Grease for stern tubes

[Manuel]

For some time I have been using stern tube grease from a dubious source though it didn't seem dubious at the time. I think that it is not suitable for continuous immersion because I am getting an emulsion a bit like you see after putting a greasy frying pan into the washing-up, coming out of the gland. I don't think that the gland needs tightening but I think that the grease is breaking down. I do now have some grease that is rated for the job (I hope) see my question earlier about grease gun cartridges. But this still leaves me with a gland and shaft full of emulsified grease. It is not easy to do a lift out right now but the ideal answer would be to withdraw the shaft, repack, refill and fit a new cutlass bearing at the same time. Which I will do when I have to lift next.

Meanwhile, can anyone give me some advice and suggestions? I could pump through lots of the new good grease but I am worried about pushing too much grease through.

 

[sarabande]

if you are going to undertake lots of motoring between now and lift out, replacing the grease might be a more re-assuring option. Getting the grease out of the space round the tube is not going to be as simple as just squeezing the new grease in, as the grease is not replaced in a linear fashion (i.e. new in one end, old gunge out at the other.)

If you push lots of new grease in, and quite a lot of old grease comes out, I think you will be OK. The risk is in overfilling the stuffing box or rubber casing.

 

[MoodySabre]

When I took my old greaser gland off to fit a dripless type it took sometime to get all the old grease old and degrease the shaft. This is not a job to do afloat (although a partial repack might be possible). I think the best you can do, provided it is not dripping excessively, is to start using the new grease as normal until lift out. Things will slowly get better.

A dripless stern gland with no greasing has been a joy

 

[Neil_Y]

The only risk is that the grease could block the water channels in the stern tube bearing, resulting in the bearing over heating and failing prematurely.

This is the most common problem in stern glands that have greasers, the ones without greasers seem far better. We supply stern tube bearings so we see the result of excessive grease.

 

[ianat182]

Grease for Sterngland Tubes

Are you sure that the grease is the wrong type?
The grease I last used was already of a white colour and described as waterproof grease. If yours has reverted to an emulsified 'oil' then I suggest it is the wrong type.
Check the whole feeder tube(mine is transparent ) to the stern gland. You can see if the white grease is the grease coming from the 'gun' to the gland, if so I'd guess it is OK .(You can also see any air voids in the line when you refill.)
I give my greaser one and half turns before leaving port and one turn when leaving the boat ,with only the merest trickle of water over a week.