stuffing box, leaking steady drizzle 53 MY

[captwoodyb]

Little advise please.....Starting the winterizing here in Baltimore on my 53MY. Noticed more than a drip, closer to trickle of water leaking from port shaft at stuffing box. Surprised did not remember last time I addressed them. I think it is a straight forward, back off slightly then tigten down until leak stops then tighten down lock nut........don't seem to remember the collar and two bolt configuration. Help ! Also noticed air compressor in port engine room inboard bulkhead high loosing pressure discovered crack in water seperator bowl. Any ideas where I can get replacement ? Always get good results on this forum many thsnks ........Capt Woody Baltimore photos attached eply via burritts@verizon.net or this site. Can't upload photo attachment.

 

[Boatsb]

Everyone should at least be able to adjust the stuffing boxes in an emergency. maintenance wise the tightening until it drips 8-10 drops a minute is recommended. After tightening run it Fwd and reverse or even better take her out for the day if possible and re check. I have been working on the old style stuffing boxes for too long and see so many over tightened and wearing the shaft. If it's the dripless type forget everything I just said and be prepared to change seals

 

[yachtsmanbill]

If you cant get out for a spin, loosen it 2-3 turns on each nut, and let the packing relax a little for an hour or so. Snug them back up until your are down to a drop every couple of minutes. That way its not too tite in the event you need to move the boat. After you can go out, youll need to adjust it proppa.
If you snug it NOW, theres a chance that youll be overtite and burn it up later in the spring. I am guessing that you will winter in the water?

As far as that GFO stuff goes... I use regular graphite impregnated braided packing and havent had to adjust mine in 3 years. Rudders are BONE dry as well. Beginners luuck? I dont think so... ws

 

[captwoodyb]

[





Thanks fellows the......... two bolt flange threw me a little, last time someone worked on my stuffing boxes the shaft pulled out of the transmission. Guess I was being a little paranoid. Backed them off, them tigtened up to about one - 3 drips per minute. I will let her stand like that thru out her layout in the water then check again this spring .

QUOTE=Boatsb;172391]Everyone should at least be able to adjust the stuffing boxes in an emergency. maintenance wise the tightening until it drips 8-10 drops a minute is recommended. After tightening run it Fwd and reverse or even better take her out for the day if possible and re check. I have been working on the old style stuffing boxes for too long and see so many over tightened and wearing the shaft. If it's the dripless type forget everything I just said and be prepared to change seals[/QUOTE]

 

[MikeP]

When you are ready to re-do the stuffing, Gore GFO, with careful adjustment, will allow the the bilges to remain totally dry with no drips at all. I installed it in 07 and haven't had to re-adjust it yet and no water comes in. The graphite-impregnated stuff that Bill referred to sounds like it can do the same thing but I only have experience with the Gore GFO.

As far as GFO, it is very critical to install/tighten it exactly per the directions. If you do it wrong it will be too tight and you'll get the opportunity to do it over. I know this from personal experience. Once tightened, it will not release its grip by slacking off the stuffing box nuts. So opening up the box/pulling out the packing is what you have to do and since usually you can't pull the packing out without tearing it up, you also get to buy more!

 

[yachtsmanbill]

Yeah well some guys are experts on mass gas spectography, I happen to specialize in packing, be it fudge or valves LOL... Being conservative, I would guess Ive installed maybe 20,000 feet of various packings in the last 35 years, and only had one failure; that was with PTFE packing on my Roamer.
Now where'd I leave that never sieze??? ws

 

[captwoodyb]

Thanks fellows, looks like I dont need packing, will revisit this in the spring. Will save your recommendations.

 

[rsmith]

Yeah well some guys are experts on mass gas spectography, I happen to specialize in packing, be it fudge or valves LOL... Being conservative, I would guess Ive installed maybe 20,000 feet of various packings in the last 35 years, and only had one failure; that was with PTFE packing on my Roamer.
Now where'd I leave that never sieze??? ws

I kinda got the feeling u did like I did and bought up all the good packing before thet took it off the market. I did try the Teflon stuff and had it oozing out of the packing gland. Still have about 50' of the AAA stuff.

 

[krush]

Did they put asbestos or lead in packing? If they did, I'm sure it was the best. Anything with asbestos and/or lead is usually best!

 

[rsmith]

Did they put asbestos or lead in packing? If they did, I'm sure it was the best. Anything with asbestos and/or lead is usually best!

AAA rated asbestos another great product destroyed by trial lawyers and crooked politicians.

 

[yachtsmanbill]

Lead as well. How many pickaninnies does it take to eat a roll of packing? Answer: NOT ENOUGH!! LOL
That PTFE stuff on the Roamer simply extruded itself out the bottom of the gland. It needed a ring of regular stuff to contain it. After DePacking it I simply changed back to the old stuff. No more problems. PERIOD! ws