Shaft Packing

[Lawman]

Good Morning Gentlemen (and ladies) I plan on re-packing my stuffing box's and have read that my 1" shafts will take 1/4" packing but was tight to put in. I've also read that 1" shafts should take 3/16" packing ??? Just wondering if I should buy both and try both ? Any input would be appreciated. I know members have used GFO but have any of you ever tried Duramx Ultra-X ?

[larryeddington]

Repacked my 1 inch V-drives shafts, used 1/4 inch graphite cord. Held 3 layers of packing. I made a tool of pvc by cutting a 4 inch peace and removing a section so it could snap over the shaft and then tamp each layer into the gland, then tighten the packing nut, worked perfectly. Use pvc that is about 1 inch ID to make the tool. I did it while in the water, turns out the shaft hole is 1/16 inch larger than shaft. We calculated water incursion and it was negligible, without packing . Any bypass was dumped by bilge pump. Easy job other than it was on V drives, ugh.

Someone posted a sizing chart on this site a while back but I don't have it on this computer it recommended 1/4 inch packing and cannot locate it on site. Don't know about the Durmax product.

[Lawman]

Thanks for the reply Larry, I did see Prowlersfish's chart from last summer and he stated 1/4" for a 1" shaft but I believe "The Dog House" did his with 1/4" and he said it was very tight?? But others have used 3/16". Just want to make sure of the size before I order it. I do plan on making that little tool you mentioned out of PVC, that sounds good!!!

[larryeddington]

I used 1/4 inch and it was tight 3 layers only, and could get nut started, using the tool packed it with a brass hammer tapping on end of tool. Worked perfectly.

[The Dog House]

There was a thread on this topic called "Stuffing Box Cord Sizing" last Summer. Prowlersfish posted the following list in that thread:

1" uses 1/4" packing
1 1/8" shaft uses 3/16" packing
1 1/4" shaft uses 1/4" packing
1 3/8" shaft uses 5/16" packing
1 1/2" shaft uses 1/4" packing
1 3/4" shaft uses 1/2" packing
2" shaft uses 3/8" packing
2 1/4" shaft uses 7/16" packing
2 1/2" shaft uses 5/16" packing
3" shaft uses 9/16" packing

I have a 1" shaft and used 1/4" packing. I put three rings of GFO in the stuffing box using the PVC tool described. They fit but were tight to get in. If you don't want it to be so tight, only use two rings instead of three. Do not use 3/16". The 3/16" will not be big enough to span the distance between the nut and the shaft and you will have leakage.

I highly recommend using three rings of 1/4" GFO. After proper adjustment, I have 1 drop every 10 seconds at running speed and absolutely no leakage when the shaft is not moving. Even with the GFO you want some leakage while the shaft is spinning.

[prowlersfish]

1" calls for 1/4 packing . For some reason the GFO / goretex seems to be a liltle tighter then the std packing . I doulble checked my chart to make sure . My info came from Buckalgonquin

[Lawman]

Thanks guys. Dog House, thats the thread I was reading where you mentioned the tight fit but I will go with the 1/4". You guys are great !!

[BarryL]

Do you have a tool to dig the old packing out? They sell them at West marine for a few bucks and it makes it easy to dig in and remove the old packing before you add the new stuff. When I couldn't find my tool I used a spring removal tool I found at Harbor Freight.

When you cut the packing cut it on a 45 degree angle so when it is installed the ends mate and overlap (Sort of)

It's an easy job with the right tools and can be done in the water without too much fuss.

Good luck

Barry

[larryeddington]

Suggestion. Use a piece of one in ch woodden dowel. Wrap packing around and make your diagonal cut. Worked well for me. Using a dowel allows you to cut on workbench and not bent over in the boat. As I recall there was just enough packing material for three rings, but little or no extra.

[captainmaniac]

Suggestion. Use a piece of one in ch woodden dowel. Wrap packing around and make your diagonal cut. Worked well for me.

Or wrap it around the shaft itself for the cuts - just be careful about scoring the shaft. You can also use a small corkscrew (or an old one stretched out a bit) to help pick out the old packing.

[Lawman]

All great suggestions !! thank you. I plan on going to Harbor Freight for a set of picks that they sell. I'm going to do it on the hard in the Spring then have them splash it. I read only to hand tighten initially, I was wondering how much water I'll get once it's splashed. Is it a dribble or should I be there when the boat is put in??

[Big D]

Hand tighten, then give it an extra half turn, and adjust after launch. You'll likely have to re-tighten after your first run so don't forget to inspect after that. You won't get much water after she's splashed. Having said that, you need to ensure your bilge pumps are working, but that's just normal practice anyway. I always recommend that folks plan to visit their vessel at least the same day of the launch after she's in. Some marinas have good launch practices, others, not so much. There's only one person that I trust to ensure everything is still okay after launch and that's myself!

[prowlersfish]

Make sure you can turn the shaft by hand after packing .

[The Dog House]

Also make sure the locking nut is tight against the packing nut. A right hand shaft is trying to unscrew the packing nut and will if the locking nut is not tight against it. For a left hand shaft there's much less to worry about, since the shaft is trying to tighten the nut against the locking nut. It would make a lot more sense to use a left hand thread for right hand shafts so the shaft is trying to tighten the nut against the locking nut, but that's not how they do it.

[prowlersfish]

Also make sure the locking nut is tight against the packing nut. A right hand shaft is trying to unscrew the packing nut and will if the locking nut is not tight against it. For a left hand shaft there's much less to worry about, since the shaft is trying to tighten the nut against the locking nut. It would make a lot more sense to use a left hand thread for right hand shafts so the shaft is trying to tighten the nut against the locking nut, but that's not how they do it.

They do make them . But do it right its not needed .
http://catalog.buckalgonquin.com/viewit ... and-thread?
I like the type with the 2 bolts my self
http://catalog.buckalgonquin.com/viewit ... gland-type