Dripless moldable packing

dman · #1 (**permalink**) 06-07-2005

Has anyone used this product.I am wondering if I should go with it or the pss system.I just don`t like the total faliure in the pss system if the rubber boot ruptures.

Denr · #2 (**permalink**) 06-07-2005

isn''t there a rubber hose attached to the stern tube in a conventional stuffing box? I replaced my convention stuffing box ten years ago with one of the dripless seals and have not looked back. Stop fretting, what are you, a man or a mouse?
He''s back

dman · #3 (**permalink**) 06-08-2005

On some boats the stuffing box is attached rigid to the hull and there is not a rubber hose attached.I just think if this material will do the trick I will stick with my original setup. Good to hear you`re back safe and sound,I thought the pirates must have boarded.

Sundowni · #4 (**permalink**) 07-01-2005

A trick that a Transport Canada Marine Surveyor showed me when I had a commercial vessel was to put a grease nipple in the stuffing box, then put a copper tube on the fitting and lead that to where ever was convient to get at. This way the packing would get a slug of grease and that would become the lubricant, when a wee bit of water started to show up all it would take would be to give it a couple of more squirts of grease.

One thing to be careful of is that over time the stern tube will get qite full of grease (which is a good thin), BUT one has to be careful not to force too much grease in or hydralic pressure could do major damage.

chuck_or · #5 (**permalink**) 07-05-2005

I use Gore fiber packing on the main shaft and water pump. When installed and adjusted correctly it is dripless and lasts a long time. It is installed just the same way as a conventional packing.

dman · #6 (**permalink**) 07-05-2005

Thanks for the reply chuck_or I was wondering if I was the only one interested in doing this.I think it seems to be as bulletproof as it can get and if you already have the setup,cheapest as well.

sabre32sailor · #7 (**permalink**) 08-03-2005

on the PSS system, a tear in the bellows can sink you. I have a friend who went below to find his bilge starting to fill up. He has since gone back to the traditional.

Myself, I have a PSS, but every 4-5 years one needs to replace the bellows while the boat is on the hard. PYI sells these fairly cheaply.

The PSS system is good, but it too needs some maintenance including being burped whenever the boat is put back into the water so that the air pocket is removed.

john