I just replaced my suffing box (nasty job getting the old coupling off). Anyhow, it appears the former owner had only one ring of packing material installed in the packing nut. That didn't seem right, so I layed in two rings (all that would fit in the nut) of 1/4" packing (that seems to be what had been there). I left a 1/8" gap in each ring and offset them 180 deg. I greased them w/packing lubricant also. The nut proved almost impossible to put on, so much that my palm and wrist were aching from trying to get it started. I wrenched it and it went all the way down (with a big 'ol wrench), but the shaft seems rather tight. The stuffing box tube torques a little as I turn the shaft in neutral. I was wondering: A) Is it just the cold weather in New England freezing the grease? B) Should I step down to 3/16" packing material? C) Will that resistance cause a heat problem with the shaft? I'd appreciate any advice, Thanks
- Status
just ready to do mine
After much research in the archives I'm going to use 3/16, supposabbly three pieces with the seams not overlapping. I cleaned out the old when I hauled the boat, wasn't to bad.I'm also a plumber and it's really just plumbing.One other thing Steve,you should never have to force anything togeather,if it's tight from the beginning somethings wrong.Just got a 1984 C27 last August,hope to be in the water in a couple of weeks, see you in the bay.
After much research in the archives I'm going to use 3/16, supposabbly three pieces with the seams not overlapping. I cleaned out the old when I hauled the boat, wasn't to bad.I'm also a plumber and it's really just plumbing.One other thing Steve,you should never have to force anything togeather,if it's tight from the beginning somethings wrong.Just got a 1984 C27 last August,hope to be in the water in a couple of weeks, see you in the bay.
Steve, quarter inch is probably too big...
I used three layers of 3/16 inch on our 1991 P42. I tightened the nut by hand and locked it. It was warm to the touch while running, which is normal. This was two years ago. It does not drip at rest but about one drip every three seconds while in gear. The shaft should not be tight. It sounds like you need to down size. Terry
I used three layers of 3/16 inch on our 1991 P42. I tightened the nut by hand and locked it. It was warm to the touch while running, which is normal. This was two years ago. It does not drip at rest but about one drip every three seconds while in gear. The shaft should not be tight. It sounds like you need to down size. Terry
Why Are You Guessing?
The size of the packing is the distance between the shaft and the inside of the stuffing box. Get a flashlight and a small ruler and measure it. Then just buy the right size packing material. Stu
The size of the packing is the distance between the shaft and the inside of the stuffing box. Get a flashlight and a small ruler and measure it. Then just buy the right size packing material. Stu
All Good Advice
To reiterate previouse advice: You should be able to get 3 wraps of the proper-sized (measure) packing into the gland. Joints should be offset at 120 degrees, so they don’t line up. Shaft should rotate freely, and not get ‘hot’ (slightly warm ok). Shaft should drip slowly at rest (this is slightly controversial), and about 3 drips per minute when turning. Nut should begin to thread on by hand - hope you didn’t strip the threads. Regards, Gord
To reiterate previouse advice: You should be able to get 3 wraps of the proper-sized (measure) packing into the gland. Joints should be offset at 120 degrees, so they don’t line up. Shaft should rotate freely, and not get ‘hot’ (slightly warm ok). Shaft should drip slowly at rest (this is slightly controversial), and about 3 drips per minute when turning. Nut should begin to thread on by hand - hope you didn’t strip the threads. Regards, Gord
one at a time
Most stuffing boxes take three rings of packing. I always found it very difficult to get three rings in until I started doing them one at a time - by that I mean put one ring in, mate the box, turn it down so that the ring goes right to the end, put the second ring in, turn it down and then put the last ring in. I have re-packed the stuffing box in the water by wrapping rubber (bicycle tire innertube) around the area where the shaft goes out - this stops the water from coming in.
Most stuffing boxes take three rings of packing. I always found it very difficult to get three rings in until I started doing them one at a time - by that I mean put one ring in, mate the box, turn it down so that the ring goes right to the end, put the second ring in, turn it down and then put the last ring in. I have re-packed the stuffing box in the water by wrapping rubber (bicycle tire innertube) around the area where the shaft goes out - this stops the water from coming in.
Thank You
I got three rings of 3/16" on at 120 degrees apart. It went down by hand untill the nut hit the stuffing. I tightened it a little more to put a little squeeze to it, and locked it up. The shaft turns fine (something to check at launching). Rick > If you're on the bay this year, we spend some weekends at Potter Cove. We're "Shenandoah". We usually anchor outside the cove just south of N4. Stop by and say hello.
I got three rings of 3/16" on at 120 degrees apart. It went down by hand untill the nut hit the stuffing. I tightened it a little more to put a little squeeze to it, and locked it up. The shaft turns fine (something to check at launching). Rick > If you're on the bay this year, we spend some weekends at Potter Cove. We're "Shenandoah". We usually anchor outside the cove just south of N4. Stop by and say hello.
- Status