View Profile ... Any other unique tools I would need to repack the other box? How often do we see a stuffing box that reaquires such careful adjustment side to side? Link to post. All because of a stuffing box throwing water and the lack of an ounce of prevention that costs no more than $5.00 and a half hour of time. Resist the temptation to simply remove a few rings of packing that are near the top of the stuffing box. Lew Barrett. footnlongline 3 footnlongline 3 Crew Devotee; 3 … If the pump uses a flush injection and lantern ring be sure to remove the lantern ring and the packing below it. The stuffing box is a critical part of the boat. A stuffing box that's cool at 2000 rpm might be too hot at 3500. Instead, get to the bottom of it! Can you guys take a look at this site and tell me if that is pretty much what I am going to see on my boat? Though you might have to change the tubes if they go bad from age. For example, if the stuffing box you are packing has a pressure of 30 lbs., you need at least 50 lbs. 1968 38' Chris Craft Corinthian 1962 21' Grady White Atlantic. The selection of appropriate packing, the cutting methods like straight and angular, the means to extract the old packings, the standard sizes available commercially, length measurement procedure, Inserting procedure in the stuffing box, and the running in process have been described. The stuffing box is the seal around a boat’s propeller shaft that keeps the water out and allows the shaft to rotate freely. You can add to the likely resulting damage rusted shaft/transmission couplings that will have to be cut off and replaced the next time you have to pull a shaft. Like the guys said just tighten it up until it drips about 1 drip a minute. I went online to find more information on how to repack the driveshaft stuffing box and found what I think is a good site with a very good graphical explaination. View Profile A stuffing box separates the non-rotating parts from those that rotate. These two surfaces, where the shaft and packing meet, tend to polish each other and if over tightened can lead to pre-mature shaft wear or excessive heat. I've been told that anything over 120 degrees or so is too hot. In order to establish the proper flush set-up, you must know the pressures of the stuffing box and of your water line at the equipment. stuffing box You said change the stuffing box right? We don't often refer to it as a "stuffing box" but more commonly call it a "prop packing" or "prop shaft seal". Quote; Go to top ; Share this post. Lew Barrett. In continuation with previous article it is a guide in the usage of gland packings. 04-23-2010, 01:26 PM #7. By the way, you need to take those readings at cruise rpms. I like to be able to keep my hand on the stuffing box without being too hot to touch. Ninety percent of all sailboats with auxiliary inboard engines have a flexible stuffing box with traditional packing gland that usually goes unattended until it … It is a reliable option to hold your packing seals and shaft as well as keep your pumping system from leaking. Quite often when removing old through hulls I have seen 'black holes' which is mainly a sign of rotten laminates and in those cases the cut out has not been coated before installation of the through hull. Im sure you meant change the packing You never have to change the gland itself. It allows a driveshaft to spin through the hull without allowing water to pour into the vessel. The importance of knowing the proper cleaning and packing procedures becomes evident during a shutdown event when you need to keep your pump running efficiently. 04-23-2010, 02:11 PM #16. Repacking equipment during a system outage is often performed under time constraints. It looks like a pretty easy job....but I know the minute I say that. This particular stuffing box is a 1 inch box from a 1985 Catalina 36 and uses three rings 3/16 flax packing. Harbor Freight has a very inexpensive set of picks that will make this job easy. of flush water pressure minimum. These units are often deep down in the boat, behind the engine and with limited access.