Hi,
We recently repacked our stuffing box in the
water for the first time. It is a 20 year old
boat and we are pretty sure it has never been repacked. While we didn't have too many problems replacing the packing, we did find that after putting everything back that there was still a leak, but not from the gland. The leak was probably an eye dropper full of
water ever 30 seconds. The leak was also coming from the rear part of the shaft hose, right under where the shaft met the rear part of the
hull. Tightening the
steel clamps seemed to help control the drip, but why did it start to drip at that point in the first place? It wasn't dripping from that point before we started this
project. Could we have accidentally jarred something inside the shaft to cause the leak, as we were un tightening the stuffing box? How do you know if you have over tightened? Could over tightening ever cause the clamp and rubber surrounding it to burst?
Thanks!