[C320-list] Stuffing box

[Jeff Hare]

When you say it's hot, how hot?  Uncomfortably warm to the touch, would it
burn you if you touched it?  Would it sizzle if you dripped water on it?

The type of packing material you use determines what's "normal" for temp.
The PTFE/GoreTex packing materials can safely run "hot", but by hot here, I
mean uncomfortably warm ie. you won't feel like holding your hand on it for
more than 5 or 10 seconds but it shouldn't be blistering your skin.  These
kinds don't need water to lubricate them, but the flax type packing
materials must drip when running to stay lubricated.

All that said, if it's one of the modern types, you should be able to run it
hot for a few hours then back the nut off a bit and have it still not drip.

Other questions:  
* What size material are you using and how are you installing it?  

You should be able to get 2 rings in. They should be cut at a 45 degree
slant where the ends meet AND the joints of the two rings should be 180
degrees apart.

We always use 2 rings of 3/16" GFO Packing material.  Be absolutely sure
you've removed all the old packing material or that could be part of your
problem.  Ours runs fairly warm with the engine at 3K RPM over a period of
time, but it won't burn me.

-Jeff


-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf
Of jsheets at aol.com
Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2014 10:27 AM
To: c320-list at catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] Stuffing box

I had a post recently about a new shaft and excessive engine vibration.
Thank you all for your responses. Following your instructions of turning up
the idle it seems to be fixed. 

My other problem with the new shaft is that the stuffing box nut is getting
very hot when motoring. This was not a problem with the old one. I had the
shaft replaced with a stainless steel one instead of bronze. Since then we
have tried repacking the box twice, but the packing change does not seem to
solve the problem. I have also adjusted the nut to allow more drip. That
does not help either. The mechanic wants to haul it out and check over
things again. I'm considering a second opinion from another shop in the
area. 

Any ideas or suggestions are appreciated. Thanks as always for your
responses. 

Jerry =