Shaft packing

[Sanctuary 2]

Boat in the water every thing is good.

I tightened the nut. Its a slow constant flow. Tightened a little more. It slowed a little more. Then snugged it with channel locks no change.

Should I keep tightening it?

Slept on board last night bilge pump run 2 times with an hour for about 15 sec.

[BobCT]

General rule is no, once you tighten too much you can't go back. Is the packing new? I would let swell up over a couple of days and then start adjusting. If it's not new then you might need to re-pack anyway.

Bob

[The Dog House]

If the packing is made of flax it will swell and hopefully the dripping will slow down. Even after swelling the flax packing I had still dripped. The best I could do was one drop every 6 - 10 seconds. If you bilge pump is turning on twice per hour for 15 seconds at a time it sounds like you are dripping more than that. If it doesn't slow down in the next few days you will probably need to repack the stuffing box. I would recommend the GFO packing if you repack. The GFO packing only drips when the shaft is turning. When the shaft is not turning it does not drip at all.

[Sanctuary 2]

It's new packing. Should it be hand tight or should I be using a special wrench.
I will tighten the locking nut and leave it for a few days.

[The Dog House]

It's new packing. Should it be hand tight or should I be using a special wrench.
I will tighten the locking nut and leave it for a few days.

Hand tighten the packing nut until it is snug and then use a wrench to turn the nut one more "flat" (1/6 of a turn). Then use two wrenches to tighten the lock nut. Use one wrench to hold the packing nut still and use the other wrench to tighten the lock nut. Make sure the lock nut is tight or the spinning shaft will unscrew the packing nut.

[Sanctuary 2]

Adjusted packing still left with a trickle.
Looked today now it's a fast drip.
I'll see what happened over the next couple days

[Big D]

Are you sure you're using the right size packing? Maybe some can confirm the size you should be using.

[prowlersfish]

I have put a chart on here a few times If I can find it I will repost it

[prowlersfish]

This should help

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

[Sanctuary 2]

Thanks for the replies.
I'm sure it is the right size 1/4 in. I took old packing down to match it.
Maybe I did not put enough in?
Should I try to add more?

[ready123]

Thanks for the replies.
I'm sure it is the right size 1/4 in. I took old packing down to match it.
Maybe I did not put enough in?
Should I try to add more?

Three rings should be ample. Did you offset the joints? You did cut the ends at 45 degree angle?
http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/stuffing_box

[Big D]

.....Three rings should be ample. Did you offset the joints? You did cut the ends at 45 degree angle?....

+1

[The Dog House]

Adjusted packing still left with a trickle.
Looked today now it's a fast drip.
I'll see what happened over the next couple days

If you used flax packing a drip every 6 to 10 seconds is the best you'll be able to do. How many seconds are there between drips?

[Sanctuary 2]

I think I have at least 1 drip per second.
Sounds like I need to replace it again?

I tried tightening nut with channel locks an pipe wrench. Not much change...

[ready123]

I think I have at least 1 drip per second.
Sounds like I need to replace it again?

I tried tightening nut with channel locks an pipe wrench. Not much change...

RU saying you couldn't tighten it any? How many rings of packing? You checked size for shaft?