails tutorial on shaft seals. Maine sail and I exchanged posts and he recommended 1/4" packing. The website for the gore packing said if you have a 1" shaft that it takes 1/4" packing. So that's what I ordered. I don't know how the website can claim that because it is not the shaft that determines the packing size, it's the size of the nut.
Anyway I can make it fit but it flattens out pretty far. I didn't know if I had to press the gortex into the threads of the nut or what. They are so tight I couldn't have installed them in the boat. The only reason I could make this fit at all is because it's on my desk.
I can smash them down using the shaft to losen them up, but I don't know if that's right.

 

[LANCE ON CLOUD NINE]

FWIW

The GORE site claims both shaft size and stuffing box inside measurement must be considered. Inside dia.- shaft dia. /2= desired stuffing material dia.

 

[Ross]

Re: FWIW

Inorder to measure the outside of the shaft and the inside of the nut you will need calipers for each. spring and bow calipers and a steel scale will serve or a vernier caliper will get both with one instrument. They are the tools of the trade. You can own them or hire someone who does. They don't cost as much as an hour's worth of hired help.

edited for punctuation

 

[Hermit Scott]

This is what the website said.
"Buck Algonquin Bronze Packing Boxes are usually the following sizes and take the following packing size:

Shaft packing size
1" 1/4" "
You are right though, they have the measurement picture there also. What I didn't know about this packing is if the measurements are assuming that the GFO will be pressed into the threads or not. That's why I asked on here. The difference is 1/32" each way from top to bottom of the threads. The total difference being 1/16". So instead of 3/16" I bought 1/4".

 

[Ross]

The packing will compress into the threads when you tighten the gland.

 

[Hermit Scott]

I don't know how to link to the thread but it is listed as 'packing' on page 9.

 

[Maine Sail]

Hermit,
In my catalina owner's manual is say 3/16 packing. Not sure where you got the 1/4"

Over the years Catalina has used a few different manufacturers for stuffing boxes. Some are 3/16" and some are 1/4". The manuals all say one thing but when purchasing can't get stuffing boxes from one manufacturer they order from another and never bother to change the manual..

Hermit,

According to the measurements you gave it fell dead center in between. If 1/4" does not fit go with 3/16". You're better smaller so you don't over heat your shaft.

You should not try to fill the nut with packing and then jam the shaft through. Always wrap the packing around the shaft then slide the nut over it off setting the cuts..

 

[Maine Sail]

I don't know how to link to the thread but it is listed as 'packing' on page 9.

Click the "Permalink" button. This will create a new address for the post you are on and you can then copy and paste it from your browsers address bar.

Packing Thread (LINK)

 

[Hermit Scott]

I remember the permalink button now. Thanks

I went back and double checked the measurements. It really is right in the middle of 1/4 and 3/16. I bet if I ordered the 3/16 first I would have thought it was too loose.

This packing is a little over 1/4 though, so maybe the 3/16 will be a little over also.
Anyway I already ordered the 3/16 so it's on the way. It must be 3/16 because the last guy had 4 pieces in this box. 3 pieces of the 1/4 was all the way to the end with only 1 thread showing.

 

[Rich (P303)]

I had the same problem. I had to smash the 3 rings of 1/4 in... not leaving many threads for the packing nut to grab. I ripped that out... and put 3 rings of 3/16" (that fell right in). In retro spect... I think 2 rings of 1/4' would of worked. That gore stuff you can kind of compress... as it is square. Compress it... cut it... then slide it in. I think I caught on the threads and it rolled.

I was in a difficult position hanging upside down and wedged in-between the water heater and fuel tank. Left the 3 rings of 3/16" in... no problem.

 

[Maine Sail]

I was in a difficult position hanging upside down and wedged in-between the water heater and fuel tank. Left the 3 rings of 3/16" in... no problem.

Having worked on few 303's, most recently an alignment on one just this past summer, I concur with the difficulty! You might want to consider cutting a good size access panel in the quarter berth..

 

[Rich (P303)]

Having worked on few 303's, most recently an alignment on one just this past summer, I concur with the difficulty! You might want to consider cutting a good size access panel in the quarter berth..

Maine Sail...

You are hired to do all my work! :dance:

 

[Hermit Scott]

OK I just installed the 3/16" goretex in the nut. IT fit perfect.
Maine Sail do you work on boats for a living or something? I commented before that you should write a book but I couldn't find where I posted that. Have you thought of writing a book? I'll buy the first copy, but you can't hold back for the second edition, you have to disclose everything!

 

[Maine Sail]

OK I just installed the 3/16" goretex in the nut. IT fit perfect.
Maine Sail do you work on boats for a living or something? I commented before that you should write a book but I couldn't find where I posted that. Have you thought of writing a book? I'll buy the first copy, but you can't hold back for the second edition, you have to disclose everything!

I don't work on boats for a living, as much as I'd love to I have to have a real job that pays a little more. I did work in boat yards in my younger days and also on some big yachts for the wealthy folk. I grew up restoring antique cars & of course old boats, with my father, so I have a high attention to detail.

Most of the reason I contribute this stuff is because I've seen a few people lose grasp of the dream due to the financial aspect. It kills me to see someone lose a boat because they can't afford a yard bill over something they could have done if they had the right guidance.

As a kid, at one boat yard, we used to "acquire" two to three boats a year due to unpaid bills. Some didn't care and were happy to have the yard take the boat but others just could not afford it. I'm a true believer that if you can graduate college, or high school for that matter, then you can learn to fix your own boat.

For a while I just assumed anyone with a boat knew thesame stuff I did. After a while of checking in on forums I realized I had some learned knowledge and skills that not everyone knew or understood and that I should share with others. I'd really like to see sailing continue to be an affordable middle class sport for a little longer, like it was when I was a kid, and that is why I try to help where I can.

Last year I sat down with a calculator and figured I'd saved, at a minimum, 150k in 11 years by DIYing. That's a lot of saved money for a middle class family who wants to own a sailboat..

I'd like to someday do a photo based book but it's low on my priority list. As I always say do your own reasearch and please look beyond my comments or anyone elses and this web site, and you'll have covered your bases well and have a better understanding which should enable you to tackle just about anything DIY boat related...