columbia 8.7 stuffing Box

[LS2009]

We've recently purchased a Columbia 8.7, The stuffing box needs to be repacked.

Is there a trick to accessing it? so far the only two methods I can see of reaching it without cutting holes in bulkheads are sending in an 8 year old with 2 wrenches or removing the engine. Access from the starboard aft locker is blocked by the refrigeration unit.

Lorenzo

[Universal5416]

I know this is an old thread but I just stumbled across your post.

On most 8.7's you can access the stuffing box by removing the access cover in the bulkhead behind the engine. Place a thick towel or old cushion on the engine so you can lay across it and reach down to the box. It helps to disconnect wires on top of engine so they're not crushed. Cheap basin wrenches (kind with a wing nut to lock spanner) are skinny enough to fit on one nut while the other is gripped with a crescent wrench. You can also use a small sledge hammer and a dull cold chisel to strike the corners of the nuts clockwise or counter clockwise to loosen or tighten as necessary.

Also, a note of caution, the specs for the packing are often wrong because many 8.7's have 1" shafts instead of 3/4" shafts. The ones I've done were three pieces of 3/16 " packing, not 1/4".

Hope this helps, this job isn't as bad as it looks.

Good Luck

-Dan

[LS2009]

thanks Dan,

It may be an old link but you're the first to respond, thanks again.
I'll give it a try.

[Universal5416]

No problem, Lorenzo.

I hope it works out for you.

Happy new year

-Dan

[roline]

If you are repacking while in the water, a trick to limit the amount of water to leak in.
The wax seals used to seal the toilet to the floor flange can be purchased for a couple bucks without the rubber inner flange. The wax can be stuffed in from the outside along the shaft to hull joint. It should be removed to allow water lubrication, cooling of the packing prior to running.