Tightening the Stuffing Box

[Ex Brummie]

1 hour ago, Tony Brooks said:

Do you have an Aquadrive or similar or a rigidly mounted engine. If so I think that will have a lot to do with long packing life. Mine with an Aquadrive has probably lasted longer possibly about 29 years. I think it is because the shaft cant slide in and out as the engien mounts deform under prop thrust and the engine can't bang the shaft about in the gland.

Whern I bought my boat 30 years ago, it had been built with Aquadrive. Had I been building myself, it's probably thelast thing I would have fitted as it was very expensive. With hindsight, it is the first thing I would insist on as it has been reliable so far. I have perhaps put in 2 or 3 turns of packing in in that time, and once it was only for something to do at a lock closure.

[bizzard]

When re-packing Its important to remove all old packing which gets hard and tough, as its usually that which can wear the shaft down.