packing flax, replace or tighten

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   I replaced the packing flax about 4 years ago.  Since the repack, I put 75 hours on the boat.  The last three times out I have tightened the gland to avoid excessive dripping (drip every second).  Unfortunately, I never had good tools for tightening out on the water, so I have not been able to crank on the nut with a lot of force.

Should I get crank it tighter or repack? I was nervous about shaft damage from tightening it too tight.

Thanks,
Mark

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mamigacz Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: June-08-2014 Location: Wisconsin Status: Offline Points: 96	Post Options Post Reply Quote mamigacz Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: packing flax, replace or tighten Posted: July-28-2014 at 1:40pm
	I replaced the packing flax about 4 years ago. Since the repack, I put 75 hours on the boat. The last three times out I have tightened the gland to avoid excessive dripping (drip every second). Unfortunately, I never had good tools for tightening out on the water, so I have not been able to crank on the nut with a lot of force. Should I get crank it tighter or repack? I was nervous about shaft damage from tightening it too tight. Thanks, Mark

GlassSeeker Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Grand Poobah Joined: November-26-2008 Location: Elk Grove, CA. Status: Offline Points: 2421	Post Options Post Reply Quote GlassSeeker Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July-28-2014 at 3:35pm
	75 hrs is not much to the packing...just tighten a little...should not ever use alot of force to tighten packing nut.
	This is the life

gun-driver Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Grand Poobah Joined: July-18-2008 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Status: Offline Points: 4127	Post Options Post Reply Quote gun-driver Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July-28-2014 at 3:37pm
	You can do two things 1) replace it with some new gore-tex (my choice of flax) 2) try tightening it to get the required drip rate then run it for a little while and then check it to see if it's hot. If it's getting hot refer to step one.

MrMcD Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Grand Poobah Joined: January-28-2014 Location: Folsom, CA Status: Online Points: 3749	Post Options Post Reply Quote MrMcD Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: August-03-2014 at 6:19am
	I replaced mine earlier this year, no need to tighten, turn down till you feel it touch the rope and turn a little more by hand. I have trouble getting mine to drip using standard flax packing. I installed gortex packing first and by mistake tightened too much, it started getting hot right away so I loosened it up on the first test drive. I could get no leak at all so I pulled it and replaced it. It might have been fine but I felt bad about my initial setting and re did it. Just did a 4 day camp trip and had all of 1 cup of water in the bilge at trips end, boat in the lake the entire time. 18 hours run time now.

packing flax, replace or tighten

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