stuffing box

[Bill Caiazza]

Need to repair my stuffing box. Any hints on getting the lock nut loose?

 

[Pete]

stuffing box wrench

they make a adjustable wrench for the stuffing box nut ( marine store about $10 or home depot has they but they call them plumbers wrench)If this won't work try a big big plumber adjustable wrench. You may need to soak in some penatratng oil if really stuck. Good Luck!

 

[Steve Dion]

Corrosion or just tight!

Bill:If you have corrosion you are going to need to get something to loosen up the corrosion. Penetrating oil, W/D etc etc. The Marine stores have these wrenchs but they are just OK. You may want to purchase one, they are cheap.

 

[Bill O'Donovan]

reverse

Keep in mind that because it's a countervailing nut, it goes to the right instead of the left to loosen. For a complete drama on the stuffing box, look up "stuffing box" and "O'Donovan" in the Archives.

 

[Bill O'Donovan]

Correction

Instead, look it up under "packing flax question" in the Archives.

 

[Bill Caiazza]

to bill donovan

To Bill Donovan. Are you sure it is a reverse thread on the lock nut of the stuffing box ? I put plumbers wrench on the stuffing box and the lock nut. Could not get it loose. The threads look like you pull counter clockwisw to loosen.

 

[Bill Murray]

right hand threads

My memory says that these are standard (right hand) threads. Note that there are two nuts - you tighten the inside one then lock it by tightening the outside one on to it (you need two wrenches). To loosen it, you need to first unlock these two nuts. Hold each with a separate wrench (that's why they are thin) and turn in reverse directions to break the lock. Then you can loosen them - first the outer one and then the inner one. when reassembling remember that the inner one (closest to the prop) is what controls the tightness of the packing material and the outer one (closest to the engine) simply locks the inner on in position.Good LuckBill MurrayS/V Good faithh29.5 #175