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  1. #11

    Re: Teach me how to tighten rudder stuffing box

    Our newer, 1986 Hatteras has 2 bolts and flanges that pull a tube down into a larger tube that has the packing. Our prop shaft stuffing boxes are the same only larger than the rudder units. I am not sure if i could ever get that far enough apart without lowering the rudders. I have been able to tighten them up enough to stop the water flow. You sure don't have to worry about the rudder packing ever getting hot from being too tight.
    Maynard
    UNITY '86 36C

  2. #12

    Re: Teach me how to tighten rudder stuffing box

    David, it is a cap nut, and the bottom one is a locking nut. Unscrew the cap nut, slide it up the shaft and retain it there. Dig out the old packing rings, replace with new, overlapping bevel cut to form a compression joint. 4 rings, joints offset 180 degrees, and tighten her down. Then screw up the locking ring. Pic attached is a previous boat of mine. I couldn't even see it. Used my cell camera to remote view it. U can do it!
    Attached Images

  3. #13

    Re: Teach me how to tighten rudder stuffing box

    Ps..small pipe wrench was the ticket. It will heap on the smooth cap, or the facets of the nut flange.

  4. #14

    Re: Teach me how to tighten rudder stuffing box

    I used a drilling hammer to break the lock nut loose. It's basically a 2lb hammer with a very short handle. You don't have to bump it very hard. Most big box stores have them.

  5. #15

    Re: Teach me how to tighten rudder stuffing box

    Thanks everyone! What size are the shafts and packing? I want to order some GFO before starting this. Is the packing the same size as the prop shafts?
    1977 Hatteras 58' MY, Hull No. 304, 4-stateroom galley up model with 8V71TIs in Knoxville, Tennessee

  6. #16

    Re: Teach me how to tighten rudder stuffing box

    David, On mine the prop and rudder are the same size, 1/2 inch. I did one prop shaft in the Gore, but switched to Duramax 5000 after doing some research. Hamilton Marine has it. My setup is different from yours in that my stuffing box is the 2 bolt collar type. In my owners manual it has an exploded of the stuffing boxes and they note the packing size. Looking at your picture, it doesn't appear that the cap is very far down. Try dropping the locking nut down and tightening the gland nut first. With the cap up, and stuffing out, it not an alarming amount of water coming in, about like a 1/2 inch hose about half open. If yours is 1/2 inch, I have enough spare to do 1 box if you need it.

  7. #17

    Re: Teach me how to tighten rudder stuffing box

    Thanks, I got around to checking the Hatteras Manual and my prop and rudderr shafts are 2" with 3/8" packing. I ordered a pound of the Duramax Ultra-X and will change them all out at the next haul-out. Hopefully the rudder packing gland will tighten up this weekend enough to stop the leak until then.
    1977 Hatteras 58' MY, Hull No. 304, 4-stateroom galley up model with 8V71TIs in Knoxville, Tennessee

  8. #18

    Re: Teach me how to tighten rudder stuffing box

    Your packing gland (the big top nut) still has lots of adjustment room (threads below it) to tighten it and compress the old flax enough to stop it from dripping. First try to just tighten it by getting 2 big wrenches (I had 2 made out of cold rolled 1/4 inch steel also) and holding the top nut while turning the bottom locking nut clockwise to move it away from the top nut. If it won't budge, hit them both with a big non-marring lead mallet (very useful on many boat projects and sold at hardware stores). Then try PB Blaster, wait a day, hit it more, and try again. PB Blaster is great for loosening stuck threads, but it smells like flowers for a long time so be careful not to spray the wood there.
    Finally, if it won't budge, get a big pipe wrench and crank the whole thing with both nuts together clockwise to tighten it. Since a rudder doesn't turn fast, it won't get too tight and burn the shaft like a propshaft gland.

    Doug

  9. #19

    Re: Teach me how to tighten rudder stuffing box

    Good news, the lock nut was easy. The only wrench I could find with large enough jaws was a channel lock.

    Bad news is so far I busted my left elbow several times and realized how little upper body strength I have. Then again, the position is very awkward with arms fully extended through a 6" drawer cabinet.

    Good news, the leak is down from a small pour to a drip. I'm nursing my elbow and waiting for some strength to return.

    Bad news, the port side has a slow drip too. While I'm at it, ....

    Thanks everyone, for your help.
    1977 Hatteras 58' MY, Hull No. 304, 4-stateroom galley up model with 8V71TIs in Knoxville, Tennessee

  10. #20

    Re: Teach me how to tighten rudder stuffing box

    This thread helped me figure out how to tighten my rudder shaft packing and stop them from leaking, so thanks to everyone who posted on here!
    I was able to use a hammer and big pipe wrench to tighten, but it was a bit of a challenge, so I built a special wrench that fits the 4.3" hex nuts on my 58LRC. This makes it so much easier to turn these, just slip the wrench on and tap the tail of the wrench with a hammer to turn. I also included 3/4 inch square drive holes in case I wanted to use a ratchet handle to turn it. If anyone wants one, I can make these in any size, I have access to a water jet cutter and have extra 1/2" thick aluminum plate. Let me know if you want one of these:
    P1010959.jpg

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