I have an 1984 34' hunter. My stuffing box needs to be restuffed. It is leaking pretty good right now. I can't really get it hauled out right now. I'm pretty much a novice but have been messing with the stuffing box for a while. I have a couple of questions: 1) Should I attempt to restuff it with it in the water? Understand the inherent dangers but it doesn't seem that hard. 2) Anyone know what size the flax should be? Thanks!
re-stuffing a stuffing box
- Thread starter Chris3608
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3/16" waxed material
You might get away with putting a new single piece in and leaving the old stuff in place if it is compacted enough. If you can get some of the Teflon stuff, use that. There is not much clearance to slide the nut out of the way and prevent lots of water intrusion while struggling with digging old packing out. Its basically a pain. When you do haul, restuff with a dripless seal. Allan H34 Alchemie
You might get away with putting a new single piece in and leaving the old stuff in place if it is compacted enough. If you can get some of the Teflon stuff, use that. There is not much clearance to slide the nut out of the way and prevent lots of water intrusion while struggling with digging old packing out. Its basically a pain. When you do haul, restuff with a dripless seal. Allan H34 Alchemie
Nylon Suffing Box?
If you have the OEM nylon stuffing box you may want to dig into the archives on the dificulty of getting it apart, getting nylon and/or metal washers out of the middle of the flax rings and new Teflon impregnated flax packing back in, particularly since you haven't done this before. If the Stuffing Box is a conventional bronze two part with locking nut, you have a much better shot at getting the flax out of it and back in while water pushes past the whole time you are working. The idea of replacing only one ring of flax with Teflon flax packing is a good idea to try.
If you have the OEM nylon stuffing box you may want to dig into the archives on the dificulty of getting it apart, getting nylon and/or metal washers out of the middle of the flax rings and new Teflon impregnated flax packing back in, particularly since you haven't done this before. If the Stuffing Box is a conventional bronze two part with locking nut, you have a much better shot at getting the flax out of it and back in while water pushes past the whole time you are working. The idea of replacing only one ring of flax with Teflon flax packing is a good idea to try.
In water packing change
I do not have first hand experience doing this but I've heard about stuffing the outside of the gland with modeling clay while in the water to slow the rate of water coming in when you remove the flax to change it. When you are done you can dive on it and remove it. I'm one of those that write about the evils of the plastic packing gland on this site. I suggest to everybody, change it! Tom s/v Orion's Child
I do not have first hand experience doing this but I've heard about stuffing the outside of the gland with modeling clay while in the water to slow the rate of water coming in when you remove the flax to change it. When you are done you can dive on it and remove it. I'm one of those that write about the evils of the plastic packing gland on this site. I suggest to everybody, change it! Tom s/v Orion's Child
What Tom said
Agree with Tom. Dive the boat take along a thin rag and long thin screwdriver. Stuff the rag between the prop shaft and thru hull. The water pressure will hold the rag in and very little water will come in the boat. Then redo the stuffing.
Agree with Tom. Dive the boat take along a thin rag and long thin screwdriver. Stuff the rag between the prop shaft and thru hull. The water pressure will hold the rag in and very little water will come in the boat. Then redo the stuffing.
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