Stuffing Box Revisited-Disappointed with GFO

[Ron]

First let me say, I ordered the wrong size packing. I know, I know. The flax packing I use is 9/32. The order form from GFO only has 1/4 and 5/16. I opted for the larger size and was wrong. Sooooo, I called the 800 number and explained to Rick what I'd done. He assured me it was no problem. "Just roll the packing with a rolling pin and it will go right in. Wrong! I took his advice and opened the package. Now it was mine. I rolled it and made a mess of it. It just fell apart. He also told me that it should drip at one drop per minute???? I thought it was dripless?? Flax drips at one drop per minute. Anyway, after this mess I repacked with good ol' flax and will keep on doing so. This brings up another subject that has been discussed many times here. "Can you repack a prop shaft stuffing box without hauling out. The answer, of course, is yes. (See the photos in the photo forum.) Anyway, on to bigger and better problems. Hope everyone is well and full of turkey... Ron/KA5HZV

 

[Tom]

FWIW...More Gore Flax packed stuffing Box

Does not drip at all!!,,,,maybe more like one drop per month!!...I don't think its too tight.....never really got hot....I used the boat all summer.....Too bad they didn't have your size...I think its a good product.

 

[Les Murray]

I second that

Ron,I agree with Tom. I used the GFO all last summer and never had any issues. I did notice that when I first put it in I had no drips at all. By the end of the season I started to get some dripping. Probalby just have to readjust the packing gland. I definitely think it is a good product, goes in just like regular flax, is virtually dripless, and is pretty cheap.Les Murrays/v Ceilidh86 C-36 #560

 

[Rodney Kidd]

Same Experience

I put in the GFO packing last May. Haven't had a drip since, haven't had to adjust the stuffing box, and was the best $10 I ever spent on the boat.Rodney KiddC-38 #297, Flying Bear

 

[Ed Schenck]

Dripless all the way.

We had this discussion at least three years ago Ron. I know, I know, but I still don't have my license. Next month for sure.I just finished my second year with dripless. Have not touched the stuffing box since the winter of 1999. Not a drop of water. See Link.By the way, nice pictures!

 

[Jack]

Remove Plastic collar

Apparently there is a plastic washer/collar in front of the flax on my 28.5. How do you remove this? Any suggestions?Thanks

 

[Tom]

Not thaqt it really matters But Ed from Ohios link

Is NOT GFO packing but rather a Drip-Less Moldable Packing "putty" it really is NOT the same as the "graphite" like GFO packing flax.....i've heard mixed results with the putty

 

[Ed Schenck]

Tom, not suggesting. . . .

that "Dripless" is the same as GFO, it is more expensive but it works. I was just reminding a fellow H37C owner that this subject was discussed at length way back when. I have never heard of a problem with Dripless. If there have been problems we need to document those. It doesn't drip, doesn't need adjusting, and the shaft is cool. What else could go wrong?