Stuffing box adjustments

[Yorkshirelad]

Hi Guys,
A couple of weeks ago I had my impellers and packing replaced in the drive shaft stuffing boxes. I was out and about over the last couple of weeks and put 7 to 8 hours on the engines, during the evening I heard the bilge pump kicking in every 10 minutes. Next day checked and noticed a steady stream of water coming out of the shaft/stuffing boxes, I tightened them both up best I could without the proper wrench and but I cut the flow significantly. I spoke with the marina maintenance manager today and scheduled a mechanic ASAP. I asked him what was the usual drip per minute from the boxes he said he didn’t know.
Any input or thoughts Guys.
Cheers Rob

 

[sbw1]

I carried a pair of channel lock pliers on my 1986 Weekender, and used them a lot on that boat. Packing materials have improved over the years. Used to be flax was used and gradually new materials were introduced including the use of grease in the packing. I believe there was a goretech material with grease that worked reasonably well. I was always able to stop the leaks. You need to tighten the packing nuts on new packing until they stop leaking after a good run. Do that a few times and you may get down to a few drips per minute after running the boat. These glands tend to be dry when the boat is idle and also when cruising. It is when you come into a port after a good run that they leak the most. Tighten them at that time.

 

[Yorkshirelad]

Cheers I actually put a pair of my large channel locks in my truck ready for Wednesday when I head upto the boat.

 

[Sublimetime]

and if at any time you need to remove a drive or a motor plan on replacing with dripless packing. do it once and never look back again.

 

[Golfman25]

Goretex dripless. You can tighten the nuts by hand - don't over tighten. Works great.