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boatless 4 now · 10-05-2010, 04:06

Hello,
I have tried to loosen the nuts on my stuffing box for a few days and am having no luck. I am going to guess and state that the box has not been repacked for many years. The boat was formerly a salt water and is now a fresh water boat. When I look at the stuffing box itself, I can't even tell that there is a seperation between the locking nut and the stuffing box portion. Yes, I have been attempting to turn the wrenches Towards each other. Yes,I have seen the on line step-by-step instructions, No I can't get the &$^% thing apart. I have let it soak in PB Blaster. Not a whole lot of room to work down there. Any tricks that I am Missing?
Thanks

**Hud3** · 10-05-2010, 04:15

A trick that plumbers use is to heat the nut with a propane torch*, avoiding heating the threaded member as much as possible. That causes the nut to expand a tiny bit, loosening it's grip.

*all the appropriate cautions about flames in confined spaces apply!

DennisM · 10-05-2010, 06:01

And once you get it loosened, replace it with a dripless connector. You'll be happy you did.

leslie · 28-05-2010, 07:40

what does a dripless conector look like?

Vasco · 28-05-2010, 08:13

I would take the traditional stuffing box to the dripless seals any day. Dripless failures are very difficult to fix. I always carry spare packing aboard for my traditional stuffing box (CS36) and the packing can be replaced while the boat's in the water. If my dripless seal (Ben393) fails I don't know what I'd do.

Boatless4now,

You might need wrenches with longer handles to get more leverage.

Pete the Cat · 28-05-2010, 08:17

As a former delivery skipper, I offer a differing opinion on the efficacy and advisabilty of "dripless" stuffing boxes. My experience is that these are seldom truly dripless, add needless complexity, and that they seem to be a source of many problems and require substantial maintenance and care to keep them working. Given the great new packing materials available make this old technology IMHO. You will not find many work boats using them. Boatyards like them for the revenue they generate.

DennisM · 28-05-2010, 08:21

Geezus. Now ya tell me.

Target9000 · 28-05-2010, 08:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by leslie

what does a dripless conector look like?

One of the dead give aways is there will be a vent line off of it. You can see in the above photo it isn't connected but there is a white elbow for it.

DeepFrz · 28-05-2010, 08:30

There was an article in Passagemaker magazine a few years ago written by a tow boat captain. He wrote that he gets many calls from people with dripless shaft seal failures. His thoughts were that they are okay but need maintenance and should be replaced on a periodic basis. I believe they all come with manufacturer's suggestions to replace after x years. Most people install them and then forget them until their boat is sinking...

Charlie · 28-05-2010, 08:31

use a different type of penetrating oil just for variety. Give a sharp rap to the rings on the stuffing box. Add more oil and wait a few hours. Then try it again. It took me two days to free up my stuffing box with this method but I ended up not fighting it very much. I also bought two 24" wrenches to loosen the nuts with. they work well.

DennisM · 28-05-2010, 08:31

Errrrrr... sinking!!!????? *Ulp!*

DeepFrz · 28-05-2010, 08:35

Dennis, just inspect them carefully to ensure the bellows isn't hardening or cracking, ensure the clamps are sound and tight and not corroded, burp them when launching and you should be okay. Oh, and if the manufacturer says replace in x years, replace them at that time.