I recently purchased a 2001 Hunter 340. I noticed some standing water around the stuffing box and this morning found that I have a leak coming out of the packing nut in front of the stuffing box. The leak rate is about 1 drip every 5 seconds. Specifically, the water is passing through where the shaft passes into the packing nut. I have no expertise or experience in this area. Is there a good fix to this that I can perform? Thanks for any feedback! Rob
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Hi Rob, if the drip every five seconds is while...
the engine is in gear with the prop spinning then that is about right. If the rate is while at rest you can tighten the stuffing box no more than one quarter turn and that should be about right; no drip at rest and about four to five seconds per drip while the prop is spinning. Use care not to over tighten, which can burn the stuffing material. Terry
the engine is in gear with the prop spinning then that is about right. If the rate is while at rest you can tighten the stuffing box no more than one quarter turn and that should be about right; no drip at rest and about four to five seconds per drip while the prop is spinning. Use care not to over tighten, which can burn the stuffing material. Terry
At the Dock...
The drip rate is at the dock, without the engine runing. I know it is normal to have some drip when the engine is running, but for the shaft to drip every 3-4-5 seconds when it is NOT running is my problem. I definitely plan to do some repacking quickly since it is now my understanding that the packing is the problem.
The drip rate is at the dock, without the engine runing. I know it is normal to have some drip when the engine is running, but for the shaft to drip every 3-4-5 seconds when it is NOT running is my problem. I definitely plan to do some repacking quickly since it is now my understanding that the packing is the problem.
Adding Stuffing Box Packing
I too noticed a slight drip at the dock coming from my stuffing box. My mechanic told me the drip should only be present while the shaft is turning, as lubricant and as a coolant. He loosened the nut, added some packing, retightened and tested. Now everything is as it should be. One of the advantages of a conventional stuffing box is that it gives you a warning so to speak and the opportunity to make adjustments when a problem [excessive dripping or rusted clamps] becomes visible. I had one of those newer fancy stuffing boxes on my other boat and the stories of "instant failures" scared me enough to revert back to the old conventional type box. Fred Miller M Squared
I too noticed a slight drip at the dock coming from my stuffing box. My mechanic told me the drip should only be present while the shaft is turning, as lubricant and as a coolant. He loosened the nut, added some packing, retightened and tested. Now everything is as it should be. One of the advantages of a conventional stuffing box is that it gives you a warning so to speak and the opportunity to make adjustments when a problem [excessive dripping or rusted clamps] becomes visible. I had one of those newer fancy stuffing boxes on my other boat and the stories of "instant failures" scared me enough to revert back to the old conventional type box. Fred Miller M Squared
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