Hunter 36 stuffing box

Ralph Johnstone · Apr 18, 2015

Bob 04 H260 said:
It appears there is not enough room between the coupling and packing nut.

Marlow Hunter (MH) reeeeeaaaaallllly needs their a$$ kicked over this one, but good. I would suggest your friend contact MH and talk to "someone ?" as Eddie Breeden has retired and I have to wonder if anyone is capable of filling his shoes. Tell them to step up to the plate and fix this one, in warranty or out. Completely unacceptable.

So much for the bit(hing, only two possible solutions here:

1. Move the engine forward which should be fun even if possible. Maybe permanently reposition or ............ move it each time he repacks. The latter would be a Stephen King grade nightmare.

2. Install a split coupling if there's enough room. I've never used one and don't see how to check for angular alignment. Maybe someone with the experience of owning one can provide insight.

I'd mention looking into shortening the hose but that's really going out on a limb as it acts as the flexible coupling. Shortening it too much would really set things bouncing.

Ralph Johnstone · Apr 18, 2015

This gives an idea of the distance required for a "comfortable" repacking job. I usually have it pushed far forward to get in with a dental pick for pulling out the old packing.

chuckwayne · Apr 18, 2015

Maybe Hunter used too long a hose length on your friends boat??? Ralphs hose in his picture is more than enough for flex. Shortening the hose is a possibility

ALNims · Apr 18, 2015

chuckwayne said:
Maybe Hunter used too long a hose length on your friends boat??? Ralphs hose in his picture is more than enough for flex. Shortening the hose is a possibility

That's what I thought too. Should be easy using a sharp box cutter or knife.

seadaddler · Apr 19, 2015

my 2007 way plenty room for myPSS
what year is his
nick

Ralph Johnstone · Apr 19, 2015

Bob 04 H260 said:
It appears there is not enough room between the coupling and packing nut.

Taking one last look at this "dog screwing a football in a hat box" problem :cussing:, the most practical move might be to pull the shaft back and then remove the shaft coupling. This would require shortening a few socket wrenches (to fit between the two flanges) to force the shaft back from the coupling. Push the shaft forward. There would then be enough room to remove and repack the gland. Reverse the process and it's complete.

Still have to wonder if there's enough room in the hose to shorten it and still get to the bottom of the gland and remove the bottom ring of packing.

Any way you look at it, the work would be done on the hard. Probably as good a time as any to cut the hose and see if a shorter length will solve the problem. If not pull the shaft back and pack.

Please offer your friend our condolences.

woodster · Apr 19, 2015

after looking at the pic of the problem....two things come to mind here first ...i am not sure this is the correct hose for a stuffing box.....if you look at the hose clamp second from the left it seems to be compressed a lot more than the other three ..a stuffing box hose is much thicker than a regular hose and is a lot harder to compress the hose with that type of clamp....second thing it looks like way to much real estate between the spud and hull fitting .....i am thinking that the hose needs to be replaced with the correct one and also shorter...a 1/2 inch gap between the spud end and the shaft tube should be enough to let it flex as needed

Stu Jackson · Apr 19, 2015

Ralph Johnstone said:
1. Still have to wonder if there's enough room in the hose to shorten it and still get to the bottom of the gland and remove the bottom ring of packing.

2. Any way you look at it, the work would be done on the hard. Probably as good a time as any to cut the hose and see if a shorter length will solve the problem. If not pull the shaft back and pack.

3. Please offer your friend our condolences.

1. Yup, only Bob can find out.

2. Great idea, most likely THE answer, given your photo. It looks like the hose is pretty new, so that's most likely what happened. Dumb yard monkeys, unless he did it himself.

3. Yup, too.

Good luck.

Stu Jackson · Apr 19, 2015

woodster said:
after looking at the pic of the problem....two things come to mind here first ...i am not sure this is the correct hose for a stuffing box.....if you look at the hose clamp second from the left it seems to be compressed a lot more than the other three

But it does say ALGONQUIN on it, which could make it the right hose but perhaps the wrong diameter.

woodster · Apr 19, 2015

Stu Jackson said:
But it does say ALGONQUIN on it, which could make it the right hose but perhaps the wrong diameter.

yes it does say that and yes it may be the wrong size for the application.....it just seems to me that the hose is clamped way to tight to be the correct one for this application

Capt jgw · Apr 19, 2015

With only 50 hours it probably doesn't need new packing, just tightening up. A PSS is a great upgrade in any event.
The picture does look like the packing gland is larger than the stern tube, hence the crushed hose. Doesn't look centered either, but that's not that unusual, it's why they use hose.

Ralph Johnstone · Apr 19, 2015

woodster said:
yes it does say that and yes it may be the wrong size for the application.....it just seems to me that the hose is clamped way to tight to be the correct one for this application

Thanks Woodster, you're right ................... I thought it was my eyes and didn't want to say anything.

Dan_Y · Apr 19, 2015

Bob 04 H260 said:
Picture of mine here, Bob

Bob - is that bilge water coming from the PSS?

chuckwayne · Apr 19, 2015

on a second look, it appears that the hose isn't all the way back on the hull tube - the compressed hose under the second clamp is probably because there's nothing under the hose.

HernandoBeacher · Apr 21, 2015

Attached is a photo of my 2009 H36. Never had any issue with working on the stuffing box but it does appear that I have more space between the gland nut and the driveshaft fitting. Angles can be deceiving but for reference, my driveshaft fitting terminates in the middle of the bulkhead partitioning the engine bilge.

Always wanted to know why the forward end of the engine is
only about 1/2" from the companionway ladder. Now I know!

https://db.tt/gqIyBTgK

Hunter 36 stuffing box

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