gary3029
Well-Known Member
Packing has not been changed for 5 years now. The drip I get is minimal if at all. Should I follow the rule 'if it an't broken don't fix it' or should I do it anyway. Would a failure be a slow process or instant?
packing for stern gland
- Thread starter gary3029
- Start date
tillergirl
Well-Known Member
I take it this is a traditional stuffing box in which case leave it alone. It will be a slow process
G
Guest
Guest
Agree with Tillergirl ... why fix what ain't broke ? As long as grease (if you have a greased one) is fed in regularly ... and you only experience a drip as designed ... then all's well.
Normally only time that really needs changing of packing is when shaft work is undertaken ... such as replace coupling etc. and shaft is disturbed from its normal setting - meaning that packing has to be removed at start.
Normally only time that really needs changing of packing is when shaft work is undertaken ... such as replace coupling etc. and shaft is disturbed from its normal setting - meaning that packing has to be removed at start.
davidbains
Well-Known Member
I have a 19yr old stuffing box which has merely been slightly tightened once or twice and still only lets in the occasional drip. Do check the stailess clips that hold the tubing.
Yala
New Member
Sadly, you're right. At vast expense, and with great care, I replaced traditional flax with Nigel Calder's recommended dripless packing at last haul out. The stern gland has been leaking like b*ggery ever since. But I'm damned if I 'll haul out again just for that.
Koeketiene
Well-Known Member
I too wanted to replace our traditional flax sterngland with a newer dripless thing.
My one man shipyard advised strongly against it - so I didn't.
Having heard some horror stories since, I haven't regretted it.
Just had the old one repacked.
My one man shipyard advised strongly against it - so I didn't.
Having heard some horror stories since, I haven't regretted it.
Just had the old one repacked.
vyv_cox
Well-Known Member
My traditional style greased packing has been in service for 12 years with me and almost certainly at least another 3 years before that. The shaft has been removed several times and the engine changed during my ownership. The gland has never leaked. I have nipped it up twice during that period.
Clyde_Wanderer
Well-Known Member
Should all stern glands of the stuffing box type have a drip?
My gland never drips or ever lets any water past, though it has a greaser, is this ok?
Thanks.
My gland never drips or ever lets any water past, though it has a greaser, is this ok?
Thanks.
G
Guest
Guest
[ QUOTE ]
Sadly, you're right. At vast expense, and with great care, I replaced traditional flax with Nigel Calder's recommended dripless packing at last haul out. The stern gland has been leaking like b*ggery ever since. But I'm damned if I 'll haul out again just for that.
[/ QUOTE ]
As long as you have everything to hand ready - you can do it afloat ! I've done mine .... I pumped plenty of grease in first ... then removed each piece of packing carefully ... watching for that deluge of water ... which never actually happened ...... even with last bit out ... the grease I injected actually provided a reasonable seal.
I repacked ... with new packing .... tightened by hand ... plus 1/2 turn with grips. Whole season now passed ... with no further tightening ... but consider that now all is bedded in etc. that spring-time I will likely give it another 1/2 - 3/4 turn to nip up ....
As to dripless packing ... greaseless packing etc. - I prefer to have a drip as evidence and also greased versions - then I know all is ok.
In fact I am planning to fit a opening small sight-hatch in the cockpit sole ... so I can quickly check without lifting whole sole board.
Sadly, you're right. At vast expense, and with great care, I replaced traditional flax with Nigel Calder's recommended dripless packing at last haul out. The stern gland has been leaking like b*ggery ever since. But I'm damned if I 'll haul out again just for that.
[/ QUOTE ]
As long as you have everything to hand ready - you can do it afloat ! I've done mine .... I pumped plenty of grease in first ... then removed each piece of packing carefully ... watching for that deluge of water ... which never actually happened ...... even with last bit out ... the grease I injected actually provided a reasonable seal.
I repacked ... with new packing .... tightened by hand ... plus 1/2 turn with grips. Whole season now passed ... with no further tightening ... but consider that now all is bedded in etc. that spring-time I will likely give it another 1/2 - 3/4 turn to nip up ....
As to dripless packing ... greaseless packing etc. - I prefer to have a drip as evidence and also greased versions - then I know all is ok.
In fact I am planning to fit a opening small sight-hatch in the cockpit sole ... so I can quickly check without lifting whole sole board.
G
Guest
Guest
[ QUOTE ]
Should all stern glands of the stuffing box type have a drip?
My gland never drips or ever lets any water past, though it has a greaser, is this ok?
Thanks.
[/ QUOTE ]
There are some that can be drip-less ... but most do benefit from the drip ... this shows that cooling is getting in (albeit small !) and also that packing is not too tight.
When I changed my packing at start of 2007 season ... the old was scorched where it had been over-tightened previous season. Yes - I had a bit more than a drip and tried to sort by nipping up more. Problem in fact was when shaft was refitted some time before packing hadn't been 3 - 4 sections ... only 2 had been inserted ... I didn't know !!
Should all stern glands of the stuffing box type have a drip?
My gland never drips or ever lets any water past, though it has a greaser, is this ok?
Thanks.
[/ QUOTE ]
There are some that can be drip-less ... but most do benefit from the drip ... this shows that cooling is getting in (albeit small !) and also that packing is not too tight.
When I changed my packing at start of 2007 season ... the old was scorched where it had been over-tightened previous season. Yes - I had a bit more than a drip and tried to sort by nipping up more. Problem in fact was when shaft was refitted some time before packing hadn't been 3 - 4 sections ... only 2 had been inserted ... I didn't know !!
vyv_cox
Well-Known Member
Mine never drips at all. We grease every two hours when motoring. On the very few occasions when I did it, the gland is tightened while rotating the shaft by hand, to ensure that it is not overtightened.
There has been much discussion on these pages about the correct grease to use. For years I used a perfectly ordinary general-purpose Castrol lithium-based bearing grease. When this finally ran out I bought some waterproof stuff, a Keenol substitute, that has worked OK but produces yellow stains in the bilge. So finally, and in total contradiction of the 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' principle, I bought and fitted a PSS shaft seal last year. It has proved to be excellent, truly a 'fit and forget' item.
There has been much discussion on these pages about the correct grease to use. For years I used a perfectly ordinary general-purpose Castrol lithium-based bearing grease. When this finally ran out I bought some waterproof stuff, a Keenol substitute, that has worked OK but produces yellow stains in the bilge. So finally, and in total contradiction of the 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' principle, I bought and fitted a PSS shaft seal last year. It has proved to be excellent, truly a 'fit and forget' item.
