fun with packing glands...

[T37SOLARE]

One of the items on my pre-launch list include repacking the packing gland, as I have been unable to get it to stop weeping to an acceptable level.

So after 4 broken/mangled picks, 5 busted knuckles and several hours of practicing my best pirate speak, I was able to remove 2 - 3/16" and 1 - 1/4" rounds of flax. There's still one to go.... Looks like my shaft might need to be separated from it's coupling for that last round. Oh joy, at least I get to clean and paint it, where's that list again?

So I have both 3/16" and 1/4" flax packing in the gland. I assumed it would be easy to figure out the correct size by matching the old packing, so much for that theory.

To me it appears the previous owner or his mechanic decided that removing all the packing material was too much work, and to just remove the first layer and replace it with 2 layers of a smaller size. Or maybe at some point someone put in 1/4" packing when it should be 3/16, and thats why I'm going to my physical therapist tomorrow to restraighten my back after todays "fun" with boating experience.

So anyone know how to determine the correct size packing material for what I believe is a 24 year old 1" shaft gland?

Thanks,
Glenn

[JimsCAL]

The short answer is measure the between the shaft and the insider surface of the gland. Actually packing a little smaller or larger will probably work OK. Make sure you stagger the joints in the rings as you insert the new packing. I have had good luck with the teflon impregnated stuff from West Marine.

[SEMIJim]

Originally Posted by T37SOLARE

One of the items on my pre-launch list include repacking the packing gland, as I have been unable to get it to stop weeping to an acceptable level.

I just did that this spring, myself. Horror stories like...

Originally Posted by T37SOLARE

So after 4 broken/mangled picks, 5 busted knuckles and several hours of practicing my best pirate speak, ...

had me dreading the task. But mine went smoothly and quickly. Only needed a single, right-angled pick to pull out the three rings of Teflon type packing material that was in there.

Originally Posted by T37SOLARE

So anyone know how to determine the correct size packing material for what I believe is a 24 year old 1" shaft gland?

Only way to know for sure is to measure the diameter of the shaft and the ID of the stuffing box. You should be able to pick up an inexpensive digital caliper, probably even one that does fractional inch readout, for cheap, these days. (Our Pearson's 7/8" shaft took 3/16" packing.)

As for replacement material, get either GFO Fiber Packing or (newer and improved?) Gore GTU. (The latter of which is available at West Marine.) This stuff is 2-3 times as expensive as the traditional material, but works much better, from all I've heard.

Here is a resource that will come in handy for anybody faced with re-packing their stuffing box: Re-Packing A Traditional Stuffing Box.

Since our prop shaft appeared in excellent condition end-to-end, I used the shaft outside the boat to pre-cut the packing material. For either of the Gore products, you're going to want a brand new single-edged razor blade and you're going to have to pay careful attention you've cut all the way through, right down to the shaft. That Gore stuff is relatively tough, it is more prone to fraying than traditional material, your prop shaft is curved (of course) and you're cutting at an angle.

I just barely finger-tightened the stuffing box. As soon as she went in the water I got down there and tightened until I was seeing about one (1) drip every 10 seconds or so. Then snugged-up the lock nut. After a short ride to her temporary birth (10 minutes or so of maneuvering at low speed), got her tied up, went down below, and the stuffing box was dripping about once every 12 seconds and was cool to the touch. Checked the next day and it was dripping maybe once every 25-30 seconds. I'll re-adjust after the 30-minute mark, as recommended.

Good Luck,
Jim