1996 Sear Ray 400 Sedan Bridge

[buddymac]

I have a friend that has a 400 Sedan Bridge and wants advice to tighten the rudder stuffing box.

 

[rondds]

Buddy, I'm guessing your friend's stuffing boxes are not "tighten-able." They are dripless stuffing boxes and if they're leaking, the seal has to be replaced. The old style stuffing box with rope packing and a big old nut to tighten had pretty much gone the way of the dinosaur by the turn of the millenium.

This thread may shed light on the subject...
http://clubsearay.com/showthread.php/64474-Replacing-Dripless-on-a-2001-380DA?highlight=

 

[jamesv]

He said rudder!

 

[ZZ13]

Buddy, I'm guessing your friend's stuffing boxes are not "tighten-able." They are dripless stuffing boxes and if they're leaking, the seal has to be replaced. The old style stuffing box with rope packing and a big old nut to tighten had pretty much gone the way of the dinosaur by the turn of the millenium.

This thread may shed light on the subject...
http://clubsearay.com/showthread.php/64474-Replacing-Dripless-on-a-2001-380DA?highlight=

He asked about the rudder not the shaft seals. Our model has rope packing in a nut with a locking nut. To tighten loosen the lower nut to unlock it from the top nut. Then tightened the top nut followed by snugging the lower nut back up to the top nut. I'll post a picture of the wrench I use when I get back home tonight. The starboard side is easy access but the port side access will require you to remove the batteries and possibly the battery charger and the panel it is mounted to.

One note. My boat is an '01 and I've tightened the starboard side multiple times and every time it starts leaking again after the next outing. So I need a full cleanout of the old stuff and new cord inserted. Since your friends boat is 5 years older tightening may not work either.

 

[ZZ13]

Here is the wrench I use.

 

[buddymac]

Thanks for this. I passed on the comments.