[C320-list] Stuffing box issue

[Robert Dean]

I had the same issue,gold dust in the water. My problem was the shaft was not running true. I had the shaft and engine alignment done.I have a season on it and haven't noticed any more of the filings in the water. It also runs a lot smoother.
Bob DeanJust Chillin 550Worton Creek Md

      From: Daryl Hunt <drhunt at rochester.rr.com>
 To: C320-List at Catalina320.com 
 Sent: Thursday, May 25, 2017 12:34 PM
 Subject: [C320-list] Stuffing box issue
   
I apologize up front for the long post...  Last year I serviced the 
stuffing box on Believe ('99 C320 #660) with two rings of 1/4" GFO 
Virtually Dripless packing.  When I checked the box midway through my 
first trip after launch (~20nm) I realized I had it too tight.  The 
bronze retaining nut was too hot to hold.  I immediately stopped to let 
it cool and loosened the nut so that it was dripping but was alarmed to 
see very fine bronze particles in the water that was dripping below the 
stuffing box.  I was able to adjust the nut to about 2 drops/minute and 
with no significant heating of the mechanism and that got me through the 
season. After haul, I pulled back the retaining nut to inspect the shaft 
for damage.  Other than some discoloration, there didn't seem to be any 
wear or scoring of the prop shaft.

Fast forward to this spring.. I replaced the packing with 2 new rings of 
the same GFO being careful not to over tighten the nut. Yesterday I 
launched and headed east on the same trip to Believe's summer home.  I 
checked the stuffing box right after launch and every 10-15 min for the 
first hour.  I started out with the nut just hand tightened and a drop 
every 6 sec, leaving it like that to allow for the packing to become 
seated.  After an hour I noticed the same fine bronze particles below 
the stuffing box. When I tightened the nut further, maybe 1/4 turn the 
drips did not slow; another 1/4 turn and the nut started to warm, even 
though I was still getting drops at about every 10 sec.  Now I'm 
wondering if the packing rings are actually turning and abrading the 
inside of the retaining nut.

Has anyone else experienced this?  I'm about ready to go back to flax 
packing.

Fair winds,
Daryl Hunt
s/v Believe 1999 C320 #660
Rochester, NY - Lake Ontario

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