Does anyone know hoe tight the adjustment on the stuffing box on a 1986 31 hunter should be? I have heard the usual is 1 drip per 30 seconds but I do not know if it applys to this boat.
stuffing box adjustment
- Thread starter dobiesailor
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A generic stuffing box doesn't care what the nameplate is on the boat.
Do you have something unique?
Do you have something unique?
just tight enough to have .00000000000000001 drips per minute when the shaft is not turning. If you don't have any drips at rest now wait till you do and tighten 1/16 of a turn. Repeat when she starts to drip while at rest.
Right after a new install of packing you will be tightening several times till the packing gets good and compressed. you do not want to overtighten initally
Right after a new install of packing you will be tightening several times till the packing gets good and compressed. you do not want to overtighten initally
He's kidding about .00000000000000001 drips.
Steve Dion has it right. But zero drips is fine too.
Steve Dion has it right. But zero drips is fine too.
The nylon stuffing box on my H31 had holes in the nut so they could be secured with a cotter pin too.
After tightening, be sure that you haven't over tightened. The eternal search for minimum drips is important, but let's remember what you are really doing here. The packing gland / stuffing box, etc... needs to be lubricated to minimize overheating. With a standard flax stuffed gland, there needs to be enough access to cooling water to keep the unit no more than warm to the touch when running in gear. A VERY careful touch of the nut will indicate whether you are too tight. Warm to the touch maybe, but never hot to the touch. A little water in the bilge is a small price to pay to keep the shaft true.
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