Stern gland 'C' spanner

ghostlymoron

ghostlymoron

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My stern gland needs adjusting as evidenced by the collection of water in the bilge. For this I need a suitable sized 'C' spanner. The arrangement is shown on the attached photo - I hope! The shaft is approx 1" - what size spanner do I need please?

 
ghostlymoron said:
My stern gland needs adjusting as evidenced by the collection of water in the bilge. For this I need a suitable sized 'C' spanner. The arrangement is shown on the attached photo - I hope! The shaft is approx 1" - what size spanner do I need please?

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Don't know what size you want, try measuring the thing's outside diameter with dividers or similar. However, I recently had to source a "c" spanner for my shaft coupling, I got one here and they were the cheapest by far: http://www.silverstonefactors.com/

I have to say "good luck" with undoing that, it looks like it's retired into permanency!
 
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Humm... The danger of overtightening is potentially worse than a small ingress of water. I overtightened mine once and only spotted it in the nick of time before perminant damage/fire occured. If your boat is in the water then probably best to live with the leak. If out best you can do is to free up and re-pack the stuffing box if it hasn't been done for a long while. The thing is that it is only supposed to be done up hand tight then the locking ring up brought to hold it in place. If you must try and sort whilst afloat then you need to free the locking ring by turning it clockwise towards the stern. If it is stuck you can free by tapping with a hammer and bar on its nubs (I used a extention bar from a socket set). Then tighten packing piece, again clockwise towards the stern by hand, if it is siezed loosen, carefully using the hammer and bar and tapping anti-clockwise a small amount before tightening again. Resist the urge to tighten the packing piece with hammer and bar. Once set turn the locking ring back hard againt the packing piece. Don't expect water to stop coming in, 2 to 4 of drips every minute is healty. If it is dry, suspect overtightening. Either way, monitor whilst running engine and in gear for a while. If overheating stop and loosen packing piece.
 
Cliveshep said:
I have to say "good luck" with undoing that, it looks like it's retired into permanency!
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I have had no problem with adjusting the nut using water pump pliers so it is not seized. The problem is tightening the locknut against the adjuster. It's complicated by being in a confined space so I can't get stillsons on it. Thats why I thought a pair of c spanners would work. As it's getting towards lift out date, I think I'll leave it till I'm dried out. Thanks for the contacts and advice.
 
ghostlymoron said:
My stern gland needs adjusting as evidenced by the collection of water in the bilge. For this I need a suitable sized 'C' spanner. The arrangement is shown on the attached photo - I hope! The shaft is approx 1" - what size spanner do I need please?

I have a similar set up but just slightly more access.
You could make more access when you lift out by adding a rubber stern tube (3/8" wall), this will move your stuffing box further down the shaft, by doing this I can get two small sets of stiltsons on both nuts..
Looking at the grease on your shaft your stuffing box looks like it may need re-stuffing.
After relaunching and checking the tempreture of the stuffing box a few times and slacking off I now get about 2 drips an hr at 2000rpm, and stuffing box just get warm.
Hope this is of some help
Mike
Archivist for the Colvic Watson Owner Group
DSCN1630.jpg
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ghostlymoron said:
Thanks Mike. I've only just spotted this reply. Do you think there will be enough 'spigot' to get 2 jubilees on at the stern end?
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This was the spigot before I started to put things back,I guess there was about 30mm and just enough to get two clips on.
Do not fit a standard bit of hose, fit the right seal for the job, Got new rubber seal from http://www.tnorrismarine.co.uk/ with 3/8" wall thickness!
Just send them the size you want, mine was just 3" long.
If you need more help just ask or PM Good luck
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