stuffing box - The Hull Truth

coddock · 08-20-2008, 02:56 PM

I had a leaking stuffing box on my downeast boat;not bad,but enough to justify a repack.The boat only has 60 hrs.on it so something was obviously up to have a problem!(yes,I tried adlusting gland)Low and behold;the engine was out of align.Aligned the motor(painstakingly)and due to access,etc.of gland,it was recomended to just add a new piece of packing to existing.We used the new gortex type packing.
Now the good part;we adjusted the packing nut and sea tested.Re-adjusted slightly after a slow cruise to correct drip.We brought the boat to cruise speed for 15+/- minutes,checked the box and found it way too hot.The strange part is that there was a drip and shaft all throughtout test including when hot was very free turning by hand!
BTW,the boat has a wet keel design;no shaft tube,no hose to gland.Is it o'k to mix whatever packing was originally in there and the gore tex type???The box was fine at first and went away,I assume,due to engine alignment.Shaft was in fine cond.with no sign of wear.It would be tough to get old packing out without removing packing nut from shaft completely...Shaft coupling etc.Inquired with a couple of people and was told they just add a ring.They say they do it all the time ;successfully!Any thoughts???

baitkiller · 08-20-2008, 04:18 PM

Three rings only. Place the ring edges ina piece sign design. (12, 4 and 7 Oclock) I use teflon packing.

You say the gland was loose and dripping yet hot. The water was likley running out the threads between the tube and gland nut, not through the packing causing both symptoms. Too much too tight packing.

islander38 · 08-20-2008, 07:01 PM

Teflon and gortex the same ? I started using teflon, after a four hour run ,its leaking pretty good . I adjust and sometimes repack,seems to need more adjusting then the old style packing. Going back to old style.

coddock · 08-20-2008, 07:05 PM

baitkiller,it was told to me that the packing needed to "break in"to loosen up a bit and it would run cooler;ever hear that theroy??

CapnDean · 08-20-2008, 07:33 PM

Stop em with cotton, choke em with oakum, pack em with flaxem. Just not too tight. If it is getting hot you have it too tight. If you have the seams all 3 in the same place water will run through (instead of seeping through) and it won't cool good. Plus, you will melt the crap out of any packing...flex, flax, gore tex, etc. I always bored out the brass and installed a zirc fitting. Repack properly with cheap ole wax/flax packing and hit it with the grease gun. Your packing should last MUCH longer than 60 hours without replacement. But you should always eyeball the drip when you dock before you leave the boat. Crazy things can happen like backing into fishing line etc..

sickcat · 08-20-2008, 08:41 PM

Sounds like you need to repack it. I think CaptDean hit the nail on the head - you have cooked the old packing. I have had very good luck with goretex and teflon lube. That is all I use nowadays.

sickcat · 08-20-2008, 08:43 PM

Quote:

coddock - 8/20/2008 6:05 PM baitkiller,it was told to me that the packing needed to "break in"to loosen up a bit and it would run cooler;ever hear that theroy??

Never heard that and it does not sound right to me.

coddock · 08-21-2008, 05:38 PM

I haven't heard too much about greasing the packing;as a matter of fact,the gortex packing instructions say not to grease.What gives???

coddock · 08-21-2008, 05:39 PM

I haven't heard too much about greasing the packing;as a matter of fact,the gortex packing instructions say not to grease.What gives???