Stuffing Box Woes
Posted: Aug 28th, '06, 17:36
When it rains, it pours.
Pulled out of the slip on Sunday, the transmission cable end came off (second time) and while I was messing with that, I noticed the stuffing box leaking pretty heavily. Started to tighten it down, and realized the cap (old style, threaded tube with a "cap" containing the stuffing that screws down) would not thread onto the tube. Messed with it for a hour or so - C-X soak, a little acid, blown with air - and realized the threads on the cap are simply chewed up. Looks like it got a little loose, and the vibration just ate up the threads.
Now, I have a bad cap, and a split style coupler on the tranny end. Unbolt the coupler, and that shaft is not going anywhere. Didn't have chisels on me, but with another C-X soak and a big screw driver and a couple wacks, it is not moving.
Plan, pull the shaft/coupler back a few inches from the tranny, insert a 2x4 b/w the coupler and the tranny to absorb some of the shock, soak with C-X again, insert chisels, and beat them in while pulling out on the shaft/prop. Failing that - apply heat to the coupler (but not the shaft). Propane torch and fire extinguisher time. Sound about right?
Got essentially no room for the wheel puller I have, but is that an aproach I should try?
Is there an easier way? Like cut the cap off with an angle grinder and use some sort of "split, two part, magic, stuffing box" cap.
Any hints on either getting the coupler off or getting it back on again later. Bear in mind, this boat is hanging in a sling the whole time.
Many thanks in advance.
Pulled out of the slip on Sunday, the transmission cable end came off (second time) and while I was messing with that, I noticed the stuffing box leaking pretty heavily. Started to tighten it down, and realized the cap (old style, threaded tube with a "cap" containing the stuffing that screws down) would not thread onto the tube. Messed with it for a hour or so - C-X soak, a little acid, blown with air - and realized the threads on the cap are simply chewed up. Looks like it got a little loose, and the vibration just ate up the threads.
Now, I have a bad cap, and a split style coupler on the tranny end. Unbolt the coupler, and that shaft is not going anywhere. Didn't have chisels on me, but with another C-X soak and a big screw driver and a couple wacks, it is not moving.
Plan, pull the shaft/coupler back a few inches from the tranny, insert a 2x4 b/w the coupler and the tranny to absorb some of the shock, soak with C-X again, insert chisels, and beat them in while pulling out on the shaft/prop. Failing that - apply heat to the coupler (but not the shaft). Propane torch and fire extinguisher time. Sound about right?
Got essentially no room for the wheel puller I have, but is that an aproach I should try?
Is there an easier way? Like cut the cap off with an angle grinder and use some sort of "split, two part, magic, stuffing box" cap.
Any hints on either getting the coupler off or getting it back on again later. Bear in mind, this boat is hanging in a sling the whole time.
Many thanks in advance.