Posted ByChuck Rothert on June 24, 19102 at 11:57:42:
In Reply to: flax packing again posted byjohn humphrys on June 24, 19102 at 08:54:24:
Well--- you can see how it expands . Are you wrapping it around the shaft just once and cutting at an angle,( cut like a lockwasher shape)? If you can't slip the packing nut over the top, then you are using to thick of a packing. Go to a smaller size, or even two sizes smaller. You need to make three of these rings, and place each ring so that their opening are off set. If you use real small you may need more rings, but try to work with the largest rings that you can slip the packing nut over. Now the idea is ,-- when you tighten up the packing nut you smash these rings around the drive shaft thus making a seal. What I do is tighten up the nut till you think you have formed a have a seal, then back it off a bit. Put the boat in the water, run the drive shaft, you should see water comming out, sometimes alot. Take the boat out for a spin, come back and tighten till you get about3-5 drips per minuet. These should drip all the time. Just when you think it 's ok, it's not. You need to check for a couple weeks. As it absorbs water it will swell and stop leaking. then you have to loosen it till it leaks again. Get the Idea? If you are like us northerners who pull our boats for the winter, it will dry out during winter storage and mine will leak like a bitch, but then it's fine after a few days. I have not had to re-adjust it in two to three year now.
THEY NEED TO DRIP BECAUSE THIS IS HOW THEY KEEP FROM BURNING UP.
It's a good thing.
Regards
Chuck Rothert.
1977 Penn Yan Avenger cuddy.