Stuffing Box Leak Aftereffects

[lehighsail]

I just had my stuffing box adjusted because it was leaking too fast. Now I would like to remove the green corrossion on nearby fittings and was wondering what to use and how to do it. Also, If the engine was splashed, do I need to do anything to clean it and prevent damage to any of the parts? According to this site you can wind up with a lot of damage and I would like to avoid this. http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/image/77227844

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Presuming the hose clamps on the shaft log are clean and sound, the rest is just an aesthetic problem. Don't do anything to abrade the SS shaft as doing so will cause damage where none likely exists at present. If you want to make it look cleaner, you can use a mild emery cloth or wet sandpaper but be careful how aggressively.
If that corrosion occurs on nearby electrical connections, that's a different situation and cleaning them is necessary.

 

[Chris Burti]

If you want to remove the verdigris, you can use Zud or Barkeepers Friend. These are common household cleaners containing oxalic acid which as a strong organic acid and is a reducing agent. Appropriate reducing agents do a nice job of removing tarnish or rust which are the products of oxidation. Use a stiff stainless steel brush and rinse well with water. Oxalic acid will not damage your engine paint or seals.

 

[RichH]

The 'green' is verdigris, a copper-acetate &/or copper chloride formation on bronze as a result of corrosion by seawater, etc. It can be 'soaked' with a mix of ethyl alcohol, citric acid (lemon juice) and salt, and then sanded, etc.

Once cleaned, etc. you can regularly coat it with a mix of beeswax, lemon juice and salt ... or spray it heavily several times with a clear urethane.