Stuffing Box re-pack break in?

I just launched for the season yesterday with my newly re-packed stuffing box. I only ran the boat for about a half an hour, and I did not see any drips coming out of the top of the stuffing box. I made sure to set the box a little loose to allow the packing to break in. I was getting a few drips on the bottom side of the jam nut, but that stopped by the time I got back to the slip. How long should I run it before I should start to see the drips? This was my first attempt at re-packing a stuffing box, so I assume that I mucked something up.

 

Depends on what you repacked with.

If it is the antique flax style packing , there SHOULD be a slow drip when underway.

This cools and lubricates the bearing.

Unfortuniatly it usually drips when stopped , the cheapest cure is a remote grease cup, you turn the tpo before leaving the boat.

There was a "solution" attempted with face seals , last drop , but the danger is the bellows fail and the inrush is far beyons a std bilge pump.

Today the solution is a modern packing material Duramax or similar.

FF

 

I used a teflon inpregnated flax that's put out by Western Pacific Trade Co. Last season, it dripped while underway, while stopped, and any other time. The box was misalligned on the shaft & the packing was very compressed and dried out. I realligned everything & re packed the box with 3 rings of the new stuff. Upon launching I tightened the box down just so no water was being forced out of the bottom of the box; I then locked down the jam nut. And low & behol;d after all of that... no dripping at all. After a 30 minute cruise at normal cruising speed,the box felt slightly warm, but by no means hot. I assume that the flax & the shaft need to blend a bit and then I'd get the drips.

 

Those teflon seals, even when a bit loose, may not leak. Sometimes all you get is a bit of moisture. The teflon gets smeared around and makes a really good seal. As long as it doesn't get hot, there is no problem.

 

Once again Gonzo, thank youfor the information! I did see the shaft immediately outside of the stuffing box looked "wet" however I was looking for a drip. I'll leave it as is and put some hours on her before I touch it again.

 

GFO marine packing is what I use
Soft and does not leak or drip