packing box tightening

[nyguideservice]

Ok, so what is the easiest way to tighten the packing boxes on my 290xf? Next year I plan on replacing with dripless, but for now, since she had been out of the water for a while, they need to be tightened. Looks like a pain in the rear unless the floor is raised. Thoughts and secrets???

Capt Rich
NY Guide Service

[dburr]

Before you tighten it up Rich put her overboard and see how much leakage you have.  If you have synthetic packing there should have been no shrinkage during the haul out.  If you have real oakum then you want it to soak up a bit before you set it up.  One of my old running buddies made the mistake of winding dry oakum up tight when he repacked and then never felt it while he was running.. He ended up with the stuffing getting it so hot that it began to burn away from the inboard side and damn near sunk the boat when the bildge pump couldn't keep up. He ran her up on the store beach and was lucky to be able to fix it on the going tide.  Luckily the stuffing box and shaft were only slightly discolored with no real damage...
Anytime you are dealing with a stuffing box you are upside down and backwards in the bildge, never a really fun place to be and no easy way to set them up other then double jointed wrists and eyeballs on your fingers..

At least the bildge shouldn't stink of nasty fish guts and oil!!

Good luck!

[seabob4]

Rich, did you have them re-packed when you bought the boat?  I assume not.  How many drips per minute would you say you have?  2-3 drips per minute is pretty standard for a healthy stuffing box.  If you have 10 or so, tighten a quarter turn at a time until you get to 2-3.  

PSS dripless is the way to go, I'd see if that aft deck can be removed for access.  Installing new stuffing boxes, you want it done right...not with someone laying on their stomachs reaching like a sumbitch, where all they want to do is get out of there as quick as they can...

[dburr]

Check these guys out if you are going to change a stuffing box..

http://www.evolutionmarine.com/detail.html?id=3001&cart=14003621599557981

Really the way to go if it is in the commissioning budget.  Super efficient system and about 0 friction loss.

[GoneFission]

AP Services in PA has some specialty packing that they highly recommend for marine use.  I will get a link or product name and send it to you.

[SaltH2OHokie]

I could get at mine by hopping down in the "center" of the 3 hatches that formed the helm deck.  My boat did not have A/C, nor a generator, but I did have a Boatsafe heater in that center section of bilge.  I'm fairly slim, and have long arms, so I'm sure that helped, but I didn't find either of my shafts to be particularly difficult to reach to snug up the packing.  Did it for the fella before he left on his maiden voyage, post-purchase, and it probably took 5 minutes per side, and that was me holding a flashlight, a wrench, and balancing...

Now, if you have a genset down there...I've got no idea.  I'll bet that's a bear.

Mine was a pair of 9/16" nuts rather than style I was previously accustomed to requiring spanner wrenches.  I think the 9/16" jam-nut setup seemed to be easier to adjust, just had to go evenly on the turns.

[GoneFission]

OK - here's the packing material that is recommended.  This stuff works really well and is self-lubricating:  http://www.apservicesinc.com/products/p ... php?pid=25

[nyguideservice]

Thanks Guys, I am Deff going with drip less, the floor can come up so that will make it much easier. The starboard side Deff expanded and is at the 2-3 per min maybe a touch more but I can live with it. The port is still dripping more than I really like, I am going to look at a little closer to see what I will need to tighten it. I will surely look at these products you guys posted, Thanks again.


Capt Rich

[giorgos]

I also want to change the packing on the shafts. How do i measure to pick the correct size? How many layers on each shaft?

[GoneFission]

I also want to change the packing on the shafts. How do i measure to pick the correct size? How many layers on each shaft?

Use a feeler gage or drill bits to see what size you need.  Just see what fits between the shaft and the stuffing box - I would guess 1/4" - but there are others.  Cut the stuffing box material at an angle and do 3-4 wraps around the shaft - then cut the end at an angle.  Push the material down in the stuffing box as you wrap around the shaft.  Once it's all in you can press it all down in the box, then replace the inner race and tighten a bit to compress the material - don't over-tighten.  The best way to finish is with the boat in the water and the shaft turning - tighten until you just get a drip once in a while.  The AP Services material often will not drip at all.

[giorgos]

I also want to change the packing on the shafts. How do i measure to pick the correct size? How many layers on each shaft?

Use a feeler gage or drill bits to see what size you need.  Just see what fits between the shaft and the stuffing box - I would guess 1/4" - but there are others.  Cut the stuffing box material at an angle and do 3-4 wraps around the shaft - then cut the end at an angle.  Push the material down in the stuffing box as you wrap around the shaft.  Once it's all in you can press it all down in the box, then replace the inner race and tighten a bit to compress the material - don't over-tighten.  The best way to finish is with the boat in the water and the shaft turning - tighten until you just get a drip once in a while.  The AP Services material often will not drip at all.

Thank you very much.

[seabob4]

Typically, on 1 1/2" shafts and larger, the packing is 3/8".  Rudder ports, the packing is 1/4"...

[giorgos]

Can the packing be changed while boat is in the water or am I looking for trouble?
Bob, my shafts are 1 1/4 or  1 3/8 i have to measure them.

[seabob4]

George, yes you can replace the packing with the boat in the water, google "Repacking stuffing boxes while in the water".  The biggest issue is getting the old packing out, they sell "tools" for this, but really, a small crochet hook does the trick.  I'll have 4-5 rings per box pre-cut and ready to go in, cut the ends at a 45.  But as far as what size packing you have, you really won't know until you remove the old.  Either 1/4", 5/16", or 3/8"...

[giorgos]

Thank you Bob.