Dialing in a conventional stuffing box

[ndutton]

Following packing replacement with PTFE flax I was struggling with getting the stuffing box drip rate and temperature in gear dialed in. I used the proper size flax, put in the normal 3 separate rings with the joints 120° apart but couldn't get the drip rate correct. In gear it was either dripping 4~5 times a second or no drips at all. Even with excessive dripping the stuffing box was getting exceedingly hot and that was with the shaft turning just above idle, like 800 RPM. I tried loosening the stuffing box a little more and it came right off the threads which meant there were no threads left to loosen it more. Besides it was already dripping way too much.

A closer look was in order.

. . . and a closer look discovered a problem. The dripping was not coming from where it should to cool the shaft→flax seal but rather from the threads before the water got to the flax. No wonder the temperature was out of control.



The solution was to remove one ring of flax. Now the dripping is coming from the shaft exit where it should, is adjustable and the stuffing box is held on with at least four threads. I dialed it in with the shaft turning, one drip per second, no drips at rest and after a half hour in gear the stuffing box temp was on the lower side of lukewarm.

edit: I wish I had my IR temp gun with me to provide a more accurate narrative

[msmith10]

I had a similar problem last time I repacked. 2 rings of packing was all that would fit without overtightening, so I went with 2 rings. No problem after that.

[sastanley]

100% the same experience with Mark. I am running 2 rings of the graphite packing with conventional Buck Algonquin stuffing box...It is essentially dripless.

[Dave Neptune]

I used 3 rows of flax the first couple times and when I switched to the synthetic I could only get two rings in. I don't think the synthetics compress as much.

Really good stuff! Pun intended.

Dave Neptune