Packing Stuffing box and Rudders

Just noticed this post. I'm not sure if you still need the info, but Rondds did the portion on the rudder shafts, I would ask him to respond to that.
 
If I remember correctly, that lower nut is a jam nut. Could be wrong. In any event you shouldn't need to stabilize it when loosening the top one.
 
Ron
Very good post
Question if you remember. On the rudder what is the cilicon at the base of the post on the plate on the hull? Is this a two part fitting? A post that is threaded into the plate that bolts to the hull? Did you re-cilicon it after you wer finished?
What type of wrinch did you use? You mentioned a pipe wrinch did that damage the nut? I found a wrinch at Home Depot called Adjustable Slip-Nut Wrench for $11.69 will fit the nut but not sure if it will take the torque. How much force did you need to apply to loosen the top nut?
I have cleaned all the brass parts with vinigar and wire brush and have sprayed them with WD40. Any one know of berrer material to losen the nuts?
 
North
You don't have to loosen or touch ANYTHING other than that top nut. Do not disturb the lower one or the silicone, which is the thru-hull sealing material. The only damage to the nut was it cleaned some of that crappy green off. Doesn't require much force to loosen. It will not be seized on there b/c the metals are the same and they don't rust. Probably just need to break through a little bit of oxidation on there.
 
Tanks for the information.
Will let WD40 sit for a few weeks and see how tight things are. I tried with the wrinch I got but it only has an 8" handle. Will try it with a snipe next time and if that does not work a 36" pipe wrinch. They only started leaking last year. If I tighten the top nut down will that compress any packing left in the stuffing box?
 
It will compress down any packing and may stop your leak, IF there's any thread left to tighten onto. Could be it's all the way down right now.
 
This was a great thread for me to learn. I am getting ready to add a ring of packing to my starboard rudder just as the OP did in the original post. I would like to do this when in the water if possible. Anyone know how fast the water runs in when I back the nut off enough to fit a new ring in there? Will that make the job not practical in the water? I have plenty of room to back out the nut without running into the rudder attachment.

Thanks.
 
I did mine on land so I can't comment on how much flow you'll get. I'm sure it's manageable, albeit messy.
 
I did mine on land so I can't comment on how much flow you'll get. I'm sure it's manageable, albeit messy.

Thanks. I'll report back when I'm done, hopefully not from the bottom of the ICW.
 
So I had no problem getting the nuts to turn and simply tightened it down a bit. That stopped the leaking. I am going try to just keep it at bay that why until the next scheduled haul out. Then we can drop the rudder and do a full inspection.
 
Can't imagine why you'd need to drop the rudder. Just repack it and go.
 
Can't imagine why you'd need to drop the rudder. Just repack it and go.

Mostly to learn and partly to make sure there's no damage of any kind say should the rudder have hit something in the past. I take stuff apart and put them back together as a learning exercise all the time.
 
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Cool. Take pix when you do it!
 
Great information and forum...I am leaking where the arrow is in this picture. It is along the base plate that I assume through bolts to the through hull fitting. Any advice? It is a slow leak, but enough to run the bilge pumps too often for my liking. Thanks in advance Rudder housing leak2.jpg
 
Is it dripping down from the packing nut, or is the highest point where you see water on the baseplate? If it's the bedding where the plate is mounted to the hull, thats a whole different story. I would imagine the only way to really fix it would be to remove the entire rudder and plate so it can be cleaned and properly rebed.
 
Great information and forum...I am leaking where the arrow is in this picture. It is along the base plate that I assume through bolts to the through hull fitting. Any advice? It is a slow leak, but enough to run the bilge pumps too often for my liking. Thanks in advanceView attachment 37006

Mine looked like that (also a 1995) and I thought it was leaking at the bottom.
I was worried about the sealant that's visible around the base...evidently its normal from orignal installation.

I repacked it on land and after inspection, it was seeping from the top like its allowed to...a little love with a wire brush and a few coats of clear coat...maybe it'll look nice for a few months.

If I ever drop the rudder I'd add a grease fitting like "Master Fab" did in his blog.
ea6fc1ed8d27b9f3c85957e7fdfba0f6_zpsa61505d7.jpg
 
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