Stuffing box, will it get worse?

Refueler said:
Tip to fill the Greaser ... if its the tube with screw in handle type :

same as the old grease gun idea ... screw in handle all way - then put end of tube into grease (hard to find the old tins with the plate in today !) ... once in grease - then unscrew handle sucking the grease in ...
Beats all that mess trying to spoon it in .. plus you have little or no air in the grease.
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I find pushing down gently as you unscrew the handle very effective. It makes sure that the 'suck' is unnecessary.
 
Refueler said:
Just a thought ... I've usually seen those on easy to access shafts .. workboats etc.

I don't know if still available - but there used to be a conversion kit to remove that cup and threaded insert - to replace with the remote type as I have .. far more practical
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That is what is on my Westerly and the grease nipple is just inside the engine hatch in the main cabin. Just part of the daily checks. My packing is new compared to yours. About 30 years. :)

We had similar glands on water pumps on board ship and they could run for thousands of hours with no problems, just a turn of the grease cup from time to time.
 
I've just cancelled my order for the PSS seal.
You guys have inspired me to keep persevering with my current set up and see if I can improve it.
 
Gixer said:
I've just cancelled my order for the PSS seal.
You guys have inspired me to keep persevering with my current set up and see if I can improve it.
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Even if you fix it, which by the sounds of it will need repacking, maybe with the correct packing or replacing the shaft if it is worn, it will always drip greasy water into your boat and require regular attention. Why would you want to do that when there are equally long lived alternatives that do not leak and require minimal attention. For example, a Volvo/Radice type cost less than £100 and will not leak nor require greasing. It will probably run on a different part of your shaft so you may be able to reuse your shaft if worn.

Virtually nobody uses stuffing boxes now - why would they when there is a wide range of superior alternatives available?
 
Tranona said:
Even if you fix it, which by the sounds of it will need repacking, maybe with the correct packing or replacing the shaft if it is worn, it will always drip greasy water into your boat and require regular attention. Why would you want to do that when there are equally long lived alternatives that do not leak and require minimal attention. For example, a Volvo/Radice type cost less than £100 and will not leak nor require greasing. It will probably run on a different part of your
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I have a piddly 7/8in shaft which rules out the volvo, etc. My research says the PSS seal to be the best with a bouncy 1GM and a small shaft. These are around £270.

LadyInBed said:
Do you have any leeway in your shaft position? Moving it out a centimetre could make all the difference.
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Interesting thought, I'd have to adjust my cutter but it could be doable...

Something I just thought of, how much spray will come off the shaft when its turning?? Guess i'll find out the weekend.....
 
Gixer said:
I have a piddly 7/8in shaft which rules out the volvo, etc. My research says the PSS seal to be the best with a bouncy 1GM and a small shaft. These are around £270.
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Mention of the bouncy 1GM reminds me of a recent post by someone who replaced their packed gland with a modern one and found that they then had their shaft knocking on the stern tube because of the lack of support.
 
I did see that thread. Apparently as long a you choose very flexible hose behind the seal you will be ok, the PSS has this.
 
Personally I would not use a PSS (or any face seal) with a 1GM. Face seals are fine if the shaft is rigid or almost so. They do not like movement either fore and aft or sideways as the faces can separate. The flexible mount is designed to cope with the movement, but is in effect "curing" a basic negative characteristic when used in a boat. Seals around the shaft such as a stuffing box with packing or lip seals are far more stable and effective as their sealing is not compromised by the movement of the shaft. Given that you have a 7/8" shaft the best choice for a drip free seal is this shaft-seals.co.uk/product/series0ne-seal-kit-imperial/ available with a range of mounting hoses to fit different diameter stern tubes
 
Thanks for that Tranona,
My old stuffing box has been fine for years, this is the first time I've had trouble. I'm going to fiddle with it over the next few weeks and see how I get on. I don't really mind a small amount of water in my bilge TBH.
I did see the series one but couldn't find many reviews, it is cheaper than the PSS.
In the back of my mind was the worry of swapping it out and still having problems.
 
Gixer said:
I have the correct size packing and it did cross my mind to fit larger but this felt like a bodge. My greaser is the screw cap type, I'll put some more in and see what happens.

Refueler - thanks for the detailed response.
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I have a screw cap type on my commercial boat, the boat does lots of hours a day and I only give it a capful, around a thimble full, when the dripping is excessive at the end of the day, I resisted fitting a 'proper' greaser as this can encourage over greasing. If the grease doesn't stop the dripping I just nip the nut up until it stops, as long as the shaft turns freely you will be ok. I have been doing this for 10 years and only changed the packing once, and then I don't think it needed it.
 
38mess said:
I have a screw cap type on my commercial boat, the boat does lots of hours a day and I only give it a capful, around a thimble full, when the dripping is excessive at the end of the day, I resisted fitting a 'proper' greaser as this can encourage over greasing. If the grease doesn't stop the dripping I just nip the nut up until it stops, as long as the shaft turns freely you will be ok. I have been doing this for 10 years and only changed the packing once, and then I don't think it needed it.
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If the greaser cup is easily accessible - then I agree with you.

But many boats the shaft seal is down in the keel line and under a screwed down cockpit sole. Then the remote greaser is an advantage.
I agree that you can end up overgreasing ... but the marine grease suitable for shaft seals is not so prone to being sprayed around ... you can tell the boats who use common grease - the spray line under that sole ...
Overgreasing is better than undergreasing ... once shaft starts to turn - the grease amount in the seal will set to it norm and excess will ease out.
 
Refueler said:
If the greaser cup is easily accessible - then I agree with you.

But many boats the shaft seal is down in the keel line and under a screwed down cockpit sole. Then the remote greaser is an advantage.
I agree that you can end up overgreasing ... but the marine grease suitable for shaft seals is not so prone to being sprayed around ... you can tell the boats who use common grease - the spray line under that sole ...
Overgreasing is better than undergreasing ... once shaft starts to turn - the grease amount in the seal will set to it norm and excess will ease out.
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Good point, yes it's easy to get too.
 
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