Stuffing flax is 1/4 inch not 3/16 if 1-inch shaft
Stuffing box on the hards, not in the water REMOVAL Unscrew thin brass jam nut to free up the bigger one. Unscrew the big brass nut completely, floppy onto shaft. Spray WD-40 inside to loosen up the old hardened flax. Turn corkscrew pick into first layer (pull w/Vise Grip for better leverage). Repeat until layers removed: 2 if was chinzy, 3 more likely, 4 if anal. Clear out brass seating of any loose debris so new flax sits well. INSTALL Buy 13 inches Teflon 1/4 inch = three at 4 inches. Turn first wrap tight, mark with thumbnail or do at home with 1-inch stanchion. Cut with share razor knife or Dremel saw. Cut remaining 2 wraps to same size. Poke first one in clockwise by turning big nut slowly. Mark where it started at 12:00 with red pen or tape. Screw down onto shaft to pack, by hand only. Loosen and repeat two more times at 0:20 and 0:40 Do not overtighten, or will burn flax and not seat properly TEST When launch, be prepared to tighten using wrench keep jam nut loose Should be no drips at rest, do not overtighten In gear, should be no more than 1-3 drops per minute preferably none Optimum is no drips in gear “1-3 is an old wives tale,” says Fred at Yard Tighten one flat at a time while in gear If the big nut is warm, back off as too tight burning the flax Always retighten the jam cleat to avoid inadvertent loosening When it’s right, try a day or week later takes time, be patient Check again for three weeks then three months later Should last three or four years okay to tighten one flat a time, over time.
