My packing gland appears to be water cooled. I see a drip once I shut the engine off. Am I correct? Is this normal? 
Boatsail1
Boatsail1
packing gland
- Thread starter Boatsail1
- Start date
- Status
http://www.c34.org/wiki/index.php?title=Stuffing_box_packing
This was originally written in 1999 or so, and has been updated with links to Maine Sail's excellent presentation and newer flax material (Ultra X).
This was originally written in 1999 or so, and has been updated with links to Maine Sail's excellent presentation and newer flax material (Ultra X).
Yes.My packing gland appears to be water cooled. I see a drip once I shut the engine off. Am I correct? Is this normal?
Boatsail1
More on packing gland ..............
IMHO, I think we all will (should) eventually return to conventional stuffing boxes with modern non-dripping packing on sailboats because mechanical seals have the potential for disaster should they fail. And don't forget, mechanical seals haven't been in use for that many years. Wait until they've been in service for 20+ years and never been looked at, which is often the case. A stuffing box (which has never been looked at) will leak badly, a mechanical seal (which has never been looked at) with a brittle and cracked bellows after years of service ........ you just don't want to be there ! ! ! !
As previously mentioned here, I've managed to get three years running dry out of teflon impregnated flax and am now shooting for five years service. I've got to look up this "Ultra X" as a packing material as it may quite possibly represent an almost PERMANENT packing in a gland.
Comparing the two:
Mechanical Seal - doesn't leak, expensive, according to the literature the bellows should be replaced every five years, and if it ever fails ! ! ! !
Stuffing Box With Modern Packing - doesn't leak, inexpensive, has the untested potential to last for decades, and if it ever fails it drips.
http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=965267&highlight=Ever so Slowly
Excellent article Stu as I've never seen this one before. Covers the whole gamut of packing from old conventional dripping packing, to mechanical seals, to modern packing materials which run dry.
IMHO, I think we all will (should) eventually return to conventional stuffing boxes with modern non-dripping packing on sailboats because mechanical seals have the potential for disaster should they fail. And don't forget, mechanical seals haven't been in use for that many years. Wait until they've been in service for 20+ years and never been looked at, which is often the case. A stuffing box (which has never been looked at) will leak badly, a mechanical seal (which has never been looked at) with a brittle and cracked bellows after years of service ........ you just don't want to be there
! ! ! !As previously mentioned here, I've managed to get three years running dry out of teflon impregnated flax and am now shooting for five years service. I've got to look up this "Ultra X" as a packing material as it may quite possibly represent an almost PERMANENT packing in a gland.
Comparing the two:
Mechanical Seal - doesn't leak, expensive, according to the literature the bellows should be replaced every five years, and if it ever fails
! ! ! !Stuffing Box With Modern Packing - doesn't leak, inexpensive, has the untested potential to last for decades, and if it ever fails it drips.
http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=965267&highlight=Ever so Slowly
I should add that I had the same concerns when I first acquired my Catalina 310. You are correct that the packing is water cooled. At first, I checked the packing frequently, to be sure that it was not overheating. I finally adjusted the packing until it was dripping about 8 to 10 drips per minute while running, with just an occasional drip when shut down. I've since switched to Teflon impregnated packing, and the drips are even less often. Have fun with your O'Day, it's a good boat.
- Status