leaking around prop shaft

[Lumbergh]

This is the best I've seen:

http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/stuffing_box

[ctjahn]

I pulled out the old packing (whoa, what a mess - it was done). Replaced it with only two rows of the 1/4" gortex packing. Seemed to be a bit of a challenge but got it done. Some of the packing is pushing out just a tiny bit out of the front of the nut. So, now the questions:

1. If the packing is pushing out the front of the nut did I over tighten it and do I need to repack?

2. IS two rows of packing typical? I read three in the thread about how to do it?

Pls let me know!
Thx
Cj

[ctjahn]

SO, I was just re-reading the thread (after my work this weekend) and noted that a little drip is good? And necessary to lube the packing? And I should leave the jam nut loose until I test it? Can someone confirm?

Thx again
cj

[FrankSchwab]

Yes - it must drip about once every 5-15 seconds while running. If it doesn't drip at all, there are multiple bad things that are likely to occur:
1. With no lubrication, the packing can wear a groove into the propshaft
2. With no lubrication, the packing can rapidly degrade and need replacing again.

I wouldn't leave the jam nut loose, but I would loosen the packing nut. Being as you may have everything compressed in there, loosen the packing nut, tighten it down hand-tight, then back it off a half turn. Snug up the jam nut so things don't fall apart, then drop it in the water. Run it a few minutes, check the drip rate, then loosen the jam nut/tighten the packing nut a bit at a time (maybe a quarter turn to start out, whatever it needs at the end) to get the drip rate into range. Check it again at the end of the day, and at the end of the day the next time you go out, then forget about it until next spring.

You should also be able to touch the stuffing box after running at speed for awhile. If the packing's too tight, or has insufficient water flow, it'll be too hot to touch.

[Todd X14]

After running the boat for a few minutes to warm things up, put in forward gear with no throttle speed then look for a drip rate of one drip every 7-9 seconds. Tighten the jam nut and you're done.