shaft and stuffing box

[Nursemnr]

Hi everyone

We were able to cut off the coupling. Ordering a new one. My friends insists that I should not bother with fit and facing to the shaft. He also insists that I should not worry about having the shaft worked on at a shop. I want your opinion on this. The engine was moved to accomplish all this.

Another question regarding the stuffing box: what was removed appears to be from a special kit of some sort. I expected to find flax rings. I found cloth type rings separated by metal and plastic washers, still in good shape.. Does this make sense to anyone? I am new to sailing, easy to guess, and want to make sure I am doing the right. Should I just replace everything with flax? reuse the washers in between? THANK YOU SO MUCH

 

[RAD]

Your friends have no clue.......take the new flange and have it fit to the shaft at a prop shop.....then after installation you have to align the engine flange and shaft flange to .006 at 12,3,6 and 9 o'clock posistions.......takes a lot of patience but if you don't you'll feel it while motoring and a vibration that could do damage to the transmission and the shaft strut bearing.
The metal rings in the stuffing box are a new one to me but maybe someone else knows better

 

[dparilla]

The little cash you spend on a fit and face is REALLY WORTH IT. It will pay off in the long and short run. Take the time to align everything correctly the first time. Check out Maine Sail's page http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/boat_projects he has great pictures, instruction and commiseration on the pitfalls you may run into.

 

[Stu Jackson]

There was a discussion here just last week or so about your plastic stuffing box. Look here: http://forums.catalina.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=916337&highlight=nylon stuffing box

There are a lot more discussions if you do a search on "nylon stuffing box" and try "fit and facing" - I agree it should be done, or else you're gonna be one unhappy camper. Why not do it right?

 

[Nursemnr]

I want to thank you all. I am going to take your advice which was my gut feeling anyway. Wild Child means a lot to me. You are all so very helpful to so many. Now all I need to do is find a machine shop around here...........so limited up here.
Thanks

 

[NYSail]

bring it to a prop shop... they do all the work on shafts and couplings