Something oozing from my packing gland!

[Rick]

Tonight I noticed something oozing out the forwardend of my packing gland. It's hard to say what it was, but it looked like, well, snot and had thatconsistency. The packing was changed about 18 mos.ago and I've had no unusual dripping...has my flax dissolved in there? Has anyone with a C27 found a comfortable way to work on the stuffing box?

 

[Mike Turner]

It Could be Wax

Some of the traditional packing material is held together by wax -- if the packing nut is too tight the prop shaft and gland could be heating up, melting out the wax and causing the dripping you're seeing here. If the ooze dries to wax-like consistency that could be a good clue. You may want to slightly loosen the packing nut to allow a bit more water to seep through to cool the shaft and packing gland and stop the wax melting. It's not unusual for the gland to drip a little bit (stress on little) when properly adjusted.Mike TurnerS/V Amity

 

[Rob Rich]

Sounds like flax..

Sorry....!

 

[Guest]

Oozing?

Ooze from any gland is a serious health matter - see a specialist at once! (Just kidding.) Definitely sounds like it's time to repack the gland. Maybe the packing got too hot or is the wrong size.