stuffing box cord sizing

[larryeddington]

Success today we repacked both v-drives and they are a b*********h. But done. Got three rings of the black gore 1/4 in in the nut. I made a tool from some 1 1/4 inch pvc., its inside diameter is just larger than one inch. I cut enough away on band saw so the 3 to 4 inch tool could be snapped over the 1 inch shaft, then we pushed each layer into the nut with it and seating each layer after insertion by tapping on the nut with the pvc on the shaft and against the log itself. When done that way we could get four good turns on the nut and success followed. We first tried without tapping with hammer and same as others could only get one turn on nut. Tap seating each packing ring is key IMO.


Halaluya won't have to do that again for maybe couple of years. BTW did it in the water and flow was minimal and bilge pump easily took care of the water. No danger whatsoever of sinking and not even scary. IMO you could actually run the boat without the packing, would not want but just saying that is what I think of the minimal water flow.