[C320-list] Bilge pump cycling excessively

[Jeff Hare]

GFO is a brand of packing material. It's goretex and is virtually dripless when properly adjusted and has a predictable failure mode.  Ie: it drips. 

PSS is also pretty dry, but the graphite can make a mess.  Ie: I wouldn't advise motoring with the board covering the prop shaft off or you could end up with a black graphite stripe on the cabintop if you've recently burped it.  Might as we'll let a 2yr old loose with a black sharpie. :)
 
While I've only heard rumors of a couple PSS units failing (all unconfirmed, and probably poor installation related), a slipped collar would produce a lot of water quickly.  I'd advise clamping a doughnut shaft zinc in Front of the SS collar to ensure this doesn't happen. It also makes adjustments to the SS collar position easier. 

-Jeff
-----Original Message-----
From: Walter Schaffer <bohpilot at yahoo.com>
Sender: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
Date: Fri, 16 Jul 2010 05:12:42 
To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Reply-To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Bilge pump cycling excessively

What is GFO packing?thanks,Walt Schaffer#515Middle River, MD

--- On Thu, 7/15/10, Jerry Clayton <jsea at prodigy.net> wrote:

From: Jerry Clayton <jsea at prodigy.net>
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Bilge pump cycling excessively
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Date: Thursday, July 15, 2010, 9:10 PM

I had GFO packing installed 3 years ago and have been happy with it. Dry bilge, not expensive, and it lasts, over 3 years and 300 engine hours and counting. Would highly recommend it.

Regards,

Jerry Clayton
#988
Marina Del Rey, Ca


----- Original Message ----- From: "Fred LEcuyer" <fred.lecuyer at live.com>
To: "Catalina320list Catalina320list" <c320-list at catalina320.com>
Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2010 3:48 PM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Bilge pump cycling excessively



OK, thanks for the input, everybody. We just put the boat in the water a few weeks ago and the stuffing box had just been repacked. This past weekend we just finished a five day trip and I tightened the stuffing box but maybe not enough. I wanted to be sure to keep things cool. I had thought about a PSS dripless seal but was talked out of it. Opinions?



Fred

> Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:35:10 -0400
> From: clburti at gmail.com
> To: C320-List at catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Bilge pump cycling excessively
> 
> Place a small spacer block or a few washers and longer screws to raise the
> switch. This should eliminate the cycling from the lift return flow. I would
> caution against a check valve as that is potential source of problems for
> both failure and blockage.
> 
> On Thu, Jul 15, 2010 at 2:55 PM, Fred LEcuyer <fred.lecuyer at live.com> wrote:
> 
> >
> > I'm wondering if anyackone else has seen this and has a solution.
> >
> >
> >
> > Our bilge pump cycles on way too frequently. When the pump goes on, it
> > pumps out all but about 1.5 inches from the bottom of the bilge. Then > some
> > of the water that it pumped leaks back into the bilge and as more comes > in
> > eventually from the stuffing box, the cycle starts again. I'm guessing
> > there's not much more than one pint of water before the pump goes on > again.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Does anyone know if there is supposed to be a check valve between the > pick
> > up hose and the bilge pump?
> >
> >
> >
> > Fred
> >
> >
> >
> > First Light
> >
> > Hull #926
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _________________________________________________________________
> > The New Busy is not the too busy. Combine all your e-mail accounts with
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> >
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> 
> 
> 
> 
> -- Chris Burti Farmville, NC

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