Stuffing Box - Bolt Gland Style vs Spud Style

[sv.Crake]

Hi,

While replacing my shaft/engine/everything else i'm looking in to replacing my stuffing box. Currently thinking of sticking with the old school technology over PSS right now.

Buck algonquin sells a bolt gland style stuffing box which adjusts differently than the traditional spud style. Looks like it would be much easier to adjust the pressure on the packing. Has anyone used one of these? I can't find any reviews. Jamestown does not seem to carry them though many other online retailers do. Any issues with this style?

Thanks,
Trevor

[motion30]

I not sure I see much difference One you need a 1/2'' wrenchjust to ad the other you need a big wrench or pipe wrench Cant see how they would perforn any different

[svcambria]

Got the bolt style, have had them on the last two boats and 18 years, quite happy with them. No problem with an open-end wrench to adjust. Use Teflon packing. Would definitely not go to PSS, hard to fix when far away from home...

Michael

[Hudson Force]

We had the traditional stuffing box for 39 years and, just this spring, we had the PSS installed. Very pleased to date with about 150hrs of use, but the jury is still out. I can see the concern about difficulty with repair, but I also see the simplicity of design and little potential for failure. Take care and joy, Aythya crew

[bstreep]

We have the 2 bolt Buck on our boat. Frankly, this is a better solution, in my opinion.

[HopCar]

Why are you replacing your stuffing box? About the only time I sell a stuffing box is when someone is building a new boat. Most of them seem to last the life of the boat. Just curious.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by motion30

I not sure I see much difference One you need a 1/2'' wrenchjust to ad the other you need a big wrench or pipe wrench Cant see how they would perforn any different

Performance is not different, but ease of adjustment is indeed different.

The common ("spud" is an unknown term to me) type are prone to corroding to the point that releasing the lock nut and adjusting the packing nut requires considerable torque. Getting the requisite large wrenches into the constrained space in which we often find these things is awkward. Then keeping the wrenches aligned on the narrow nut faces and being careful to not put much torque on the hose that connects it to the hull... well, I have found it to be a big PITA on various boats that I have worked on.

In our personal case, we've gone to a dripless seal, but were I to again have a packing gland, the "nut and bolt" type would be my choice.

Cheers,

[zeehag]

my formosa has lotsa room and a flanged unit-- is good IF the thing is packed BEFORE installation, as per instructions......
with the pss, watch your hose clamps-- they are first thing to fail and try to sink your boat, as a friend in guam nearly found out.......

[Blue Stocking]

What is the consensus on this point:
Bellows type seals, due to their flexibility, are better than fixed type, when there is less than 12" between coupling and packing gland.
Soft engine mounts and diesels move around much more than old rigid mount installations.

I have seen many rigidly mounted glands where the bronze is ovalized by the shaft movement

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by bstreep

We have the 2 bolt Buck on our boat. Frankly, this is a better solution, in my opinion.

You must be aware that there is a large audience hear that has no idea what a "2 bolt Buck" is! ....or am I alone?

[zeehag]

2 bolt buck algonquin packing gland.

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by zeehag

2 bolt buck algonquin packing gland.

Thanks, Zeehag! Adding the "algonquin" to the google search pinned it down. 'looks good, but I've done well with other systems too. This is probably because I've always had boats with easy access and space to check and maintain the shaft seal system.

[sabray]

Check and maintain. Here is the down side to the bug ass nut stuffing box. If you didn't do it right lick right you can unscrew the thing. Mine would never has but would while in forward. So if you don't lock it right adjust it properly you could be unscrewed by a stuffing box. I just repacked mine and left the floor up while the engin the back cabin sole halfway to new England.i Could look down the aft companion way and see it. Also went and checked it was dripping and nit cooking. It's fine I used old syle packing it runs cool and now that it's set in good to go. Still checked after the sole went in every 2 hours. I'm happy but u think the 2 bolt is safer. Never seen a stuffing box go bad.

[zeehag]

mine is a 4 bolt flanged unit.... not buck algonquin--unknown manufacturer, bu tbuck has one similar.

[sabray]

Originally Posted by zeehag

mine is a 4 bolt flanged unit.... not buck algonquin--unknown manufacturer, bu tbuck has one similar.

Zee could you tell me what I wrote? I thought i wrote that in clear sentences. Maybe too many hours alone on the water long island sound is beautiful.