Leaking stern gland

[pappaecho]

My P33, new to me, has twin shaft on Mermaid engines. The starboard engine stern gland does not leak neither does it get hot. The port engine however has constant drip of water. I expect it has some sort of tallow packing. Each stern gland is an oval plate about 4 inches long, through which the shaft turns in the centre. There are two bolts at the end of the oval ends. I presume that this plate needs nipping up to tighten up the packing. Question is by how much?

 

[Kawasaki]

I presume that this plate needs nipping up to tighten up the packing. Question is by how much?

Sounds like a conventional gland packing
The packing there in, is a kind of string (to be simple) that has been impregnated with the nessecary lube.

There should be two nuts on either stud.
Slacken off the forward nut to adjust the after one.

Then take half a turn on the 'adusting' nut on both sides evanly ass poss.
Then watch if the drip lessens or dissapears.
There is no definative amaount of turns or adjustement etc.
It's a kinda bit by bit process.
When you are happy that the drip is ok tighten up the locking nut but keep a spanner on the adjusting not soe it dont turn as well case you do overtighten.

You should have a remote greaser or similar that you can lube the stern gland packing from time to time.
If so, take a couple of turns on this first
Could stop the drip or lessen it

 

[aquapower]

If you find you are out of adjustment then you will need to re-pack the gland, they would have about 3 pieces of packing wrapped around shaft with the cuts staggered, you should have a water feed to the glands on a P33 and not a greaser

 

[Kawasaki]

Ha!
Well mentioned.
Yer see aquapower.
I,m just an Old Greaser an wouldn't know about stuff like that!!!

 

[oldgit]

My P33, new to me, has twin shaft on Mermaid engines. The starboard engine stern gland does not leak neither does it get hot. The port engine however has constant drip of water. I expect it has some sort of tallow packing. Each stern gland is an oval plate about 4 inches long, through which the shaft turns in the centre. There are two bolts at the end of the oval ends. I presume that this plate needs nipping up to tighten up the packing. Question is by how much?

Ideally nip it up while going along..think you want about a drip a second ??????

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

Ideally nip it up while going along..think you want about a drip a second ??????

I have this issue atm on the starboard shaft. Its under the gearbox, next to the intercooler and close to an engine bearer. It feels to be about a 3" nut + locknut on a 1 1/2" shaft, but the biggest spanner I could borrow was about 1/4" too small. Not helped by lack of access, looks like the handle to the spanner can't be more than 8" long. I think its a steel blank and a dull few hours with hacksaw and files. Not going to touch it with the engine running though.

ISTR 1 or 2 drips a second is about right, not, as in my case, 1 every 2 seconds!