stuffing box drips

[goodoldboat]

while working on installing new exhaust system I was noticing the stuffing box
dripping ..

it may be as high as 30 drops a minute ? I think that alot of water .
does anyone have any thoughts ?

[romantic comedy]

when was it packed or adjusted last?

Is it easy to access?

Yes 30 is too much. a few is ok. Mine does not drip and runs cool.

The best thing is to see if it just needs a bit of tightening. but most likely you would want to repack it. There are different types of packing available. I like the PTFE stuff. Usually you can fit three rings of packing in the nut part. Space the joints 120 degrees apart.

Also check the shaft for scoring that would make a good seal difficult. If that seems to be the case you can change the length of the packing hose.

Make sure the clamps on the hose are serviceable.

[JOHN COOKSON]

The correct drip rate depends on who you talk to. I like 4 drops per minute. 30 drops per minute is to high as RC said. Try tightening the packing nut one flat.
In general if you can't get the drip rate you want and have the packing as cool as the surrounding water you need to repack.

TRUE GRIT

[ndutton]

From the forum's Standards category:

http://www.moyermarine.com/forums/showpost.php?p=95456&postcount=1

The more the stuffing box is tightened, the more friction is applied to the shaft that can result in shaft scoring. Further, that friction adds drag to the driveline, enough to stall the engine particularly at low RPM. There comes a time the packing needs replacement, it doesn't last forever.

[Administrator]

For reference, 30 drops per minute equates to a bit more than a half-gallon per day.

Bill

[goodoldboat]

packing gland

i was told from the PO that the shaft and cutless bearing were done
5 years ago .

what tools does one need to tighten the packing gland .

it looks like it takes a pipe wrench or two .

[JOHN COOKSON]

Yes. One wrench to hold and one to twist.
Hint: Before you try to loosen the lock nut and the packing nut hit the whole shebang with with a liberal dose of PBblaster for two or three days. If you put a rag under the area it will keep the PB blaster from running down into the bilge.

TRUE GRIT

[ndutton]

Assuming the jam nut is tight against the stuffing box please remember the dripping isn't because it fell out of adjustment. The flax wears and doesn't last forever.

[goodoldboat]

drip rate

I can only assume that this drip will get worse as the season goes on ?
When the shaft is spinning does it swell thereby slowing the drip ?

[ndutton]

As the flax wears the drip rate increases. At some point continued tightening to manage the drip will harm the shaft and produce shaft drag and heat in use. The expansion from heat could reduce drip but I wouldn't consider it a strategy.

Sooner or later the flax will need replacement. Depending on access, it can be done in the water. It's unnerving the first time but after you're done you'll wonder what all the fuss was about.

[Boat]

everything depends on the current state of his packing. give it a try. nothing to loose. i just did mine, but mine was more than 30, it was a "Holy Sh** i should tighten that up. loosened the jam nut, one flat turn and no leak even when running. ran it at the dock in gear for a good half hour and infared temp gun said 60 degrees good to go. it maybe something that simple

[goodoldboat]

drip rate

okay so tightening is in the cards ..Just e mailed PO as to when it was tightened last , if it was a while ago I may have a full turn /

I do not think i have the nerve to repack in the water , so I have to hit the wrenches, stat tuned folks ....

[romantic comedy]

it is no big deal to repack in the water. You remove the nut and water flows in. If it worries you, you just pack something in there between the shaft and the box.

Then you will know exactly what is in there! You will get a look at the shaft where the packing runs.

The most important think is to keep water out of the boat!!!

[sastanley]

gob, you can do it with two pipe wrenches...and sometimes one pipe wrench and one large set of lock jaw pliers...or spanner wrenches which look like big adjustable wrenches but are straight on..no kink.

[ndutton]

I prefer an adjustable stuffing box wrench and a monkey wrench. The serrations in the jaws of a pipe wrench and pliers of any sort will damage the soft bronze stuffing box.