Shaft Stuffing Size??

Caribe · Oct 15, 2017

Hi: I'm repacking stuffing box on my 77 MT 40 DC. Not sure how old it is but I've had boat 6 years. The job is tough -impossible without corkscrew tool. Check out attached pictures. Not sure what size to use? The new stuffing in picture is 1/2' and fits in well with a small gap. Anyone know what size to use??
Thank you!

High Wire · Oct 15, 2017

The 1/2" looks pretty good from here. What size came out?
Gland ID minus shaft diameter divided by 2 should give exact size.

Caribe · Oct 15, 2017

Thanks -Not sure the size of what came out but it looks like ~1/2" squashed for 10+ years...But doesn't shaft OD minus gland ID /2 make it half the size of the gap?

C lectric · Oct 16, 2017

What are the sizes of your shaft OD and the box ID.? The packing will be half that difference.

Example:

3" shaft OD and 4" box/gland ID means 1" difference so 1/2" packing.

Caribe · Oct 16, 2017

thanks ...Mechanic at my boatyard says it needs to be tight going in. A little larger than the gap...Thats also what I did on my rudder boxes.
Similar to this video:

...But... I'm reading a lot of posts where people agree w what you say and they all are saying 1/2 the gap. That is my issue/question/quandry...

C lectric · Oct 17, 2017

Assuming the packing isn't swimming in the gap it will expand if there is a bit of clearance and fill that clearance.

Just for safety you might ask if there is an ever so slightly larger packing such as 9/16"

Larger sizes are available but what the increments are I don't know above 1/2".

ksceviour · Nov 1, 2017

Probably a little late to post this now however just in case...you can use an ordinary twist drill to size your packing. Just select a drill, 3/8" for example, and hold it against the shaft with the shank towards the stuffing box. If it's 3/8' packing the drill should just slide into the stuffing box.

Caribe · Nov 14, 2017

Update on Shaft Packing size

We used 9/16. It was tight going in - but worked fine.
thanks

Shaft Stuffing Size??

Caribe

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