stuffing box packing

[johngus]

Hello,
I have an 88 30 foot weekender
I removed all the packing from the stuffing boxes today.
does anyone know what size is the packing.
I have 1 1/4 inch shafts.I think it takes 1/4 inch packing

Thanks

 

[rondds]

Pretty sure it's 1/4". Do yourself a favor and get the Gore material, not the wax rope stuff!
http://gfopacking.com/

 

[johngus]

Thanks Ron,after reading your writeup from the 340 I was planning to get the GFO.

 

[sgs01]

This is also useful to me as I think it's about time to re-pack my shaft logs as well. Is it something that can be done with the boat in the water? I don't want to pay for a haulout if I don't have to.

 

[rondds]

NO WAY! You'll have to pull the boat out. Way too much time needed to pack and water will be in your face and too free-flowing.

 

[Air O'Nautical]

This is also useful to me as I think it's about time to re-pack my shaft logs as well. Is it something that can be done with the boat in the water? I don't want to pay for a haulout if I don't have to.

If you HAD to ... you can replace in the water.
I have done mine in the water and it's surprising how manageable the water flow is.

But, best advise is to wait till haul out because, you really want to ensure you've cleaned out all the old packing especially since your changing to GFO material. I went with GFO instead of adding dripp-less. GFO working good so far, only second year though.

If you need to add a ring of wax packing to get you by till haul out, go ahead and add some in the water.

 

[molson9]

i had a very leaky port stuffing box. backed the packing nut all the way off and the leak rate strayed the same. Pulled what was left of the outer packing ring and replaced it with one 1/4 inch ring. Had to hammer it a little to get it flat enough to push into the stuffing box. Once in I packed it in with a small wood rod until it flattened out like it looked in the package. Replaced to nut and slowed down the leakage rate significantly. plan on pulling all of the packing and both steering gland nuts packing as soon as I go on the hard this spring. Stern Tubes are another story..

 

[julietbravomike]

+1 on the GFO. It's much better than the cotton/teflon or cotton/wax - don't waste your time with those. I replaced all the packing on my 340 this winter (in the water). Bilge is nice and dry now. The water flow is nothing to get concerned about. The primary bilge pump kept up just fine. Once you get one ring back in, not much water comes through.

 

[sgs01]

Does anyone happen to know off hand what size packing I should use for my 1984 Seadancer with twin direct-drive inboards? I can't remember the shaft size or the packing nut size.

 

[johngus]

cleaned the old crap out today and repacked with GFO.how tight should I make the initial adjustment.I ran the nut down by hand til I couldn't tighten any more.spun shaft by hand a few times to make sure all was seated.pretty sure that should be good until I splash then Adjust til leak stops with the boat at the slip.am I on the right track?

 

[Air O'Nautical]

cleaned the old crap out today and repacked with GFO.how tight should I make the initial adjustment.I ran the nut down by hand til I couldn't tighten any more.spun shaft by hand a few times to make sure all was seated.pretty sure that should be good until I splash then Adjust til leak stops with the boat at the slip.am I on the right track?

I hand tightened but, just to seat the packing. Loose is better at first. Run the boat and make another small adjustment tighter .... Just enough to stop the drip.
You CAN screw it up if it's too tight..