Stern Gland

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retsina

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The stern gland on my Macwester 30 drips. The Engine is Volvo MD11C. I have tried to tighten up the large brass nut, but i couldn't. Am I doing it right?. There is no much clearance between the prop nut and hull to fit a spaner. Any suggestions please?
 
Am I missing something here? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
The 'prop nut' holds the prop to the shaft, and is <u>outside</u> the boat.
The gland is <u>inside</u> the boat with the shaft passing through it.
I'm sure there's an easy explanation....?
 
I think he means a packed gland where the packing is compressed by a large size gland-nut. Fairly common arrangement, I have it on my boat.
 
I have a similar problem of limited space to swing a spanner. I had two short spanners made up for the nut and the lock nut to overcome this and it is much easier now - although still a knuckle skinning exercise.
 
Agreed. It is the mention of the 'prop nut' that has me stumped.

Unless he means the locking ring (or nut) that keeps the gland nut from unscrewing itself.

If this is what was meant, then he does not need a spanner:

Place the tip of a 'set' (= blunt cold chisel) near one of the corners of the locking nut and hold it firmly in place. With a large hammer, give the head of the set a sharp tap - direction starboard to port if working from above - so as to loosen the bond between the locknut and the main gland nut. Repeat as necessary.

Unscrew the gland.

Replace the packing using the PTFE impregnated type of the correct size.

Reassemble without tightening too much or the shaft will get hot. At that size it should be possible to revolve the shaft by applying finger pressure at the coupling.

Run the motor in gear for a couple of hours to let the new packing bed down and tighten or loosen the gland as necessary.

I don't know if this answers the question but once I get going I find it very difficult to stop. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
After long searches I never could find a thin 2 inch AF spanner. I asked marine engineers who said they made them up themselves. In the end a local toolmaker made up 2 short spanners from sheet steel which worked perfectly.
 
Somebody gave me a rusty old one that fitted perfectly and I bought another from the secondhand toolshop at Yapton, Sussex, which I had to grind out a bit to fit. Best thing is a ring spanner with a piece cut out so it will pass over the shaft; if you can find the right size.

It's a pain of a job on a Twister because you have to almost hang [split infinitive?] upside down to do it.
 
[ QUOTE ]
The stern gland on my Macwester 30 drips.

[/ QUOTE ]

Do you mean it drips when the prop isnt spinning? It might be good if you could provide a photo of the gland.... it doesnt seem right to have to use a chisel and hammer.
 
Used a micarcle product along with the packing.

It's a green teflon goo added before the rings of packing.

With the stern gland just finger tight and a bit more, there is no dripping while underway or at idle.

It works!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Used a micarcle product along with the packing.
It's a green teflon goo ....

[/ QUOTE ]
You'll have to give us a bit more to go on than that! Given that description, who knows what the average spotty youth in B and Q will serve you with.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Used a micarcle product along with the packing.

It's a green teflon goo added before the rings of packing.

With the stern gland just finger tight and a bit more, there is no dripping while underway or at idle.

It works!

[/ QUOTE ]

AFAIK The gland is supposed to drip when the prop is spinning - one drip every 15-30 seconds, (although I either get a drip every 5 seconds, or no drip), its the water which cools the shaft and gland when it is spinning.

Unless you have got a non drip gland, which I doubt given the goo.

Cheers

Richard
 
You do not say how much it is dripping?
Do you pack after each trip out?
Heat generated as the shaft turns makes the grease melt (this may be why it appears to be leaking), giving the gland a couple of turns to pack fresh grease after each trip may solve your problem.
Have you checked that you have grease in the gland and that it has not dried ?

Hope this helps
 
[ QUOTE ]
it doesn't seem right to have to use a chisel and hammer.


[/ QUOTE ]

Your shaft obviously does not enter in a narrow tunnel (I can't believe I just wrote that).

Even a big spanner would only work on mine for every other turn as access to the flats would be impossible if the flat was on top. Big coley and American screwdriver is what I use.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
it doesn't seem right to have to use a chisel and hammer.


[/ QUOTE ]

Your shaft obviously does not enter in a narrow tunnel (I can't believe I just wrote that).

[/ QUOTE ]

Not often!

No, it's easily accesible, and is one with 2 bolts holding it in.

I guess you have to do what you have to do.
 
Yeh, know how You feel.
Nearly lost mine just recently.
Stern tube failure.
Been wondering why I could not get the arrangement to work properly.
Either dripped too much or got hot.
Whatever adjustement I made.
Whatever stern packing material was used.
Whichever type of grease was pumped in.
Turned out to be the wear in the shaft due to things being out of line due to the stern tube starting to self destruct due to the fact I bumped Her on the sand in Portmadoc!
So in due course I found out why the Gland was troublesome.
So NUTCRACKER if You can get someome to check that things are aligned properly.
No matter how much maintenance ref , re packing/ greasing/ adjusting etc.
If there is wear on Your shaft or the Job is out of line for some reason.
Yer aint gonna cure Your drips.
I speak from recent experience.
And yer don't want hlb's experience!
 
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