[C38] Mysterious stuffing box behavior

[tdtron at earthlink.net]

I keep thinking about Marci's Brown's post about the leaking stuffing box and one thing that I don't think anyone has mentioned is a possibly torn stuffing box  bellows.  I think a torn bellows would probably leak more with the engine turning than in neutral or stopped.

Tom Troncalli


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Max Soto 
To: Catalina 38 Listserve
Sent: 5/18/2011 11:36:01 AM 
Subject: Re: [C38] Mysterious stuffing box behavior


Marci,
 I guess that the shaft was spinning while sailing with the transmission in neutral. I'll check the packing gland and also check for movement of the stuffing box while running with the engine, it should denote problems like the ones you just mentioned...


Hope this helps.. 


Max Soto
C38 #198 ESTANCIA

Puntarenas, Costa Rica


2011/5/18 Marci Brown <mb at seafor.us>

A troubling stuffing box situation began last week (and continues): We ran the engine reasonably hard for about 4 hours when doing the NYC East River trek to Long Island Sound. I was in the galley when Keith raised the sails and cut the engine (leaving transmission in neutral). Immediately I heard water pouring into the boat from the stuffing box area. I shouted for Keith to throw the transmission into reverse. No more water! Whew! Water quickly exited the boat via bilge pump - with the exception of 10 gallons sitting under the engine that I had to pump out by hand. Diagnostic guesstimate #1: New zincs on the prop shaft causing wobble that is stressing the 2-year old flax packing gland... right? The cutlass bearing is fine. Other thoughts: Folding prop has inherent balance issues, engine/transmission/prop shaft alignment fine tuning necessary, packing glands wear out quickly under stress?? Would anyone like to tackle this one?

Marci J. Brown
PO Box 520549, Winthrop, MA 02152 USA
Ph: 757-515-3151 | Email: mb at seafor.us





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