I clean up my through hulls and stuffing boxes with vinegar. Put some in an empty spray bottle and soak the fitting scrub with a toothbrush sized wire brush and they come up looking like new. I then take a plumbers acid flux brush and coat the fitting with dielectric grease. You could use white spray grease but I like dielectric like the lady says about Reds hot sauce “I put that s#@t on everything
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Re: Teach me how to tighten rudder stuffing box
"DON'T BELIEVE ANYTHING YOU READ OR HEAR AND ONLY HALF OF WHAT YOU SEE" - BEN FRANKLIN
Endless Summer
1967 50c 12/71n DDA 525hp
ex Miss Betsy
owners:
Howard P. Miller 1967-1974
Richard F Hull 1974-1976
Robert J. & R.Scott Smith 1976-present
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Re: Teach me how to tighten rudder stuffing box
Very cool and thank you!!!
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Re: Teach me how to tighten rudder stuffing box
My Three Part Process to Stop Rudder Stock Leaking. See tools below:
1) Use the two Open End Wrenches to loosen the Locker Nut
2) Tighten Packing Nut (unless installing all new packing);
pass the chain around the Packing Nut,
insert to wrench catch- adjuster,
adjust to grip, death grip lock down,
turn Packing Nut as desired, until leak stops
3) Re-Tighten the Locking Nut
An Ohio company makes different sizes of wrenches for the packing nuts. They make much larger than below, that will fit a Hatt Nut; I have two such wrenches. They are a small enough operation that they answer the phone directly will make pretty much any wrench size your request.
[ www.yorkdesignandfab.com ]
Rudder Packing Wrenches from Ohio.jpg
Below are my wrenches that fit the Rudder Nuts on 43' DCFB.
1) Two Wrenches plus 1 & 3/8" ID Galvanized Pipes as Adapter Handles that fit over the Wrenches- works well!
Screw pipe sections together as needed to mix and match for the tight spaces;
Gets ticket in where the packing nuts are but the handles will fit!
Pipes: 1@ 8", 1@ 6", 2@ 4", 1@ 3"'s; 3 bushings
2) Closeup of Wrench @ 3 & 5/8" Size (both are that size).
One on the Locking Nut
One on the Hex of the Packing Nut; Hold the Packing Nut while loosening the Lock Nut
Adapter Handles Packing Nuts 1-3_8 ID.jpgPack Nut Wrench 3-5_8.jpgLast edited by spartonboat1; 01-12-2020 at 08:44 PM.
50 Years on the Great Lakes...
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Re: Teach me how to tighten rudder stuffing box
What the heck. Here is my tool bag in which I store the Packing Nut Tools. The pockets are "just right" to accept these tools.
Packing Nut Tool Bag.jpgPacking Nut Tool Bag Inside.jpgLast edited by spartonboat1; 01-12-2020 at 08:47 PM.
50 Years on the Great Lakes...
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Re: Teach me how to tighten rudder stuffing box
Finally, here is what will function to grip the the actual Pack Nut that will press home the "packing":
This is a Channel Lock (I do not believe is Vise-Grip) with Chain Locking Wrench. Image shown is upgrade of what I have- I believe will allow getting a better grip with the "tail"..
Three Part Process:
1) Use the two Open End Wrenches to loosen the Locker Nut
2) Tighten Packing Nut (unless installing all new packing);
pass the chain around the Packing Nut,
insert to wrench catch- adjuster,
adjust to grip, death grip lock down,
turn Packing Nut as desired, until leak stops
3) Re-Tighten the Locking Nut
Works!
Channel Lock Chain Locker.jpg
This was the set of tools with which I stopped a 20 year slow leak. Me so slow too!Last edited by spartonboat1; 01-12-2020 at 08:19 PM.
50 Years on the Great Lakes...
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Re: Teach me how to tighten rudder stuffing box
For breaking them loose and locking tight I use the brass shaft from a dead 8v71 raw water pump and a small maul/hammer.