My boat is out of the water and I wanted to change my packing which was leaking a fair amount at the end of the season. I read many posts and loosened the back lock nut and loosened the large packing nut. However, there doesn't seem to be enough room btwn. the large packing nut and the drive coupling to slide back on the shaft in order to get in at the packing material. Now what? There is a black rubber hose with lots of adjustable hose clamps that appears to be my next point of moving something. I am not sure as to what to do. This hose is up against the back of the boat where the shaft enters the hull. No where did I read anything about what to do if there isn't enough room to get the packing material out. HELP!
Help! stuffing box ? Cherubini 27'
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Packing Clearance
Pethia Probably the reason it's leaking so much is because given your explanation, no one was able to do it before. Calder's book has a picture of pretty much what you describe. IF you can get the large packing nut up just past the threads and far enough to get a simple sheet-rock screw into the large nut you should be able to get the old packing out. I've found the tools they sell in the stores is just too big to get into the small space between the outside of the shaft and the inside of the nut. You most likely have a one inch shaft (or less) and 3/16 inch stuffing material. The only way to get in there is with a screw. Hope you can get enough of that clearance to get in there, and if you do a single wrap of flax at a time you might be able to manage. Rather than trying all three at once, do one at a time. Hard to tell without seeing it. Don't mess with the black hose, it has nothing to do with the packing. It encloses the shaft as it goes into the stern tube and exits the boat. "Lots of hose clamps?" There should be four, two at each end. Good luck, Stu
Pethia Probably the reason it's leaking so much is because given your explanation, no one was able to do it before. Calder's book has a picture of pretty much what you describe. IF you can get the large packing nut up just past the threads and far enough to get a simple sheet-rock screw into the large nut you should be able to get the old packing out. I've found the tools they sell in the stores is just too big to get into the small space between the outside of the shaft and the inside of the nut. You most likely have a one inch shaft (or less) and 3/16 inch stuffing material. The only way to get in there is with a screw. Hope you can get enough of that clearance to get in there, and if you do a single wrap of flax at a time you might be able to manage. Rather than trying all three at once, do one at a time. Hard to tell without seeing it. Don't mess with the black hose, it has nothing to do with the packing. It encloses the shaft as it goes into the stern tube and exits the boat. "Lots of hose clamps?" There should be four, two at each end. Good luck, Stu
Pethia, Stu is right, leave the black hose...
packing gland alone. Our P42 does not have much room either. Our boat has about six inches between the transmission prop shaft coupler and the stuffing box. I'm assuming yours has about the same distance. Once you unlock the box locking nut you should be able to unscrew the box from the threaded coupler and slide the box housing to the transmission/shaft coupler. This gave me enough room to use a dental pick to remove the old material. Terry
packing gland alone. Our P42 does not have much room either. Our boat has about six inches between the transmission prop shaft coupler and the stuffing box. I'm assuming yours has about the same distance. Once you unlock the box locking nut you should be able to unscrew the box from the threaded coupler and slide the box housing to the transmission/shaft coupler. This gave me enough room to use a dental pick to remove the old material. Terry
Ask your dentist
My dentist was kind enough to give me an old pick he was going to discard anyways. Surprisingly, I'm not the first one to ask him, so he had saved a few. It's a slow and nasty job, but you'll find that it comes out a little at a time at first, then the rest comes out in a big wad (usually). Wait till you have to do the rudder stuffing box, then the shaft job won't seem so bad. Good Luck.
My dentist was kind enough to give me an old pick he was going to discard anyways. Surprisingly, I'm not the first one to ask him, so he had saved a few. It's a slow and nasty job, but you'll find that it comes out a little at a time at first, then the rest comes out in a big wad (usually). Wait till you have to do the rudder stuffing box, then the shaft job won't seem so bad. Good Luck.
Thanks to all, but....
I am aware of how to get the old packing out with the corkscrew type device. However, my problem is that the packing nut backs right up to the shaft coupler with no room to get even a dental pic in there! I am wondering if the engine has to be disconnected an slid out or the shaft has to come out? HELP... My other thought is that the previous owner told me that the packing was about 4 short New England seasons old and that he only tightened it a little once. I did not tighten it while it was in the water, because it was stuck and I was afraid to do damage while in the water. I have thought that maybe I should try and go one more season with it as is and tighten it up when the boat goes in next spring. I have everything loosened up and free which might allow me to slow the drip down to the suggested rate. Any thoughts?
I am aware of how to get the old packing out with the corkscrew type device. However, my problem is that the packing nut backs right up to the shaft coupler with no room to get even a dental pic in there! I am wondering if the engine has to be disconnected an slid out or the shaft has to come out? HELP... My other thought is that the previous owner told me that the packing was about 4 short New England seasons old and that he only tightened it a little once. I did not tighten it while it was in the water, because it was stuck and I was afraid to do damage while in the water. I have thought that maybe I should try and go one more season with it as is and tighten it up when the boat goes in next spring. I have everything loosened up and free which might allow me to slow the drip down to the suggested rate. Any thoughts?
