Stuffing box

[Magic_Sailor]

I'm going down to the boat tomorrow with a plan to replace the packing in my stern glan. It's the kind where you tighten up a bolt on either side of the gland - thus squishing the packing material around the prop shaft.

Anybody got any last minute tips? Nothing facetious mind!!

Magic

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[Chris_Robb]

It is imperative that you do not over tighten this. so only do up by half a turn each side. - pump in some grease and run the engine. See if it still drips - and does not get hot - then tighten some more. You must however run for long enough to ensure that the shaft and stuffing is not getting hot, or even warm. It will last for years if you get it right.

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[Magic_Sailor]

It's not the "pump-in grease" kind. The packing is already impregnated.

Thanks for your help Chris

Magic

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[Trevethan]

I have to do this soon meself and am not looking forward to it.

Are you still in the water?

I was told not just to push new rings in, you have to remove the old ones first, all but the last one.

The first thing you need to do is make up some lengths of packing.
Then take out all but tha last old length -- finger/bentwire I guess)

then replace with the same number of new bits.

Stager the cut ends of each ring so the "gaps" doesn't line up. and replace.

Be prepared for water!

That is how i was told to do it... but if you hear different let me know and would be very interested in how it goes!

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[Magic_Sailor]

Avast!

Belay that last order matey! You mustn't do it in the water or it's Davy Jones for you!

Magic

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[Guest]

Re: Avast!

I've done this myself with the boat in the water. No problems.
To assist in removing the old I found a screw useful. You can reach in and screw it into the packing and pull it out that way. This pulls out most of it and then you use something blunt (screwdriver) to clean out the rest.

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[SteveA]

Re: Avast!

There is a tool called a packing remover which would help - basically a screw on the end of a flexible shaft. Push it in turn to get into the packing and pull. I believe if replacing the packing change the lot - not to be done afloat!



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[Magic_Sailor]

Mission accomplished.

Thanks for replies.

Magic

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[TheBoatman]

Geoff
I got fed up with replacing packing glands so I went to my local bearing/oil seal supplier and bought a couple of oil seals that fitted the shaft and the bearing housing. I fitted them back to back so that the grease went between them and I’ve had no drips or probs since.


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[Omatako]

Did you accomplish the mission in or out of the water?

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[pheran]

Re: Avast!

Nonsense! I have replaced stern gland packing on numerous occasions, on all sorts of boats and almost always in the water. Indeed there is a school of thought that says it ought to be done in the water because of the hull distortion (and consequent mis-allignment of the shaft) that occurs when the boat is chocked up on the hardstanding. You will take in very little water but if you are really nervous, leave the last ring of the old packing in place - it wont do any harm. And there is nothing wrong with the gland getting a little warm (not hot) particularly on higher revving motor boats as long as the 'drip requirement' is satisfied.

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