So I have a 1976 Vega with the original MB6B engine and combi prop. I am new to owning a boat, so I know how to do a few basic things like an oil change. I was doing my first oil change and warming up the engine to pump out the oil and noticed a steady leak from the stuffing box or grease box. Where the shaft goes through the hull. It’s leaking from where the shaft goes into the larger housing (bearing?). Not from the tubing that is held on by clamps.I am going to take a guess that whatever grease was in there may be degrading or have worked it’s way out so water is leaking around it? I am honestly unsure of what to do to fix this problem. It somewhat has me worried. It’s only a drop every second or so right now. But I’m scared to run the engine or leave the boat alone now.Any help on how to fix this or what to do would be greatly appreciated.Sent from my iPhone
Help with stuffing box. Kind of worried.
- Thread starter Landon Lasseter
- Start date
Hello Landon,
Stuffing boxes leak. It sound like your stuffing box leak rate is a little high. You may find the attached link helpful.
www.boatus.com
John
From: <AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com> on behalf of "Landon Lasseter
landon.lasseter@... [AlbinVega]" <AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com>
Reply-To: "AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com" <AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Tuesday, January 9, 2018 at 10:51 AM
To: "AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com" <AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [AlbinVega] Help with stuffing box. Kind of worried.
So I have a 1976 Vega with the original MB6B engine and combi prop.. I am new to owning a boat, so I know how to do a few basic things like an oil change.
I was doing my first oil change and warming up the engine to pump out the oil and noticed a steady leak from the stuffing box or grease box. Where the shaft goes through the hull. It’s leaking from where the shaft goes into the larger housing (bearing?).
Not from the tubing that is held on by clamps.
I am going to take a guess that whatever grease was in there may be degrading or have worked it’s way out so water is leaking around it? I am honestly unsure of what to do to fix this problem. It somewhat has me worried. It’s only a drop every second or
so right now. But I’m scared to run the engine or leave the boat alone now.
Any help on how to fix this or what to do would be greatly appreciated.
Sent from my iPhone
Stuffing boxes leak. It sound like your stuffing box leak rate is a little high. You may find the attached link helpful.
BoatUS Expert Advice
BoatUS Magazine, the largest boating magazine in the US, provides boating skills, DIY maintenance, safety and news from top experts.
www.boatus.com
John
From: <AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com> on behalf of "Landon Lasseter
landon.lasseter@... [AlbinVega]" <AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com>
Reply-To: "AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com" <AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Tuesday, January 9, 2018 at 10:51 AM
To: "AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com" <AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [AlbinVega] Help with stuffing box. Kind of worried.
So I have a 1976 Vega with the original MB6B engine and combi prop.. I am new to owning a boat, so I know how to do a few basic things like an oil change.
I was doing my first oil change and warming up the engine to pump out the oil and noticed a steady leak from the stuffing box or grease box. Where the shaft goes through the hull. It’s leaking from where the shaft goes into the larger housing (bearing?).
Not from the tubing that is held on by clamps.
I am going to take a guess that whatever grease was in there may be degrading or have worked it’s way out so water is leaking around it? I am honestly unsure of what to do to fix this problem. It somewhat has me worried. It’s only a drop every second or
so right now. But I’m scared to run the engine or leave the boat alone now.
Any help on how to fix this or what to do would be greatly appreciated.
Sent from my iPhone
Yes, mine leaks. One drip every 6-8 seconds depending on the day. The packing in the stuffing box are new last summer and I'm tired of adjusting it so it will stop. I think next haul out I will install a drip-less style so it is not such a PITA! In your case a drip every second is too much.
