Teach me how to tighten rudder stuffing box

[rsmith]

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

 

[jim rosenthal]

Very cool and thank you!!!

 

[SEVEN]

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:
View attachment 37293

How much would you charge for a couple of those?

 

[spartonboat1]

How much would you charge for a couple of those?

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 ]



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

 

[spartonboat1]

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.

 

[spartonboat1]

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!


This was the set of tools with which I stopped a 20 year slow leak. Me so slow too!

 

[Tinker]

For breaking them loose and locking tight I use the brass shaft from a dead 8v71 raw water pump and a small maul/hammer.