My stuffing box on my Hunter Legend 37 appears to be dripping more than I expected. It allows one drip per second, thus filling my isolated engne bilge every 2 days. As I am scheduled for a haulmout later this week I am considering a dripless solution. am I being paranoid or is my stuffing box on the verge of failure? Any opinons are most appreciated. Thanks Barrie
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David
Stuffing box
Barrie, your stuffing box may just need adjustment of the packing nuts or if the adjustment is completely taken up replace the packing. It should not drip much at all when the shaft is not turning and about 3 drops per minute when the shaft is in operation. I replaced with a dripless box about three years ago and so far it has performed as expected.
Barrie, your stuffing box may just need adjustment of the packing nuts or if the adjustment is completely taken up replace the packing. It should not drip much at all when the shaft is not turning and about 3 drops per minute when the shaft is in operation. I replaced with a dripless box about three years ago and so far it has performed as expected.
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Barrie McDonald
Stuffing Box Leaks
Hi Dave, Thanks for the info on my stuffing box. when you replaced yours with a dripless what was involved? Do you just replace your current dripping packing with the dripless type or is a new stuffing box required? Thanks again, Barrie
Hi Dave, Thanks for the info on my stuffing box. when you replaced yours with a dripless what was involved? Do you just replace your current dripping packing with the dripless type or is a new stuffing box required? Thanks again, Barrie
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Ron
Drip Drip Drip
Although a lot of people have gone to the dripless type stuffing box I have found that with just a little attention the old fashion adjustable type works just fine. This discussion was held about a month ago and some people got a little hot under the collar about it. BUT..... all you have to do is back off on the locking nut and take up a bit on the adjustment nut. Most likely this will stop the leak and save you a bunch of money. From what I've read, replacing with the dripless type requires removal of the prop shaft. In a yard this is no big deal. But out on the water or in an area with no facilities this could be a problem. The drip type can be changed in the water and with just a little attention will last a long time. When it finally does give up the ghost you spend about five bucks on packing and you are back in business. Lastly, there are special wrenches available in boat stores that really make this adjustment a breeze. They cost about $10 and two are needed... Ron/KA5HZV
Although a lot of people have gone to the dripless type stuffing box I have found that with just a little attention the old fashion adjustable type works just fine. This discussion was held about a month ago and some people got a little hot under the collar about it. BUT..... all you have to do is back off on the locking nut and take up a bit on the adjustment nut. Most likely this will stop the leak and save you a bunch of money. From what I've read, replacing with the dripless type requires removal of the prop shaft. In a yard this is no big deal. But out on the water or in an area with no facilities this could be a problem. The drip type can be changed in the water and with just a little attention will last a long time. When it finally does give up the ghost you spend about five bucks on packing and you are back in business. Lastly, there are special wrenches available in boat stores that really make this adjustment a breeze. They cost about $10 and two are needed... Ron/KA5HZV
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David
Box drip
Barrie, I purchased the PSS shaft seal. I had to remove the shaft from the coupler. This was a little awkward being in the water so I hauled the boat a little early for the winter season. In order to facilitate easier repairs I bought a split coupler while replacing the stuffing box. As I mentioned earlier for the last three seasons I have had no water and no problems, however, if I were starting all over I think I would carefully investigate using my old stuffing box with the new dripless packing.
Barrie, I purchased the PSS shaft seal. I had to remove the shaft from the coupler. This was a little awkward being in the water so I hauled the boat a little early for the winter season. In order to facilitate easier repairs I bought a split coupler while replacing the stuffing box. As I mentioned earlier for the last three seasons I have had no water and no problems, however, if I were starting all over I think I would carefully investigate using my old stuffing box with the new dripless packing.
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Ralph Johnstone
Little by little .....
..... packing glands will leak more and more. If you are only leaking about one drop per second, I don't think you have anything to fear before your coming haul out. Any changes will come slowly. In my own personal opinion, I would go for the new dripless teflon dough like packing to keep the bilge dry. Although I do not have a mechanical shaft seal on out 1999 H310, I have had considerable experience with mechanical shaft seals on industrial pumps, both large and small and what I have seen in the field keeps me from ever installing one on our boat. I know this will not sit well with those who have switched over but, these seals do wear and do not last forever. When they eventually do fail, it is often without warning and often with MAJOR leakage. This of course cannot be repaired while in the water while a packing gland can. Regards, Island Hunter
..... packing glands will leak more and more. If you are only leaking about one drop per second, I don't think you have anything to fear before your coming haul out. Any changes will come slowly. In my own personal opinion, I would go for the new dripless teflon dough like packing to keep the bilge dry. Although I do not have a mechanical shaft seal on out 1999 H310, I have had considerable experience with mechanical shaft seals on industrial pumps, both large and small and what I have seen in the field keeps me from ever installing one on our boat. I know this will not sit well with those who have switched over but, these seals do wear and do not last forever. When they eventually do fail, it is often without warning and often with MAJOR leakage. This of course cannot be repaired while in the water while a packing gland can. Regards, Island Hunter
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Les Murray
Try GFO gortex packing
You can get a virtually dripless packing made from gortex called GFO from e-marine. Costs about $10 - $15 for a couple of feet. You can tighten this down to almost no drip. The gortex provides self-lubrication. Les Murray s/v Ceilidh 86 C-36 #560
You can get a virtually dripless packing made from gortex called GFO from e-marine. Costs about $10 - $15 for a couple of feet. You can tighten this down to almost no drip. The gortex provides self-lubrication. Les Murray s/v Ceilidh 86 C-36 #560
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