I must confess that I've switched to a dripless
shaft seal system that is doing me well, but here's some photos of my former stuffing box and the process that I used...
These are the tools I use: Pipe wrenches, a
cutter (razor), the stuffing, a pick to pry out the old stuff, a rag. and not shown,- something to shove the new stuffing in place.
Here's the stuffing box and the first task, for me is to cut a few rings of stuffing.......
I do this by placing the stuffing aroung the shaft and cutting it at a 45 degree angle. I anticipate room for three pieces. Then I loosen the lock ring that is touched by my thumb in this
photo....
With the locking ring loose, I can slide the packing nut, left hand, away.....
At this time I tie a rag around the shaft to slow the water flow into the boat.
Now I pick out the old stuffing......
When all the old stuffing is out. I jam in a ring of the new stuff....
...and shove it in with an appropriate sized tool.
[IMG]http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn222/CaptForce/Aythya/016-1.jpg/IMG]
After adding two or, if they fit, three rings, I close the packing nut...
...and tighten it down until there is no drip. (of course I'd removed the rag!)
When I run the
engine for the next few ocassions I will need to tighten the packing nut little. It needs adjustment in the early hours just like a new guitar string.