stuffing box?

[Brian Hofler]

Hello Vother Vega owners. Just wondering if anybody
out there has overhauled the equivalent of the stuffing box,lately. I have the
MD6A engine and the combi drive. I got the renovation kit from Vega Marin last
year but put off the overhaul but now I must do it since there is a steady
stream of water into the bilge at the end of a day's run. It is tiresome to
take up the cockpit sole and fill up the area of the seals with grease
everytime. I got a friend to translate the Swedish instructions that came with
the kit and I have my American Vega Assoc. notes as well. Since the boat is now
out of the water for the Eastern Canadian winter I must fix things. Just
wondering if anybody has tackled this job lately and has any words of advice on
any problems that one might encounter and solutions. Thanks Iver Theilmann
"Tara" #2490

 

[reefmagnet]

Hi Iver, I had recently had the prop shaft out of my boat and replaced the
seals in the so called stuffing box. First off Remove the covers on the side
of the Combi unit and look for the allen head set screw that holds the prop
shaft in the coupling to the engine. loosen the allen set screw. Next removed
the cover plate with the four bolts that are on the rear of the Combi unit.
Slide plate rearward out of the way. Look for the big nut on the shaft that
locks the outside prop tube to the Combi Unit. Make the shaft with a file
mark at the nut so it can be reassemble to the same place on assembly. Move
the Combi lever to full forward if you can't see the nut. Next place a two by
four against the hull and prop blade. (To keep the shaft from rotating when
you try to loosen the big nut.) Loosen the nut til it's about off the
housing it screws into. After that take a block of wood and hammer. Tap the
prop shaft on the prop housing rearward till it's free of the engine
connection and combi unit. A few good bangs rearward should do it! Do not
remove shaft unless you are going to replace the cutlass bearing at the rear
also. Slide shaft rearward enough to remove combi rear retaining plate.
Loosen hose clamps holding the so called stuffing box bearing and seal
assembly. The bearing is bronze, check for excessive wear on bearing, replace
the seals on the stuffing box housing, noting which direction they are
facing, seal cup inward or outward? To assemble reverse the procedure except
to get the outside and inside shafts aligned before tightning the big nut and
set screw. Leave the big nut loose till last. Feel for the keyway that aligns
the prop shaft to the coupling. Usually it's still in the coupling. Move the
keyway out of the coupling slightly and then align the inside prop shaft to
the keyway slot. Have some one tap the prop shaft in slowly while you make
sure it locks into place all the way in. Tightned the allen set screw. Then
turn the blades on the prop shaft to the alignment mark at the big nut you
made previously having the cable lever all the way forward. After aligned
tighten big nut using the two by four again. It is best just to loosen the
big nut and not remove it when disassembling. Lubricating the shaft with 30
weight oil before reassembling makes it a bit easier to assemble. Their are
marks on the props and prop housings for the neutral position. They are
little 0's and a dash on the props and housing for alignment. Move your cable
lever to make sure they correspond to the shift indicator. Grease the
stuffing box assembly and your done!!! Hope this helps Walt (Remedy)

 

[reefmagnet]

Thanks Walt and Walther for your information re
stuffing box. Iver (Tara, #2490)

 

[reefmagnet]

I just replaced the seals on "Flicka's" stuffing box two weeks ago. I purchased the new seals from a local Volvo supplier and after filling the unit with new grease it was fine, no leaks. In the past I added grease a couple of time during the season, but do check it on the end of the day after sailing, through a 4"x6" access hole in the starboard locker. Saw a different set-up in a photo recently on Steve Birch's boat in the UK, you may want to drop him an e-mail. Also, both Boat U.S and West Marine show stuffing box designs in their catalogs that claim not to leak.

Regards, Hans Heiduck
"Flicka" 1874

 

[reefmagnet]

Dear Pam and Iver,

I am the owner of Vega Le Cygne V 1687. In the past I
had severe problems with the stuffing box.
I was the editor of the dutch Vega Bulletin and every
week there would be letter from other Vega owners.
The expert gave plenty of advice and I have in my
archives a lot of Vega Bulletin about this problem.
Maybe I can give you advice from my non technical
mind.

My copper axes driving the prop were replaced years ago by
stainless steel ones. So there is no longer wear and tear. The stuffing
box with simmer rings was replaced by an old fashing stuffing box
with grease.
I have to pump in grease avery few months and not its
relatively dry. No quite but after a few month I have to pump a few litres
of water.
The expensive www.vegamarin.se
did not get involved. I met the owner once ( on a race) and I
got the impression that he wants to get rich on what I consider the major
construction fault of the Vega.

If you want to know more I have to dig into my
archives.

Regards,
Henk Jansen
Naarden The netherlands.

 

[reefmagnet]

TARA # 2490,I need the part # for the stuffing box repair kits as I also am out of the water and have a steady stream of water in to the bilge each active day. Please send to lastgasp@... Thanks
Dave #3233