Shaft packing

Hi
So in my first try at shaft packing, I'm not liking the way it turned out. I found some instructions online, and followed them pretty well. I used Ultra-x packing wrapped it around the shaft to get the length right, beveled the ends so they would overlay each other.
Then when I put them in the nuts they were too short. I saw it coming, but didn't stop in time. So now there's a good 3/32 between the ends. I think that beveling them was a waste of time, because it just gave them a better chance at fraying.
So, what do you think? Start over with new material, or will it crush into place? I've got 4 wraps in both the rudder and shaft logs.

Thanks
Don

The difference happened when I measured it by wrapping the shaft, and then it came up short when I placed it into the gland.
It just occurred to me that the packing should probably be 1/4" instead of 3/16"

I read a lot of post about how to measure and determine the correct size packing, and all of the answers were kind of ambivalent. I guess I guessed wrong

Hi All,
I'm still working on installing the strut and shaft. I got delayed because my new 1A rudder had a little bend to it from the previous owner. I want to make sure I'm ready to bed all of my through hulls at the same time.

I took the flexible coupling apart between the gland and the log to make sure I was centered in the log. I'm not sure exactly how to describe it, but it's the part forward of the log, It's it's not the gland nut that holds the packing, it's the part that has the male threads that the gland nut and lock nut screw onto. Maybe it's considered to be a part of the log.

The shaft has been wearing on that piece so it's now out of round. It's measures .015 out of round and it appears to be worn on one side only. The hole is 1.025", and at the worn place it's 1.040" Do I need to replace it? If not where do I put the area that's worn? On top? Unfortunately I don't remember where the worn spot was when I took it apart.

Thanks
Thanks,
Don

I'm not sure how to post a picture. Don't I have to go to a hosting service?

I put some wood shims in the log on both ends to hold it centered, and it's considerable different than it was. With the centering shims in place, I have to drop the strut about 3/8", well out of the recess of my 96 176.

It almost seems like the log isn't placed correctly, but it seems like the angle of the log mounting surface dictates the angle of the prop shaft.

I'm also questioning if someone put the wrong strut in at some point.

Thanks
Don

t

The shaft doesn't need to be exactly centered in the log   Anywhere in the middle 1/3 of the range would be OK in my book.

Don,
Your plan sounds good. Chris is correct that it doesn't have to be perfect so:

8122pbrainard wrote: Don, Shoot for the center of the top/forward of the log. .

center the shaft in the log (this doesn't move)

center the shaft in the strut (this moves)

align engine (this moves) to shaft

You are way ahead of yourself considering engine placement when installing the strut. That comes later.

Do you have anyone else knowledgable located near you that can help? If not, before proceeding, I suggest a healthy dose of reading/research in order to grasp the fundamental concepts of powertrain alignment.

You center the the shaft in the log by adjusting the strut. Do not worry if it matches anything else. At this time only worry about that. Once it's right then match the engine to that. Think of it this way- when the factory mounts the strut and shafting the engine is not even in the boat yet.

AlfaDon wrote: I'm trying to find a starting point.

Gary S wrote: You center the the shaft in the log by adjusting the strut.

8122pbrainard wrote: remember alignment starts at the strut.

8122pbrainard wrote: Don, Start at the strut.

Thanks everyone for the help and suggestions. I genuinely appreciate it.

I do understand about the strut being the fixed point in the system, and that needing to be the reference point.
Things are not lining up easily, and I suspect part of the reason is that the area in the hull where the strut mounts has been previously damaged and repaired, probably incorrectly. So while everybody is pointing to the strut as the gold standard, I'm questioning its location.

Chris, thanks for answering my question directly. It means that I can leave the strut where it is and move forward from there (literally). So while the strut is not in the perfect location, it is located at a point where I can work with it.

AlfaDon wrote: I do understand about the strut being the fixed point in the system, and that needing to be the reference point.

Still not quite there.

The strut is the first thing you can adjust when doing a full alignment (including strut install). It only becomes a fixed reference point (for the remainder of the powertrain alignment) once it is installed. When installing the strut, the LOG is your fixed reference point.

AlfaDon wrote: Ok. I've got it all lined up, .

Don,
Did you end up having to shim the strut?