how often do you change the gland packings

[Mike k]

arrived today to find mucho water in bilges and its 2 years since I had to adjust the nuts on the gland to prevent drips. Shock horror- no warnings and it has all happened in 11 days since i was last out,does this sound like the packings need changing or just keep nipping it up? .Owned boat for 5 years never changed packing!! Is that bad?

 

[Tranona]

When it needs it - that is when adjusting no longer works. However it might be more convenient to do it before it becomes essential as best done out of the water.

 

[superheat6k]

arrived today to find mucho water in bilges and its 2 years since I had to adjust the nuts on the gland to prevent drips. Shock horror- no warnings and it has all happened in 11 days since i was last out,does this sound like the packings need changing or just keep nipping it up? .Owned boat for 5 years never changed packing!! Is that bad?

Assuming they weren't done much prior to your purchase then 5 years is pretty good.

I have to do mine in the next few weeks, mostly as a precaution for a new to me boat. I do have a bit of rust appearing round the seals, so possibly some crevice corrosion in there, just hope I don't need new shafts.

I would prefer to fit PSS seals, but thats a shaft out job (x2). Access on my Corvette doesn't look any better to the back of the gearboxes than I had on my Turbo 36. The packing is done under the floor of the aft cabin where at least day light can penetrate.

 

[Bandit]

When you have no adjustment left.

However as they need to drip to cool properly you always have a wet greasy puddle in your engine space.

If you can replace with a good stern seal such as a Tidesmarine Sure Seal http://www.tidesmarine.co.uk/products/propeller-shaft-seals

This gives you a dry engine room, which removes corrosion issues and leaves the ER clean and dry.

Its worth fitting a second spare seal on the shaft so you can slide it down if you need to replace the original at a later date without un coupling the shaft.

You will need to prove the water flow line from memory 4.5 litres per minute minimum or fit another supply line, a good thing to prove annually.

Its an out of the water job as you need to drop the shaft back as a minimum to fit the Tides Marine seal, while you are about it its worth inspecting closely the cutless bearings for wear and condition or just replace them.

Inspect the shaft carefully for corrosion and wear especially in the way of stern seal and the cutless bearing. It would be worthwhile checking the engine alignment at the same time.

I have had Tides Marine seals now for five or six years and very good they are too, also very helpful people to deal with.

 

[Mike k]

thanks for sharing your views, much appreciated.

mike

 

[superheat6k]

When you have no adjustment left.

However as they need to drip to cool properly you always have a wet greasy puddle in your engine space.

If you can replace with a good stern seal such as a Tidesmarine Sure Seal http://www.tidesmarine.co.uk/products/propeller-shaft-seals

This gives you a dry engine room, which removes corrosion issues and leaves the ER clean and dry.

Its worth fitting a second spare seal on the shaft so you can slide it down if you need to replace the original at a later date without un coupling the shaft.

You will need to prove the water flow line from memory 4.5 litres per minute minimum or fit another supply line, a good thing to prove annually.

Its an out of the water job as you need to drop the shaft back as a minimum to fit the Tides Marine seal, while you are about it its worth inspecting closely the cutless bearings for wear and condition or just replace them.

Inspect the shaft carefully for corrosion and wear especially in the way of stern seal and the cutless bearing. It would be worthwhile checking the engine alignment at the same time.

I have had Tides Marine seals now for five or six years and very good they are too, also very helpful people to deal with.

With a PSS the water feed is not needed below 12 knots. I am not sure if the same applies to Tides. If you cruise above 12 knots on one engine you need to have a water feed cross connection, to maintain supply to the trailing shaft.

My experience with Tides Marine being un-helpful / disinterested means I will stick with PSS if I change seal style.