Stern gland adjustment

[ghostlymoron]

My stern gland has a sort of castellated nut to adjust it. Stillsons won't fit because of insuffient access, water pump pliers will fit but can't exert much force - is there a special tool to fit. See photo.

 

[awol]

Been there, done that. Back hexagon is a locking nut. If you apply screwdriver/hammer on one of the flats it will probably come loose with one tap and then all will be free to move. The alternative is a large, short, narrow spanner and the realisation that it wasn't really necessary.

 

[Skyva_2]

We had the same problem and eventually had 2 thin spanners made up by a local engineer. Well worth it.

 

[vyv_cox]

Try Googling C-spanner. Can't give a link as most are sized for a specific purpose but you may well find two your size at pretty low cost.

 

[Spuddy]

Or one of those universal wrenches based on bike chain - works for me

 

[Pye_End]

I made a sort of spanner from a bit of ply - you shouldn't need much purchase to move it.

Presumably the pipe on the right isn't a remote greaser?

 

[ghostlymoron]

the pipe on the right comes from a screw down greaser mounted in the cocpit locker

 

[Refueler]

I have a very blunt old cold chisel that wouldn't dent butter and a hammer. My nut and locking nut is standard without castelations ... but I can get it tight enough with the chisel and hammer.
My gland is so difficult to get a spanner or even pump pliers on - I can't find any other way. Engineer in the yard where boat used to be in UK had a spanner he made himself for such awkward glands but even that had trouble with mine !

I've tried chain and belt filter grips ... but they failed due to the lack of room to work in the narrow shaft pit.

 

[ghostlymoron]

tried googling C-spanner, they're only about a fiver. Only problem is that I didn't measure the size!

 

[maxi77]

Cant see the picture at work but another alternative may be a crows foot spanner

 

[Refueler]

You mean a plumbers sink wrench ... now that's a good idea.

 

[1955patric]

Or even a tube spanner with a section cut away to slip over the shaft and a handle welded to it. So long as you don't need it too tight it should work.

 

[ghostlymoron]

plumbers sink wrench - I had not thought of trying that

 

[Refueler]

Dont forget though it shouldn't be too tight ... otherwise shaft will overheat the packing ... groove worn into shaft ... etc.

With packed seals like this - there should be a slow drip to show water is getting to the packing. There is drip-less packing - but the Drip-less I took out of my seal year before last was scorched from lack of water and that had a very slow drip.