Shaft packing info urgently needed

[midlifemizfits]

I have a 74 Trojan F32 that has been sitting a few years. Took it out this evening for its first run after you guys helped me on my understanding of how the fresh water cooling works. Now after taking it out today, my port shaft is pouring water profusely, probably a stream the size of half my pinky. Any quick fix for this, my bilge pumps are keeping it pumped for now.


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[Sailmonkey]

Tighten the packing gland......if it won't stop dripping with the gland tightened, open it up, pull out the old (probably septic)packing and replace it.

Re-Packing A Traditional Stuffing Box Photo Gallery by Compass Marine How To at pbase.com

[Fiveslide]

I had this type attached below. One of the bolts broke and started letting in lots and lots of water. It was late on a Saturday night and I knew would worry about it all night if I didn't stop the flow of water. So I cut a small strip of cushion foam, wrapped it in saran wrap. I dove under the boat and wrapped that around the shaft where it went in the hull. That slowed the flow to an occasional drip until I could go get hardware to fix it two days later.

It also made repacking it much less stressful, the flow never got over a trickle when I took out the old packing.

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[midlifemizfits]

thank you all for your responses!!

[midlifemizfits]

Sailmonkey you nailed it, backed off lock nut and was able to tighten packing, leak stopped. I was having to leave it 450mi this week and come back on Sun and start down the ICW from Onancock VA to Beaufort NC on Monday, don't think my nerves could have handled that leak all week till I got back. Many thanks and appreciation!!!!


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[Fiveslide]

Originally Posted by midlifemizfits

Sailmonkey you nailed it, backed off lock nut and was able to tighten packing, leak stopped. I was having to leave it 450mi this week and come back on Sun and start down the ICW from Onancock VA to Beaufort NC on Monday, don't think my nerves could have handled that leak all week till I got back. Many thanks and appreciation!!!!


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I figured you had to leave it for a while.

It certainly wouldn't hurt to repack them before that long trip, and keep an eye on how hot they get when you are motoring. I'm sure SM gave a good explanation of that in his link.

Have a good, uneventful trip. We like photos and a trip summary here.

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[midlifemizfits]

I'll take that under advisement, I'll update with pics along the way next week. Thanks for the well wishes and help everybody.


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[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by midlifemizfits

I'll take that under advisement, I'll update with pics along the way next week. Thanks for the well wishes and help everybody.


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I should mention that this needs to leak a little to cool when running. If it's too hot to hold onto when running, it's too tight. Ideally it should not leak when stationary, and just drop when running.


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[CarlF]

+1 sailmonkey on temperature

Check it several times when you get going. Too tight can ruin your shaft from overheating. It must drip at least a few drops a minute when running. If that's not happening, back it off a bit. It often takes several tries to get it right. With really old packing, you sometimes have to put up with a little dripping at the dock to be sure it drips underway.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

I should mention that this needs to leak a little to cool when running. If it's too hot to hold onto when running, it's too tight. Ideally it should not leak when stationary, and just drop when running.


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YES! This is very important. Tighten the packing nut too much you can score the shaft and could end up buying a new prop shaft.

If you don't have one, go by Harbor Freight and get a laser thermometer so you can shoot the temp on the shaft. Too hot to hold your hand on it is close enough but if you can get the exact temp you want it to be under 140 max. 115-120 max is better. NOTE. This is based on cruising in warm water say 85-90 water temp. Cooler water you should run cooler on the shaft.

[Dougtiff]

For sure, don't tighten to much, or the shaft will work harden and eventually break, it happened to me, with a used boat that i had purchased in Hong Kong, it broke a couple of year'later, motoring from Thailand to Malaysia down the Malacca straights, you could see the metal where it had crystallized from heat, right up to the center, where it was shiny and hadn't crystallized yet from the heat, but not enough metal left to handle the torque had a heck of a time getting it replaced in Penang Malaysia.