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Old 10-16-2021, 07:41 AM   #7
Craig_b
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City: Ontario
Vessel Name: Alpha One
Vessel Model: Chung HWA
Join Date: Jul 2020
Posts: 56
Quote:
Originally Posted by Max1 View Post
I recommend you check the stuffing if your rudder feels tight.

I just pulled the rudder shaft from my '76 MT 36. The rudder was tight and rotated with difficulty. To get the shaft free I had to pull the packing seals from the stuffing box. I was shocked to find 6!! (yes, 6!) packing seals jammed in there. The shocking part was when I pulled the fourth, I assumed I was done as the pick I was using felt like it hit bottom. Fortunately, I kept digging. The last two seals were hard as a rock and the grease(?) was hard too. I am guessing that the last two were in there for decades and became petrified.

I plan to re-stuff with Duramax Ultra stuffing once the shaft is re-installed.
Thanks for that tip. I will check that for sure.
Any advise on how to tell how stiff it should be? I have no real frame of reference so not sure how stiff or loose it should be.
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