Stuffing Box

[GroovyNautique]

I have a 1993 SN in which I just fixed a bad vibration problem with the prop. Now I'm getting a ton of water in the boat, so I'm assuming that the vibration caused the 'stuffing' to expand and allow water in?

How do I go about replacing the stuffing in the stuffing box? what is it exactly? Is it just a bushing or is there actual material in there that I should be replacing?

Thanks!

[Andrew]

RE: Stuffing Box

have u tried tightening it first?

the stuffing box is pretty much just two brass pipes (not really pipes, but they are round....) that thread into each other and squeeze 3 layers of flax coated rope tightly around the shaft. more than likely, u can just tighten the housing and stop your leak. if not, its just a matter of taking the housing apart (unscrewing the two pieces from each other) and pulling the old rope out (probably the toughest part). then, u just cut 3 pieces of new flax rope or the new stuff i forget what it is, gortex maybe? (i'm assuming that they were still using 3 pieces in 93, i could be wrong) anyway, cut each piece to where it can go all the way around the shaft and the ends can butt up against each other. then pack each piece down around the shaft with the seams (where the butted ends meet) misaligned by about 120* each (the seams should be aligned similarly to the spokes of a peace sign)

[GroovyNautique]

Thanks! How much should I tighten it? Do I need to allow for some water in to cool the connections?

[darrel409]

tighten by hand first, you only want a few drops per minute. If you go the gortex route....even less drip.

[Andrew]

by hand? i have to use some force with a large wrench to tighten mine to just a drip. of course mine is 20 yrs old and probably near the end of the stuffing life........

but, yeah just a couple drops a minute while underway should be fine. u don't want any leakage while sitting still though

[Rick]

I prefer the Teflon coated Flax. For stuffing boxes it should be 3/8". They may have left it out or not tightened it at all when they reinstalled it. There are several good posts in the archives explaining how to replace and tighten.

[TRBenj]

I prefer the Teflon coated Flax. For stuffing boxes it should be 3/8".

I think you have your sizes mixed up. My '90 takes 3/16" packing material, and my dad's '03 takes 1/4". I put in the new Goretex stuff, and the nut only needed to be hand tight.

[Andrew]

cool, how much does the goretex sell for?

[darrel409]

about $11 at skidim last i checked

[GroovyNautique]

I've finally got around to flipping open the box after a great week of skiing. Sitting still there is a stream coming in, so obviously needs to be redone. I'm assuming everything I'm looking for is covered by the flexible hose.

I shall start my repacking journey today!

Thanks!