CD-28 Stuffing Box-My two cents

[Craig Scott]

One thing for sure, when you ask a question, you'll get as many different opinions as you do answers. I'd like to add my two cents worth to the stuffing box question. I have a 1978 CD-28, hull #200. My stuffing box has a hex nut. Spartan marine does NOT make any wrench to fit such a nut. As those of you who know CD-28s with MD-7A engines, there is absolutely no room to swing a wrench in the space allowed. When I contacted Spartan their answer was "a cold chisle and a hammer". NOT a good solution. As I lay on my stomach with hammer in hand and making no progress, a solution occurred to me. There is enough of a shoulder on the packing nut, and just enough room to get a very large pair of "Channel-locks" on the nut. I just happened to have such a pair in my tool-box. Many years of growing up on the farm in Michigan taught me that a pair of channel-lock and a Crescent wrench can fix almost anything (but I digress). For those of you trying to break your stuffing boxes free, try getting a pair of channel locks large enough to grasp the shoulder of the packing nut side. Once this is free the lock nut becomes free, too. I removed my old packing with a flax packing removal tool. This worked very well. I really had to pull hard to get the old packing out. No other arraingement could possibly have worked as well. No bent screwdriver or straightened fish hook could have done the job. One of the hardest parts of the whole job was getting the new packing in. I had to push and push with a straight blade screwdriver to get it there. I put in two pieces and tried to stagger the seams. The boat goes in the water tomorrow and the proof is in the putting. I'll watch the drip and adjust accordingly with MY special tool, the Channel-Lock. I hope this helps some poor forelorn CD-28 owner out there.
Craig Scott
Emerald
Hailing from Crisfield, MD



rphscott@aol.com

[Ken Cave]

I also own a 28 #227 built in 1979 with a MD7A Volvo engine-and being old, and stiff, I had Cap Sante Marine in Anacortes Wa. install a PSS unit.

Yes they do fit, and it takes a monkey to install it , but, since February I have had no problems (except paying for it) with leakage.

Ken Cave



bcave@whidbey.net

[Neil Gordon]

>>Spartan marine does NOT make any wrench to fit such a nut.<<

West Marine sells an adjustable wrench.


Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167



neil@nrgordon.com

[Duncan maio]

The adjustable wrench that Neil mentions is adequate for the job - don't bother with the non-adjustable wrench stamped from a steel plate, which West also sells - it will bend and become useless after the first try.

In addition to the big channel-lock pliers aboard Remedy, we carry a pair of huge Vise-Grips (over a foot long, with jaws that will lock on more than 2"). This tool has many regular and emergency applications, and is much lighter than a similarly-sized giant crescent wrench. It will also work on your stuffing box.

Duncan Maio
s/v Remedy
CD27 #37
Bristol, RI



dmaio@meganet.net