shaft packing

Rick · Post by **Rick** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 9:33 am

Thanks for hanging in there with me Doug, think I got it. My boat is actually in Danvers....keep it there in the winter as I live on the North Shore. Hoping that I can treat you to a beer one of these days, let's hook up in the Spring ! Thanks again, Rick

Post by **dougl33** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 9:47 am

Rick, Where on the North Shore do you live? You have an SF right? What year is your boat? I live in Marblehead. Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth

Rick · Post by **Rick** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 11:02 am

Doug, Sent you an email...let me know if you have trouble receiving. It's a 1985 SF. Take Care, Rick

Post by **dougl33** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 4:36 pm

Rick, I didn't get it. I know from trying to send emails through the site before that it doesn't work. My email is Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth

Sean B · Post by **Sean B** » Sun Feb 13, 2005 6:56 pm

I just had the packing re-done on my 87 33SF while it was out for a haul. I was too chicken to try it in the water, and the yard wouldn't let me do it there (but gladly did it for me at their ridiculous rates). I stuck around and watched this Project because I wanted to be sure it was done right. There were 5 wraps for each engine shaft (1.375" shafts), and 6 wraps on each rudder. The amount of packing in the rudders surprised me. I used all GFO packing on the engine shafts, and they are completely dry now after one adjustment. On the rudders I used 2 wraps teflon on the bottom of the gland, then 4 wraps GFO. One rudder is dry, and the other weeps a little but I haven't given up on adjusting yet. One of my rudders had GFO in it already, and the bottom ring appeared to squeeze partially out of the bottom of the gland (the GFO is soft stuff). So I had them put in two hard teflon packing rings first to stop that, then the GFO on top to hopefully seal it off. I think there might be something else wrong with my rudder port that still weeps, considering the other one is bone dry. Anyway, that GFO packing is awesome - don't bother with dripless seals. The old GFO packing that was in one of my rudders came out looking almost new, still flexible. The old flax packing that was in everything else was stiff, easy to break and looked like crap, I don't know how it stopped any water at all.

Rick · Post by **Rick** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 11:06 am

Sean, Do you remember what size packing he used ? I ordered and just received 1/4", but it's looks big compared to what I remember the opening was. So I'm hoping it's not too big to get in there. My shafts are 1 3/8's too. But thanks to Don for the cork screw tip and Doug for his insight, I'm going to start re-packing next time I'm working on the boat.

Sean B · Post by **Sean B** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 3:46 pm

It was 1/4" in all four packing glands. quote:Originally posted by Rick Sean, Do you remember what size packing he used ? I ordered and just received 1/4", but it's looks big compared to what I remember the opening was. So I'm hoping it's not too big to get in there. My shafts are 1 3/8's too. But thanks to Don for the cork screw tip and Doug for his insight, I'm going to start re-packing next time I'm working on the boat.

Rick · Post by **Rick** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 1:31 am

That's very good news, Thanks Sean.

Sean B · Post by **Sean B** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 5:55 am

No sweat. Try that combination of teflon and GFO on the rudders that I talked about on an earlier post. 3 of my four glands are now drip-free. The fourth (one of the rudders) has something else wrong with it, I think (like leaky backing plate/bedding), but still only drips very little. The engine shaft glands, which I did with all GFO are truly dripless. quote:Originally posted by Rick That's very good news, Thanks Sean.

Rick · Post by **Rick** » Wed Mar 30, 2005 1:25 am

The 1/4" fit like a glove. But boy did I choose the wrong time of year. Should have done it in the fall when my old flax was soaking wet. I did the Starboard side (4 rings) and the flax extractor broke trying to pull out the port flax. Of course that was West Marine's last tool, so another one is coming in the mail this week. When I go back up there, I'll bring something along to lube it up first.

Post by **dougl33** » Wed Mar 30, 2005 3:43 am

Good. We un-packed Bill's 2 week-ends ago. I say "we", but I just provided moral support. The GFO came in the mail last week. I will be adding one ring to my starbord shaft either this week-end or next. Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth

Rick · Post by **Rick** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 3:05 am

Doug, How many rings will that make for you ? I'm going back up there today, armed with my windex container filled with water & dish soap and the new extractor. Hope these new ones last as long as they say.....this job is way too much fun to do more than once !

Post by **dougl33** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 4:08 am

I think I have 3 rings per side. I did them 2 years ago so I can't say for certain. Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth

Rick · Post by **Rick** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 8:33 am

I was thinking of trying to fit a fifth ring, but 4 seems to be a pretty good fit. There's still plenty of adjustment range so we'll see how it goes. Hate waiting the 3-4 weeks it's going to take to find out !

BECCA ROSE · Post by **BECCA ROSE** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 5:35 am

I just packed my stuff boxes yesterday, I took out 5 rings and put back 5 rings on both sides. I used the 1/4" GFO, it fit real good and went in nice and easy. The GFO is real flexible and a lot easier to work with then the old style packing. I am absolutely sure that when I have to repack in the future, the GFO is going to come out a lot easier then that old stuff I just had to remove. I have 1 1/2" shafts and I used 2 and a quarter packs of GFO, each pack is 24 inches long. Bill Dunlop "Rebecca Rose" 33 Bertram FBC 1988