Hot Box

The first time I used the GFO and not the traditional, was on my X55. I ordered 1/4" because I know that was what I put in it close to 30 years ago. I could not get that 1/4" in the gland and ended up ordering 3/16 (from good old McMaster!!). Three rings of 3/16 and some playing with it out in the water and it's fine. I haven't gone to the extent of checking the temp with a IR gun but it does run cool to the touch.

OK, back to this. I replaced the gortex packing today. Three rings. Took the boot out for a test run. Packing gland still hot. I needed to loosen it but did not have much room left on the nut so we pulled the boat out and I took a ring out. Now there is plenty of room for adjustment. Tightened it so there was some dripping. Ran her for a bit then checked. Nice and cool. Ran her for probably 5 minutes around 2500 rpm and still cool. Ran her for another 5-10 minutes between 2500-3000 rpm and it was hot as hell. So I loosened it again until there was a pretty good flow of water at a standstill. Ran her back to the ramp, about 5 minutes, and it was cool again and not dripping at a standstill.

So what's the deal here? Does this stuff expand or something after it's hot? I can't seem to get this right.

horkn wrote: My weddings in 3 weeks, well, just under.

Sorry but I thought it was around the time of the GL reunion! and the reason you couldn't make it. You should have come to it!! I can say, a great time was had by all.

One of these days we'll bump into each other!! I'm looking forward to that day when we can meet each other in person!!

horkn wrote: GottaSki wrote: Show-off. complaining about your tight box. Yeash. He also said it was hot too.

Tom,
The wedding is over!! You know, it's pretty much "down hill" from that point!!!

GottaSki wrote: Show-off. complaining about your tight box. Yeash.

He also said it was hot too.

It's been a little warm this summer in in TX, just having water is getting to be a trick.

Wait a minute, the WATER is 97 degrees? Are you driving your boat in your bathtub?

Old or new - Still the same!!!!

David,
The gland should not run hot. Warm Ok but you need to be able to keep your hand on it. That's about 100* F.

It should drip, not flow. I got it as loose as I could before it would flow.

My stuffing box was getting hot this trip so I loosened it a bit. Just enough to stop the run of water. It cooled off for a while but later got hot again. Too hot to hold your hand on it but not sizzling hot. The water is about 97 degrees. Should it be cooler? I can't get it any looser. Could the packing be bad?