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What size packing?

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 9:08 pm
by Bubbabuda
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.

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 10:10 pm
by prowlersfish
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

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 10:51 pm
by Stripermann2
1/4" and 1/4" for both I believe.

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 11:20 pm
by rbcool
Quite often I used 5/16.... mashed it a little flat with a hammer. Gave me more material in the housing.

Ron 8)

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 11:22 pm
by rbcool
Quite often I used 5/16.... mashed it a little flat with a hammer. Gave me more material in the housing.

Ron 8)

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 9:46 am
by Bubbabuda
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

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 9:55 am
by rbcool
Your supposed to "Miter" the cuts at 45 , then stagger the joints

Ron 8)

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 10:49 am
by prowlersfish
rbcool wrote:Your supposed to "Miter" the cuts at 45 , then stagger the joints

Ron 8)
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

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 6:04 pm
by rbcool
They don't leak..... they're "Dripless"!!

Ron 8)

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 6:11 pm
by prowlersfish
Thats cheating . :D

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 6:23 pm
by alexander38
rbcool wrote:They don't leak..... they're "Dripless"!!

Ron 8)
that's a oxymoron when they leak.... :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

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

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 8:47 pm
by rbcool
The only nightmare with mine is if the water lines going to them get clogged...... then I'm screwed!! :roll:

Ron 8)

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 8:53 pm
by captainmaniac
rbcool wrote:The only nightmare with mine is if the water lines going to them get clogged...... then I'm screwed!! :roll:

Ron 8)
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.

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 11:45 am
by Bubbabuda
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.