Stuffing box nightmare

[Hydro Therapy]

I decided to replace the packing in my stuffing box. I purchased the boat last summer. The previous owner advised that he never replaced it during his 5 years of ownership and had no idea when it was last serviced. The boat is 24 years old.

After a battle with the retaining nut I managed to back off the stuffing gland. Removal of the old packing has been brutal. It’s old and brittle so it comes out in shavings. The standard corkscrew tool doesn’t work. I’ve used a Sheetrock screw without success. The only thing that has been working is a metal dental tool and a small pick tool set. After 3 hours I think I’m down to the last ring. The problem is the deeper I get into the gland the more difficult it is for the picks to work.

I was hoping someone has experienced this and has a suggestion on how to get the remaining remnants out. I’m contemplating a stick of dynamite.

Thanks,

Mark

 

[LakeShark]

Been there and I don't think there's an easier way than the picks if the old material is so far gone. Just remember that when you repack you want to put back the same amount you took out. I have known a few people on larger vessels that took out 4 pieces of packing but could only get back 2 and called it good. Needless to say the bilge pump struggled to keep up until they returned to the boat a few hours later after a call from the marina.

Are you doing this in the water or out?

 

[Rich Stidger]

I have not experienced the same grief as you, but I agree that the corkscrew tools are poor at best. I use a cotterpin extraction tool. It looks like an ice pick whose tip is bent at a right angle. Craftsman makes the one that I have. As you dig deeper, I found that the packing nut can be pushed to the side slightly to give a better angle on pulling out the rings. I also have dental picks but they are really too small for the job. I think you need a more robust tool.
Perhaps using a heat gun to warm the old packing might help?

 

[Hydro Therapy]

The boat is out of the water.

I will look into the cotter pin extractor. I am to the point that I’m able to slightly angle the gland on the shaft. It also moves up and down on the shaft easier. That’s why I think I only have 1 layer of stuffing left.

The swear jar is filling up rapidly.

 

[kappykaplan]

The swear jar is filling up rapidly.

Up to a boat unit yet?

 

[Stu Jackson]

The boat is out of the water.

I will look into the cotter pin extractor. I am to the point that I’m able to slightly angle the gland on the shaft. It also moves up and down on the shaft easier.

One of the reasons is that it is hard is that it is dry and not brittle from being compressed for so long.
I agree with Rich.
I use a very small flat bladed screwdriver that has a bent tip.
Suggestion: squirt some water into the gland.
Good luck.
Reminder: after you set it, make sure it is the FIRST thing you check when you go back into the water.

 

[Tally Ho]

Unless you want to remove the coupling, to getmthempacking nut off the shaft, not much else you can do. I bent the tip of a small nail, and used that to dig out the packing nut. Mine had that nasty green clay-like material in it (@#$&*)):.

When I replaced the shaft, having the nut off meant I could clean it very well and repack it...you don’t need to remove the shaft, but you would need to press the coupling off the shaft (not an easy task in most cases).

Patience grasshopper, you will get it cleaned out and repacked.

Greg

 

[uncledom]

I'm very satisfied with my PSS Shaft Seal
http://www.shaftseal.com/

 

[Hydro Therapy]

Supposed to warm up a bit this weekend. I will go another round then. Keep u guys posted.

 

[Warren Milberg]

I, too, use a set of picks I bought from Sears. But in your case, with the old packing so dry and brittle, I'd take a good , hard, look at the shaft where the gland sits on it to make sure it has not become scored. If the shaft is scored, you'll need to have it resurfaced or you'll have leaking gland problems forever. Good luck with this.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Try warming the whole mess with a hair drier and then soak with WD-40 or your favorite penetrating oil ................. repeatedly, for hours on end. I've always had good luck with dental picks (slow and gentle) and lots of swearing .

 

[Justin_NSA]

Mainsail has some tips on this. Also instructions on installing a PSS seal
http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/stuffing_box

 

[jssailem]

Sometimes there is no easy way. You just need to roll up your sleeves and prepare to get dirty.
As it was explained to me...
Your stuffing box is down under that..

So tilt your head down, stick our legs in the air and reach out with your right hand while you balance with your left.

And do not let your tools fall out of your hand.. It is 4 feet down to the bottom of the bilge. You don't have arms long enough to reach and recover any tools. And we are not sure what else may be living down there.

I'll hold your feet so we can get you back out...

 

[py26129]

I'll hold your feet so we can get you back out...

I know that feeling! Here's my daughter helping out a few years ago

 

[Ken13559]

Ok. Now what am I supposed to be looking at?? Hmmmm....are those two....1_1/2" spanners for the packing gland nut?

 

[Siamese]

jssailem...wow, that looks like the kind of task that would make want to scuttle the boat. On my Catalina 28, the stuffing box is free and clear and accessed from the aft berth.

Regarding getting the old packing out, though. Mine was likely twenty years old on my new to me boat, and using a bent nail clamped in a pair of vice grips (and other improvised tools), the packing came out in tiny bits for the first hour or so. Then, finally, it started to come out in big, continuous chunks, woo hoo! It was obvious when I had finally extracted all of it.

MaineSail has been mentioned as an info source. I used his info pretty much exclusively, as I have on several projects. With all the pros and cons relating to old and new types of packing and some of the pitfalls that MaineSail describes, I opted for good old fashioned flax and have not regretted it.

Oh, and a previous poster was right, you want to be ready to adjust the stuffing box when you launch. I thought I had given mine plenty of turns and had compressed the flax enough. Not hardly! When the boat was lowered to her waterline and still in the slings, I went below and went straight to the stuffing box. I had left the access panels off, and had my wrenches sitting right at hand, which was good because the box wasn't leaking, it was gushing. I quickly got it to a slow, steady drip, checked the seacocks for any leaks, and let the crew know they could take me out of the slings. Since then, the stuffing box has needed very little adjusting.

 

[jssailem]

Here's my daughter helping out a few years ago

Wow. That girl knows the position to attack the engine. And she looks a lot better than I do attempting to coax the engine to be responsive. She will make some sailor very happy.

 

[Stu Jackson]

And do not let your tools fall out of your hand.. It is 4 feet down to the bottom of the bilge. You don't have arms long enough to reach and recover any tools. And we are not sure what else may be living down there.

Have you considered putting a heavy screen across the bilge down there so when, not if, you drop something...???

I agree, she looks better than all of us put together.

 

[py26129]

She's a special kid, that's for sure. I thought I'd spare you all the sight of my backside

Cheers

Matt

 

[jssailem]

heavy screen across the bilge

I have been looking for something. A screen or a sling. I need something.