No Room for Stuffing Box Service

[Sony2000]

It maybe a good idea to clean up both stuffing boxes to "Bristol" condition. Then tighten them a little for this coming season of sailing.
Neither of you really know how much stuffing is left, and they are working.
Your repackings should be at least started in the Fall.
On my project boat, separating the box took a table vise, and inside there was only one ring left.

[ndutton]

On my project boat, separating the box took a table vise, and inside there was only one ring left.

How many did it have to start with?

[jbsoukup]

I think if you could clean it up and unscrew the packing nut far enough to get a couple wraps of packing in there, without taking the old packing out, you would be good to go for at least a few more years.
otherwise a whole rebuild would be the way to go. That means new shaft, stuffing box, and cutless bearing.
the shafts are usually frozen into the coupling, necessitating cutting the shaft for removal.
if you pull the engine you will have to re-align.

[romantic comedy]

I would recommend doing an alignment if you take the coupling apart. Especially if you put in a new cutlass also.

Check the engine mounting. Many just have lags that lose their grip.

[marthur]

Hey, here is a crazy brainstorm idea. No idea if it would work. Could you loosen the hose clamps and push the stuffing box further into the hose until you could separate the parts enough to service it? Then pull it out into position and re-tighten.

[Ball Racing]

If you had to put a hour use on it, how long would you say traditional packing last before needing replacement?
I put 3 rings in mine a year ago, and have yet to adjust it more than what it took orginally to get the drip right, seems I would have many moons of use to just keep squeezing for a long while yet before it no longer made a seal.

[ndutton]

If you had to put a hour use on it, how long would you say traditional packing last before needing replacement?

Wild guess here Daniel but for traditional wax impregnated flax, the old school stuff I'd say somewhere around 300 hours.

It's kind of like asking how long oil lasts. Ask 4 sailors, get 5 answers. In this thread I've been advocating including the packing as a regular maintenance item, worn out or not. It's one of the cheaper replacements we can perform.

We don't wait for the fuel filter to clog up before replacement, we don't wait for the spark plugs to fail, we don't wait for the belt to break and don't wait for the impeller to disintegrate, why treat packing any differently?

My 2¢

[Ball Racing]

Maintenance is always the best way.
I just had no clue has to how long it lasted, to preform this maintenance. Thanks

Not to argue, but just a comparison, the small boat commerical fishing guys around here use similar shaft logs, and old style packing, and they run these boats 10-12 hours a day 6 days a week, so just over a month and they would need to re-pack .
Guess I will go ask one to see how far they go between changes.

[ndutton]

My guesstimate was based on an experience where I let mine go waaaaay too long based on drip and adjustment characteristics near the end. In my case it may have had to do more with calendar time than actual running hours.

If I sounded like I was preaching, I was preaching to myself.

[Ball Racing]

I didn't feel any preaching
I am just trying to get a feel for upkeep, now that my set-up is over a year in use, shaft, stuffing, engine, impeller, etc...

[ndutton]

It's generally accepted locally to replace the packing as part of a regular haulout, every 3 to 4 years.

[Ball Racing]

Thank you sir.

[ndutton]

Thank you sir.

Sir? SIR?? What the H???

[Bigeye]

No Room for Stuffing Box Service

Don't we all love a good discussion thread? Thanks for all of the ideas. I had checked with Sabre a few months ago and they confirmed that there is little room to work with. I'll check with some other Sabre owners.

Here's a pic from the starboard side. Perhaps there is a bit of room to slide the hose back.

I very much want to NOT remove the shaft and coupler since that would require removing the gas tank just to get to it and messing with that may cause more problems. What's the term, cascading problems? I'd rather try and get by this season and start a major project in the fall.

I like the idea about trying to slide the tube down into the hose a little bit but the end may be barbed which could be a bear but worth a try and I like the idea about adding material without picking out the existing stuffing if we don't have enough room.

Because the shaft is stainless, it might not be as locked up with the nuts as a bronze shaft might be. I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks,

Big Eye
Salem, MA

[ndutton]

If the drip is under control I'd say enjoy your season. Looking at the recent picture, I think once this starts you'll be on a slippery slope. Off season is best. I'm hoping for the best but fearing the worst.

On behalf of the industry I so enjoyed, regarding this installation and others done similarly you have my apology.