Hi Landon - Depends what type of stuffing box you have. The original one I had was grease filled but when I was very new to the boat I pumped so much grease into it that I forced the rubber tube off its fitting and nearly sank the boat. I then replaced it with a gland fed by oil from a reservoir above so very little pressure.This worked well When I fitted a new engine 18 years ago I fitted a Volvo Stern Gland which has worked very well ever since and just uses a smear of grease each year. The main lubricant in this is the sea water with the end seal preventing leakage into the boat. If your stern gland is the grease filled one there should be a means of pumping more grease in but don't overdo it.Mike On Tuesday, 9 January 2018, 3:28, "Tim Malone alaskaflyfish@... [AlbinVega]" AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com wrote:
Yes, mine leaks. One drip every 6-8 seconds depending on the day. The packing in the stuffing box are new last summer and I'm tired of adjusting it so it will stop. I think next haul out I will install a drip-less style so it is not such a PITA! In your case a drip every second is too much.
Yes, mine leaks. One drip every 6-8 seconds depending on the day. The packing in the stuffing box are new last summer and I'm tired of adjusting it so it will stop. I think next haul out I will install a drip-less style so it is not such a PITA! In your case a drip every second is too much.
Hi Mike,It appears I have the original grease filled type. How do I add more grease back? Or how do I add an oil type setup? Would that be an easy fix?Sent from my iPhone
Thanks all for the replies so far. The link was helpful for learning but doesn’t seem to apply to my stuffing box. Doesn’t appear to be any way to tighten it up? It seems it is one of the original grease filled and not flax boxes? I will attach a brief video or link. If anyone could kindly have a look and give me any advice based on it, that would be appreciated. I’m hoping this can be solved without a haul out.
Landon,There a zert fitting on the side of the packing gland that you use to pump marine grade grease into the gland. A few strokes from a hand operated grease gun may take care of your leak. If the rubber seal in the gland or the propeller shaft itself have excessive wear you may not be able to reduce the leak to a manageable amount. Replacing the seal or propeller shaft is safely done when the boat is in a boat yard out of the water.P On Tuesday, January 9, 2018 3:48 AM, "Landon Lasseter landon.lasseter@... [AlbinVega]" <AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com> wrote: Thanks all for the replies so far. The link was helpful for learning but doesn’t seem to apply to my stuffing box. Doesn’t appear to be any way to tighten it up? It seems it is one of the original grease filled and not flax boxes? I will attach a brief video or link. If anyone could kindly have a look and give me any advice based on it, that would be appreciated. I’m hoping this can be solved without a haul out.Sent from my iPhoneOn Jan 9, 2018, at 4:21 AM, MICHAEL FREEMAN mikeandv@... [AlbinVega] <AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
Thanks Patrick. I take it that this type of stuffing box has no way to tighten it down as other stuffing boxes do. It is a fixed position?The fitting on the side of the gland isn’t a tightening nut, only a grease input fitting correct?Given the rust shape of the fitting is it possible I could make it worse by trying to add grease? Assuming the grease would even go in?LSent from my iPhone
Hi David and all,Thanks for all of the advice so far. I managed to lightly sand and clean up the zerk fitting and save the silver bead. So I went and got some waterproof grease from west Marine and a grease gun from the auto store.I put a few pumps in to see if it was going in. It was. So then 6-7 more and it started to slow the drip. Ended up putting about 25 pumps in until I saw a little bulge from the edges of the shaft and I stopped. The leak is now stopped. I cleaned up the fitting a little and checked the level of corrosion on the shaft. All seems ok. I plan on doing a haul out in a few months for a bottom paint and some work on the thru hulls. Thought I might try and clean up and work on the stuffing box more then when it’s on the hard.I think it should be good for a few weekend trips now and light use until the haul out. I’m actually going to go move it to a new slip tomorrow. So I’ll put a few hours on the engine and the new oil change and keep an eye on it.Is there anywhere to get parts for the combi system anymore? Or am I basically looking at a complete repower if I want to change anything?Can a dripless stuffing box be installed with the combi system or am I stuck with this original grease gland stuffing box? Given that the shaft actually slides in and out would any other type of stuffing box even work? Do I even want to or need to change it? Any benefit?Picture provided below of it after doing work.Any additional advice or observations appreciated. Sorry for all the questions and guessing. This is a learning process for me. LandonSent from my iPhone