What size packing?

Bubbabuda · Post by **Bubbabuda** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 9:08 pm

Can anyone tell me what size diameter packing material to use for my prop shaft seals and rudder shafts? Application is on 1975 F-32. I measured the prop shafts, 1.25 inches.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 10:10 pm

1/4 on the prop shafts , what is the shaft size in the rudders ? If its also 1-1/4 also it would be 1/4 also

Stripermann2 · Post by **Stripermann2** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 10:51 pm

1/4" and 1/4" for both I believe.

rbcool · Post by **rbcool** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 11:20 pm

Quite often I used 5/16.... mashed it a little flat with a hammer. Gave me more material in the housing.

Ron

rbcool · Post by **rbcool** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 11:22 pm

Quite often I used 5/16.... mashed it a little flat with a hammer. Gave me more material in the housing.

Ron

Bubbabuda · Post by **Bubbabuda** » Sat Mar 17, 2012 9:46 am

The rudder shaft looks to be smaller, I will measure today. I checked and found 'Graphtex Ultra Flex Shaft Packing'. Is there any other better products? And when I make the cut, do I make the cut at a 90 or a 45?
Thanks for all the help. Rick

rbcool · Post by **rbcool** » Sat Mar 17, 2012 9:55 am

Your supposed to "Miter" the cuts at 45 , then stagger the joints

Ron

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Sat Mar 17, 2012 10:49 am

rbcool wrote:Your supposed to "Miter" the cuts at 45 , then stagger the joints

Ron

Exactly ! I Bet Ron's shafts don't leak

This may help

http://www.diybob.com/diyPackingGland.htm

'Graphtex Ultra Flex Shaft Packing' or Gore tex is the best you can use IMO

rbcool · Post by **rbcool** » Sat Mar 17, 2012 6:04 pm

They don't leak..... they're "Dripless"!!

Ron

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Sat Mar 17, 2012 6:11 pm

Thats cheating .

alexander38 · Post by **alexander38** » Sat Mar 17, 2012 6:23 pm

rbcool wrote:They don't leak..... they're "Dripless"!!

Ron

that's a oxymoron when they leak....

but I seen the PDF for packing and it said graphite packing, now I was taught in the Navy that was a no no due to it will can in to the shaft if it gets to hot. And it will I've seen it, I use old school gar-lock packing and pack it water proof yellow valve grease it works for me, and I try to keep in the tech level the boat was engineered at for the time

rbcool · Post by **rbcool** » Sat Mar 17, 2012 8:47 pm

The only nightmare with mine is if the water lines going to them get clogged...... then I'm screwed!!

Ron

captainmaniac · Post by **captainmaniac** » Sat Mar 17, 2012 8:53 pm

rbcool wrote:The only nightmare with mine is if the water lines going to them get clogged...... then I'm screwed!!

Ron

I haven't really been following everything, but am I understanding you are using dripless seals? If so, what brand, and how well are they working for you? How did you plumb the water feeds? If you think we should deal with via PM or in another thread, I will ask you to kick it off.

Bubbabuda · Post by **Bubbabuda** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 11:45 am

Thanks Ron for you'r post about dripless seals. Where my boat is located now, the Mohawk River in NY is very muddy. Going to stick with flex packing for now. Thanks for all of the information. Next week the weather is supposed to be in the 70's all week. Hope to get alot of work done.