Can't Get My Rudder Post Stuffing Box Apart!

[hcalmar]

On the 37C I have the two bolt rudder shaft stuffing boxes that look the one here, though a little cleaner. I have not had it apart in 20 years. Nuts come off the bolts but I can not separate the pieces. Not a lot of room. I hit it with penetrant. How hard can I wack it? How much pressure can I put on the flang ends? Can I use heat?
Thanks in advance
Hal
Rudder SB.jpg

[SEVEN]

Pour some vinager on it to help clean up some of the calcium build up. After it does its job take a drumme tool with a SS wire brush to continue cleaning it up. You can use heat and while hot wack at it with a hammer. Use a block of wood so not to ding it. If you can't fit the wood block in there then tap on it to help break it lose. Good luck.

[doc g]

Are you in the water or on the hard? I would not use a torch , you can use a heat gun. As a last ditch effort , remove the studs by double nutting them and backing them out and hammer the ears to rotate the top piece. That should separate it. .....Pat

[SEVEN]

You are absolutely correct on the heat gun and not a torch. I should have mentioned that rather than say use heat.

[Glory]

A puller, if space allows, would be my first choice. If space doesn't allow for a puller make one that will. If you can get the studs out, and I would use heat, you can then pass a piece of threaded rod through the adjustable flange then screw on a nut and screw the threaded rod intl the fixed flange and use the nuts to jack the adjustable flange out.

If you break a stud(s) your job will get more complicated, and with poor space/geography that will not be good.

JM

[hcalmar]

Thank you great advice all. Hal

[Dan Mapes]

When we had ours repacked I had them install nuts under the flanges just in case I had to go there in the future.

[hcalmar]

Smart!

[dottieshusband]

Don't know if it factory, but all my stuffing boxes had nuts above AND below the flange. I simply removed the top nuts, and used the bottom nuts to jack the flange up and off. Once you do get it apart, thread a nut on both sides before placing the collar to compress the new packing. It'll make it easier for somebody next time.

[dsharp]

Put some Ospho in a spray bottle. Rinse with plenty of water. Then knock it loose with a 2lb drilling hammer. You can forget the heat. That hunk of brass would take forever to warm up.