Non drip gland packing for stuffing box

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hunter323

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It seems that I am unable to use non drip sealing systems such as volvo or pss due to either length or size of stern tube so my thoughts have turned to non drip packing and utilising existing stuffing box. However I can only find USA suppliers on the net and am wondering if any readers have found any in the UK. Also has anyone used such a product and was it successful? I am certainly fed up with wet bilges!!
 
Try Vyv Cox's website for full information re sternglands and packing. Most chandleries stock packing of the Teflon or original packing strips in 4mm, 6mm and possibly larger sizes. You obviously have to cut to length yourself, and one way is to wrap around a bar or tube of the exact same diameter as the shaft and cutting across the packing for each insert required,fitting them ,the cut edges should be staggered around the shaft and screwing the castellated nut to tighten the first and second insert in turn and the usual third one inserted in the remaining space and moderatetely tightened; a turn or two of the greaser(if fitted); then run the engine in gear for a short while, checking for leakage and heat generation to the sterngland, it will get warmish anyway. Lubricated by the water via the cutless bearing. I believe the Teflon/PTFE impregnated type may not need the greasing process. One drip per minute is reckoned to be acceptable, mine doesn't drip at all and is greased. Whilst dealing with this aspect it may pay to check the hose usually fitted here for condition as a leakage in this can result in a serious inundation of water. The hose is not cheap either and is specifically made for this purpose. Suppliers names are on Vyv's website and other threads on here.

Hope this of help

ianat182
 
>fed up with wet bilges!!

I don't know if you have room to do this. We have a small bowl with a U shape cut to fit under the stern gland. On the side of the bowl under the cut we have what is effectively a through hull fitting i.e an end plate with a screw on plate with a pipe on one side. Sikaflex each side of the bowl is used to seal the fitting when you tighten it. We attached a hose to the pipe with a jubilee clip and the pipe goes into a washing clothes conditioner container.
 
KellysEye said:
We have a small bowl with a U shape cut to fit under the stern gland.
Click to expand...

+1

I have a deep bilge sump directly under my gland so it would take quite a few years' worth of drips before it bothered me. But I always thought that if I had a shallower-bilged boat I would make a plastic drip-collector under and around it. Even a cut-up plastic milk bottle ought to do the job.

Pete
 
Conachair said:
They do the little spiral tool to dig out the old stuff as well.
Click to expand...

I didn't have one when my drips were starting to annoy me, so as a temporary fix I unscrewed the tightening screw and wound (contrary to the fwd shaft rotation) some cotton bootlace, impregnated with waterproof grease, then tightened the screw on it.
I did this about three or four years ago and it worked so well I haven't replaced the packing :o
 
LadyInBed said:
I didn't have one when my drips were starting to annoy me, so as a temporary fix I unscrewed the tightening screw and wound (contrary to the fwd shaft rotation) some cotton bootlace, impregnated with waterproof grease, then tightened the screw on it.
I did this about three or four years ago and it worked so well I haven't replaced the packing :o
Click to expand...

You could well have scored your shaft with that material, I hope not.

Repacking a Stuffing Box 101 - by Maine Sail: http://forums.catalina.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=775788&highlight=stuffing box

Don't know if the Ultra X is available on your side of the pond.
 
As you have I expect, I googled for ULTRA X packing and found that the trade name for this is' DURAMAX Ultra X' ;there is a PDF file explaining its use etc here - at

www.europeanmarine.co.uk/Duramax Ultra-X Compression Packing.pdf

These people appear to deal in this specific material that is a greaseless system when installed. I haven't read the whole pdf file but perhaps this may help locate the UK sources.

ianat182
 
stern gland

Hi it usually takes a few trips out to set it up after being on the hard for winter.I PAMPER my boat that is to say I put a nappy under the drip and it works very well.

Regards CID
 
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