Stuffing box question

[Jon Zaimes]

I recently had to add stuffing to the stuffing box on our '80 Hunter 27. This has a bronze stuffing box. When it began to leak rather vigorously, I opened it up and discovered there was NO stuffing left in it. I have read posts in the archive, the Hunter manual, and some recent posts on this topic.I understand from the manual that, after repacking the box, the box should be adjusted so it has about 4 drips per minute. Then I tighten the locking nut. From a recent post, I understand there should be NO drip at this point unless the shaft is turning. My question is, with it all buttoned up, where should the drip be coming from when the shaft is turning? The forward end of the stuffing box or the rear? I'm having trouble spotting the drip and getting it adjusted correctly. I think I have it right -- and the box does not heat up under way so I think that means it must be cooling the fitting OK. But when I set it with the locking nut off for 4 drips/minute and then tighten it and start the engine and put it in gear, it doesn't seem to drip at all.Regards,Jon Zaimes"Airwaves" of Felton, DelawareSailing out of Cambridge, Md.

 

[Bob Bass]

Teflon Stuffing?

What kind of stuffing are you using? I have seen no drips and no heating with the teflon. As long as there is no heatine you should not have a problem if using teflon. Just make sure that it is tight enough when not turning that it doesn't drip.

 

[Bill O'Donovan]

You can't tell

It's coming from the back, but all you see is a drip. There's a lot about this subject in the Archives. Type in "stuffing box" for a full debate. Bottom line: you need some drips but not a lot.

 

[Mike H]

Drip is from the front

The drip comes out the "front" or engine side of the stuffing box nut through the shaft. Drips from anywhere else on the box indicate trouble.A slow drip from the box while the engine is engaged can't hurt. Teflon impregnated flax is supposed to make a drip less critical to lubrication. So some say don't worry about it and others say do worry. I am no expert, but I prefer to not take chances. I am surprised that with no stuffing in the box, your boat is not at the bottom already. Maybe you have the boat plugged in to shore power or something for the bilge pump. Count your blessings. Do you think the flax came out on it's own? I have never heard of that. I thought the flax just becomes hard and loses it's sealing properties over a couple of years or so. That's what seemed to happen in my case.

 

[J. Tesoriero]

Are you sure?

Are you sure that there is no stuffing in the nut? Two years ago I replaced my stuffing box on my 1980 Hunter 30 with a new drippless model. On inspection, years of old and probably some original stuffing had been packed tightly in the old nut. The stuffing had literally turned to stone. When I tried to remove it for routine re-packing in earlier times, the packing nut seemed have something in it but I could not get anything out with dental picks or corkscrew devices. If I had waited any longer, there may have been enough time and pressure to make an artificial diamond in there.

 

[Ron]

Are you sure???

Sometimes (most of the time) the stuffing is packed in so tightly that it feels hard as the metal. Did you try picking it out with a flax pick?? It would be the odd one to not have packing in it and not be leaking very badly... Ron

 

[Matt A]

replaced mine.

On my 1983 H27, I replaced the packing last year with West Marines brand of Teflon packing. I have heard that there needs to be a light drip when sitting, but for the past year and a half I have had no problems and no dripping at all. If it does drip, the drip should come from the from the front, but it is hard to see. If it is comming from the rear there may be other problems. Make sure to tighten the lock nut, I almost had a "large leak".