Dripless or not???

[irwin325cc]

Is this a dripless propeller bearing, stuffing box, or one of the ole' ones thats suposed to drip to lubricate the shaft? It is attached to a new remanufactured Moyer Marine Atomic four and I don't know what to exactly call it or if to worry about it. It drips about every four seconds.

I ask cause sometimes it will drip and some times not. Now I have in the past only been down at the boat for a 4-5 day weekend a month. I just moved onboard and as it has passed mind before I am thinking more about it.

[knothead]

That is not a dripless stuffing box.

[jrd22]

And there should be two hose clamps on both ends of the hose. Not sure why it doesn't drip consistently, should definitely drip when motoring or you are going to have trouble.

[CalebD]

That my friend, is a genuine, traditional stuffing box set up. Looks a lot like the one on my '67 Tartan 27'. It also looks like it has not been repacked in a long time which may help explain the erratic dripping you reported. First you should try tightening the packing nut on the stuffing box, then the locking nut. If you do decide to re-pack the stuffing 'gland' do use the Gore GFO packing that is recommended by this tutorial on re-packing the stuffing box: Re-Packing A Traditional Stuffing Box Photo Gallery by Compass Marine at pbase.com
I have had good results from their GFO packing with my traditional stuffing box and Atomic 4.

Since the bolts on my stuffing box looked a lot like yours I make one recommendation to add to MaineSail's great tutorial (check out all his projects).
- Spray or brush some PB Blaster or equivalent and let it soak for at least 1 day before even trying to work on it. Try not to get PB Blaster on any rubber hoses or fittings, just the shaft and bolt need to be sprayed with PB. The next day or later have a go at it with WD 40 and a pair of wrenches and it should open right up with any luck. Then re-tighten or re-pack it.
If you re-pack it now you should not have to worry about it for a number of years and it shouldn't that difficult to do given the access you have from the photos.

[CalebD]

Originally Posted by jrd22

And there should be two hose clamps on both ends of the hose.

This would come up on a decent survey.
Good for you jrd22.
ABYC standard. 2 hose clamps per connection below the water line.

[irwin325cc]

Thanks Caleb I did notice the missing hose clamp while taking photos today as I installed the motor from MMI about 9 months ago and the new fuel tank this week I did as told and put two clamps on everything even the head when I rebuilt her (it?).

As the drip is not coming from the hose but the nut thats why I asked.

jrd22, as I see and understand why two hose clamps are wanted (in case one brakes there is always another) I don't see why you say you can't under stand why it doesn't drip constantly as the one left is tight. I am also making a trip in the morning to get a new hose clamp for it. Am also planning to paint the bottom at the end of the month and I am going to pull (may have someone else) pull the shaft to replace the rubber hose and whatever else needs replacing in context to cost and need.

Caleb, when I refer to this next month at haul out it is indeed called the stuffing box and is not a bearing or any other such thing? Just curious about the terminology.

Thanks Matt

[knothead]

It is a traditional stuffing box packed with stuffing. So I guess it would be referred to as a packed stuffing box.

[NICHOLSON58]

It is supposed to drip where the shaft penetrates the gland. If it doesn't, it soon will. the packing nut compresses the packing material and causes it to be squeezed onto the rotating shaft. too tight means no water can flow and the packing will overheat. Perfectly set, it will drip slowly while the shaft turns. It may or may not drip with the shaft at rest. New packing will give you peace of mind. Also, a bit of service to make sure you know what is inside and to know that the nut turns etc. is a goo thing.

[Maine Sail]

Aside from the single hose clamp that stuffing box hose looks very much in need of replacement, and may even be original to the boat.

I see what looks like a pin hole leak with some dried salt around it in about the center of the hose, just to the starboard side. Also, is that a crack in the hose at TDC in front of the forward single hose clamp??

Be sure to use stuffing box hose when you replace, as there is quite a difference. The hose on top is Buck Algonquin stuffing box hose and the bottom hose is typical wet exhaust hose..