[C320-list] Dripless Packing Replacement

[Robert Sloat]

A note of a few years ago on GFO packing.

On Feb 6, 2006, at 8:08 PM, Robert E. Sloat <resloat at comcast.net> wrote:

> Karl-I have the GFO packing that Bill refers to in the link installed in
> hull #894 and it is the best $18 investment made on the boat.  It is
> basically dripless and takes only a few minutes to install.
> 
> Packing
> size for my boat is 1/4 inch even though my owner's manual says it is 3/16
> inch.  The
> link tells you what size to use depending on the space between the shaft and
> the inside of the stuffing box.  I measured mine by unscrewing the gland nut
> and finding
> a drill size (1/4 ") that snuggly fit in the space between the shaft and the
> stuffing box.
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Bill Culbertson" <billculb_a2 at yahoo.com>
> To: "C320-List" <C320-List at catalina320.org>; <kmielen at iwon.com>
> Sent: Monday, February 06, 2006 4:29 PM
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Packing Replacement
> 
> 
>> Karl,
>> 
>>  Order online from:
>> http://www.e-marine-inc.com/products/gfopacking/packing.html
>>  Stay completely away from various stuff stocked in marine stores and
> online at other sites with "gore" in the name.  They are NOT the same thing.
> I tried them, they don't work well.  But this stuff is excellent.
>> 
>>  Also - MEASURE.  Do not rely on what the manual says.  Some folks on the
> list have 3/16" packing - others have 1/4" packing.  The manual says 3/16"
> but mine (#859) is definitely 1/4".  I got fooled and put in 3/16" one year.
> It dripped unacceptably but more importantly when I removed it at the end of
> the season to replace with something which performed better, I noticed the
> ring cross-section was now rectangular instead of square.  One dimension was
> 1/4" and the other much less than 3/16".
>> 
>>  See the picture on the above link for what to measure.  An excellent way
> to do this that was suggested on this list is to (carefully) use drill bits.
> Keep increasing the size until it won't fit.  Don't scratch anything but the
> drill bit is much more accurate than a ruler or tape measure.
>> 
>>   Bill Culbertson
>>   Harmony #859
>> 
>> Chris Burti <cburti at yahoo.com> wrote:
>>  Repack with the Gortex. No drips and virtually
>> impossible to wear out unless you over-tighten it.
>> 
>> --- "Karl Mielenhausen _/) "
>> wrote:
>> 
>>> 
>>> I have about 560 hrs on the engine and what I assume
>>> to be the original shaft packing material. At survey
>>> (in Sept) I had a fair leak (30 drops/min at rest).
>>> I was able to tighten the packing nut and now enjoy
>>> a drop/min or less, with no warming detected during
>>> running.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> For those of you who did not upgrade to a PSS seal,
>>> any recommendations on how frequently the stock
>>> packing material should be replaced? Was it Teflon
>>> impregnated, like what is available today?
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Since we tend to haul every other year here for
>>> bottom paint, so this spring would be the opportune
>>> time to also address the packing.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Thanks in advance for your wisdom(s)....
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Karl Mielenhausen
>>> 
>>> 2000 C320 Hull#690 "Silver Lining"
>>> 
>>> New Bern, NC
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> !!- _______________________________________
>>> !!- C320-List at catalina320.org mailing list
>>> !!- Archives Here:
>>> http://www.catalina320.org/list/archives
>>> !!- Change Subscription Here:
>>> http://www.catalina320.org/list/change
>>> !!- Subscribe Here:
>>> http://www.catalina320.org/list/join
>>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Chris Burti
>> "Commitment"
>> Catalina 320, #867,
>> Farmville, NC
>> 
>> __________________________________________________
>> Do You Yahoo!?
>> Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
>> http://mail.yahoo.com
>> 
>> !!- _______________________________________
>> !!- C320-List at catalina320.org mailing list
>> !!- Archives Here: http://www.catalina320.org/list/archives
>> !!- Change Subscription Here: http://www.catalina320.org/list/change
>> !!- Subscribe Here: http://www.catalina320.org/list/join
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> ---------------------------------
>> Relax. Yahoo! Mail virus scanning helps detect nasty viruses!
>> !!- _______________________________________
>> !!- C320-List at catalina320.org mailing list
>> !!- Archives Here: http://www.catalina320.org/list/archives
>> !!- Change Subscription Here: http://www.catalina320.org/list/change
>> !!- Subscribe Here: http://www.catalina320.org/list/join
> 
> 
> !!- _______________________________________
> !!- C320-List at catalina320.org mailing list
> !!- Archives Here: http://www.catalina320.org/list/archives
> !!- Change Subscription Here: http://www.catalina320.org/list/change
> !!- Subscribe Here: http://www.catalina320.org/list/join

Bob Sloat