[C320-list] GFO Packing

[ROBERT MILLER]

Thanks Jeff, this is helpful guidance on adjustment.
Rob Miller
Alchemy, #571

Sent from my iPad

> On Apr 4, 2017, at 7:15 AM, Jeff Hare <Catalina at thehares.com> wrote:
> 
> As a point of reference, I mentioned that ours was installed like 10 years
> ago.  2 pieces of 1/4" installed at 180 degrees of each other with plenty of
> thread room. You should not have to add more for a very long time and it
> doesn't take a lot of it to work well.  
> 
> Just slightly adjust the squeeze if you discover a drip or it feels hot.
> Warm is ok. If you touch it and you feel like you want to remove your hand,
> just loosen it a bit and let it work itself out and adjust to that new
> amount of pressure.
> 
> When it was too hot for instance, I loosened the nut so that it would turn
> freely.  Then tightened it back up by hand to where it just started to snug
> up then locked it in place.  The GFO will widen out just a tad and loosen
> itself up.  If it begins to drip after that, just snug it a teeny tiny
> amount and run it some more. It won't take but a couple tries to get it
> right and then it's pretty much good to go for a long time.
> 
> One factor that determines how tight it needs to be is how well aligned and
> balanced your prop & shaft are.  If they're pretty well aligned then you can
> get away with a looser nut and still be dripless.  If it's shaking all over
> the place, you may need a bit more pressure to keep the drips at bay.
> 
> GFO really is nice stuff that adds good piece of mind.
> 
> -Jeff Hare
> #809
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf
> Of Ted Harrison
> Sent: Tuesday, April 4, 2017 12:57 AM
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] GFO Packing
> 
> Recommendation please. 
> 
> Two pieces in last year, added a third in this year but only 2.5 turns in
> the threads.
> 
> I am a little nervous with just 2.5 turns on the threads. 
> 
> Should I remove the third ? 
> 
> What grease are you using as well?
> 
> Ted Harrison
> 
>> On Apr 3, 2017, at 12:07 PM, ROBERT MILLER <r.miller at shaw.ca> wrote:
>> 
>> I just replaced my packing with GFO this weekend. This site is awesome,
> perfect timing for this thread. Removing the old packing was fairly easy
> with a sharp "L" shaped pick tool I bought to use on another repair. There
> were three rings, but I think the old material was a bit smaller in
> diameter. I used 1/4 inch GFO and it was very tight to push in. I used a
> blunt tool and worked it around until it was fully into the stuffing box.  I
> could only fit two rings, but there is ample thread left over. With three
> pieces there was no thread showing. Maybe Catalina used different sized
> stuffing boxes over the years? Applied anti seize to the threads and lock
> nut to make future adjustments easier. Looking forward to a drier bilge this
> season, launching tomorrow.
>> Rob Miller
>> Alchemy - hull #571
>> 
>> Sent from my iPad
>> 
>>> On Apr 2, 2017, at 11:40 AM, jbrown5093 at yahoo.com wrote:
>>> 
>>> Another packing removal tool.  Straighten an appropriate sized barbed
> fish hook. Use pliers to push into the packing and then pull out. 
>>> 
>>> Jim Brown
>>> 
>>> Sent from my iPad
>>> 
>>>> On Apr 2, 2017, at 9:42 AM, Amiraults Family <amiraults at sympatico.ca>
> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> All:
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> I too use GFO, and it leaks at season-start before reducing to next 
>>>> to nothing.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> A remark on removing old packing. Next time you're getting a dental 
>>>> cleaning, ask the technician for a set of used dental cleaning picks 
>>>> like the set just used on you. My request yielded two sets - one for 
>>>> me and another for a friend - and they do an excellent job on 
>>>> packing removal. Sit in the toolbox until needed.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Brian Amirault
>>>> 
>>>> 797 Waltzing Bear, too
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> ---
>>>> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
>>>> https://www.avast.com/antivirus
>> 
>> Sent from my iPad
>> 
>>> On Apr 2, 2017, at 11:40 AM, jbrown5093 at yahoo.com wrote:
>>> 
>>> Another packing removal tool.  Straighten an appropriate sized barbed
> fish hook. Use pliers to push into the packing and then pull out. 
>>> 
>>> Jim Brown
>>> 
>>> Sent from my iPad
>>> 
>>>> On Apr 2, 2017, at 9:42 AM, Amiraults Family <amiraults at sympatico.ca>
> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> All:
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> I too use GFO, and it leaks at season-start before reducing to next 
>>>> to nothing.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> A remark on removing old packing. Next time you're getting a dental 
>>>> cleaning, ask the technician for a set of used dental cleaning picks 
>>>> like the set just used on you. My request yielded two sets - one for 
>>>> me and another for a friend - and they do an excellent job on 
>>>> packing removal. Sit in the toolbox until needed.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Brian Amirault
>>>> 
>>>> 797 Waltzing Bear, too
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> ---
>>>> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
>>>> https://www.avast.com/antivirus
>>> 
>>> 
> 
>