I have a 1994 370 Sundancer and the starboard side shaft has been leaking. I just had the shaft repacked before the season and I have no turns left. I brought it back to the place that packed the shaft and they are telling me the Stuffing box is worn. What causes that? How do you fix it?
Worn Stuffing Box
- Thread starter Doghouse
- Start date
- Oct 6, 2006
- 12,155
- Boat Info
- 1996 450DA
- Engines
- 3116 Caterpillars
My BS detector is beeping.
The only area of potential wear in the packing gland is the shaft, unless the guy who did the repacking job before the season missed or allowed the packing gland to be mounted off center or crooked in the hose on the shaft tube.
The only area of potential wear in the packing gland is the shaft, unless the guy who did the repacking job before the season missed or allowed the packing gland to be mounted off center or crooked in the hose on the shaft tube.
Air O'Nautical
Well-Known Member
- Feb 5, 2008
- 2,316
- Boat Info
- 1995 400EC. Raymarine E80, Tridata, 4kw dome, Garmin 943
- Engines
- 2013 7.4L Mercruiser Blue water.
Hurth straight shaft 630's,
Westerbeke 7.0 BCG
Never heard that one ???
How many rings of packing did they put in it when it was repacked?
Three (at least) or four is correct...sounds as if it was not repacked at all.
Ask another mechanic to look at it.
How many rings of packing did they put in it when it was repacked?
Three (at least) or four is correct...sounds as if it was not repacked at all.
Ask another mechanic to look at it.
rondds
Well-Known Member
- Oct 3, 2006
- 8,859
- Boat Info
- 2001 380DA
- Engines
- Merc 8.1s (2008)...Hurth ZF 63 V-drives...WB 7.0 BCGD (2013), Garmin 8208 & 740 MFDs, GMR 24xHD dome
I am wondering what the bill was for the "repacking." I'm guessing they tightened it for you. Every re-packing does need some tinkering throughout the season, esp after the first few times that the boat is run. Probably no fun to repack a v-drive.
Doug Doty
New Member
Has it been adjusted since the repacking ?? if not, it simply was not done a 100% correct and it should have had a good bit of adjustment range. " BUT " if it keeps getting tightened and the leak comes back, there is two reasons I know of, #1) gland worn, and #2) too small of packing material used. This wear was caused by running a bent shaft some distance to get home and it beat the packing out and then beat up the gland. My Bertram on this one, More importently and more likely, I have recently saw a repacking go bad caused by using the wrong packing thickness, ex. 1/8" used instead of 1/4" which also allowed it to be pushed out the back of the gland. These are a nightmare to do in these v-drive boats so pick the slimest and longest arm mechanic you can find to come do it and see that it gets the right amount and size put into it and it will be good for years. Buy the guy a drink when he is done and and be happy he could fit in there. I just bought my 370 and do not yet know what size packing material is correct, hopefully some one can chime in with that info.