I'd try tightening, before changing
Pethia, while my experience is with fresh water boats I'd say that if the packing is only 4 years old and adjusted only once then there is a good chance that it only needs a slight tightening (your post didn't say have big the flow is). My current boat has at least 5 year old packing (I have had the boat 3 years and the PO two years, and he never chnaged it) and it is in the water 6 months each year. This is quite normal around here. It usually requires one tightening a year. Regarding your tight fit problem. I'd check if the rubber hose is longer than necessary. But you will have to pull that shaft to cut/change it. Kevin
Pethia, while my experience is with fresh water boats I'd say that if the packing is only 4 years old and adjusted only once then there is a good chance that it only needs a slight tightening (your post didn't say have big the flow is). My current boat has at least 5 year old packing (I have had the boat 3 years and the PO two years, and he never chnaged it) and it is in the water 6 months each year. This is quite normal around here. It usually requires one tightening a year. Regarding your tight fit problem. I'd check if the rubber hose is longer than necessary. But you will have to pull that shaft to cut/change it. Kevin
packing nut
I changed my packing in my C 30 with 3/4 of an inch of space I used a drywall screw held by aneedle nose vice grip when I backed the packing nut off it moved to the side so I could work the screw in. Then I found where the flax came together and it poped out. There where three peices .I put the green clay packing with the teflon flax and greace.sofar my bilge is dry.I have a rubber vibration damper between my shaft couplers and it takes up about 3/4" of space.I would try to tighten the nut about 1/5 of aturn and see how it gos.If it turns with out to much force it should be ok.Try backing the nut off and see how much threading the gland has left on it.I think that 5 year old packing should be replaced.Check and see if the motor was pushed back see how much space there is from the face of the strut to tha face of the prop .check the prop ,has it been replaced,mayebe they moved the motor to the rear to maake more room for a larger prop.If all looks origenal then I would try cuting the black hose back an inch to gain space at the packing.If you pull the shaft change the cutless bearing at the same time.When the cutless bearing starts to get some play The packing starts to leak more often. John olson
I changed my packing in my C 30 with 3/4 of an inch of space I used a drywall screw held by aneedle nose vice grip when I backed the packing nut off it moved to the side so I could work the screw in. Then I found where the flax came together and it poped out. There where three peices .I put the green clay packing with the teflon flax and greace.sofar my bilge is dry.I have a rubber vibration damper between my shaft couplers and it takes up about 3/4" of space.I would try to tighten the nut about 1/5 of aturn and see how it gos.If it turns with out to much force it should be ok.Try backing the nut off and see how much threading the gland has left on it.I think that 5 year old packing should be replaced.Check and see if the motor was pushed back see how much space there is from the face of the strut to tha face of the prop .check the prop ,has it been replaced,mayebe they moved the motor to the rear to maake more room for a larger prop.If all looks origenal then I would try cuting the black hose back an inch to gain space at the packing.If you pull the shaft change the cutless bearing at the same time.When the cutless bearing starts to get some play The packing starts to leak more often. John olson
i understand
I understand the problem. there is not enough room between the stern tube where the stuffing box mounts and the engine to open the packing nut enough to get at the packing. I had to slide the engine forward to get enough room While I was at it, I replaced the stuffing box, cutlass bearing and motor mounts. I shortened the stuffing box so that I can back off the packing nut enough to get to the packing. Use teflon packing and a good packing lubricant and you should be able to tighten the packing nut to be drip free without generating too much heat. Good luck!
I understand the problem. there is not enough room between the stern tube where the stuffing box mounts and the engine to open the packing nut enough to get at the packing. I had to slide the engine forward to get enough room While I was at it, I replaced the stuffing box, cutlass bearing and motor mounts. I shortened the stuffing box so that I can back off the packing nut enough to get to the packing. Use teflon packing and a good packing lubricant and you should be able to tighten the packing nut to be drip free without generating too much heat. Good luck!
fish hook
A large shrimp hook that has the 'C' look to it coupled in a vise grip provided sufficient handle and resilience of tool to pick out the old stuff. I figured out later when the three wraps overheated that I should have used the smaller packing material... live and learn. I also would recommend the teflon coated flax over the old bees wax impregnated stuff....was told it'd drip out and leak if it ever got hot.
A large shrimp hook that has the 'C' look to it coupled in a vise grip provided sufficient handle and resilience of tool to pick out the old stuff. I figured out later when the three wraps overheated that I should have used the smaller packing material... live and learn. I also would recommend the teflon coated flax over the old bees wax impregnated stuff....was told it'd drip out and leak if it ever got hot.
I symapthize
I had the same problem with my Cherubini 30. I was able to wire brush and scrape some of the rust from the back of the engine shaft coupling and then back and tilt the large packing nut enough to just get a small pick into the packing space. Every 1/8 inch is precious!
I had the same problem with my Cherubini 30. I was able to wire brush and scrape some of the rust from the back of the engine shaft coupling and then back and tilt the large packing nut enough to just get a small pick into the packing space. Every 1/8 inch is precious!
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