Packing Nut Thread Direction

[The Dog House]

Are the packing nut threads for a RH shaft standard threads (righty tighty) or reverse threads (lefty tighty)? The stuffing box on my F26 is dripping more than the standard 6 drops per minute and I would like to tighten the packing nut to stem the flow. Since the boat is in the water, I want to make sure I turn it the correct way.

I found a reference on the internet about repacking stuffing boxes (www.pbase.com/mainecruising/stuffing_box). This reference states the packing nut has standard threads, but I believe this is for a standard (LH) engine. With standard threads on a LH engine the spinning shaft (in forward) would be trying to tighten the packing nut. With standard threads on a RH engine the spinning shaft (in forward) would be trying to loosen the packing nut. It would logically make sense to me to have reverse threads for the packing nut on a RH engine, but I don't know if the same hardware is used for all engines. Thanks for any information you can provide.

[vabeach1234]

My packing nut was standard (righty tighty). Just make sure you lock it good with the locking nut and she shouldn't back off. I believe the packing is 1/4" size. Good luck getting to it, I don't think I will ever own another V-drive boat just because of access to the stuffing box.

[larryeddington]

++ on V-drive really tough. so tough I am going to spring for mechanic to do it, plus Genny between engines, me thinks they might have to lift the genny. I have two shafts ready to go with dripless seals mounted but I see no way to install with engines in so would be $$$$ to install.

[The Dog House]

My packing nut was standard (righty tighty). Just make sure you lock it good with the locking nut and she shouldn't back off. I believe the packing is 1/4" size. Good luck getting to it, I don't think I will ever own another V-drive boat just because of access to the stuffing box.

Thanks for the information. I plan on repacking with Gore GFO packing once I take the boat out of the water. Does anyone have any experience with this packing?

[vabeach1234]

That's what I have in mine. Works great and barely drips. Just make sure you use a sharp razor blade to cut the rings. I think I was able to get 3 rings in my stuffing box. You may want to pickup a cheap pick set from Harbor Freight or some where to dig out the old packing. A few of my fellow dock mates have borrowed my set do do that very job. It makes it easier. Also, I used a some odd angled channel locks to get a hold of the packing nuts. That V-drive set up will have you cussing. It's hard to get leverage when you're on your stomach with your arms over your head and your knuckles are bleeding. Good luck.

[The Dog House]

That V-drive set up will have you cussing. It's hard to get leverage when you're on your stomach with your arms over your head and your knuckles are bleeding. Good luck.

The trouble I have is the limited movement of the wrenches. With the hull below and the transmission/V drive above, it's very difficult to move the wrenches more than a half inch or so at a time.

[todd brinkerhoff]

That V-drive set up will have you cussing. It's hard to get leverage when you're on your stomach with your arms over your head and your knuckles are bleeding. Good luck.

The trouble I have is the limited movement of the wrenches. With the hull below and the transmission/V drive above, it's very difficult to move the wrenches more than a half inch or so at a time.

Although this is a different model, I needed to install new packings. I asked my mechanic and told him I had V-drives, and he started swearing. He hesitantly did the job, and after said that with the access through the mid-cabin, it was the easiest packings he's ever done. Just a small blessing. My air conditioning is under my staircase, and I still haven't figured out how to get to it without ripping up my floor.

[BobCT]

One tip once you figure it out. Write it down in the engine room with a Sharpie for next time. I have twins and each one is opposite of each other and of course the locking nuts are opposite of that. Can get a little confusing. The mid cabin has an aluminum support that is just above the shaft logs so I wrote it down there.

Bob

[larryeddington]

Just for the heck of it I looked at the shaft logs, which are on my work bench. They are from an 77 F28 V-drive and both are righty tighty, ergo the same RH. The lock nut would be the same.