CD36 Stuffing Box Adjustment

[Bob Grabham]

Just wanted to make sure what I was looking at, while upside down in my engine compartment, was what it appeared to be. My stuffing box is now leaking about 30 drops per minute and that seemed to be excessive given what I've read about them on this board and elsewhere. I have the knurled knob type of lock nut and adjusting nut on my shaft. It appears to me that the thinner nut, the one closer to the prop, is the locking nut and the thicker (wider) nut closest to the transmission is the actual adjusting nut. I'm just looking for reassurance that that is the correct asumption. Once I get the locking nut loose (flat screwdriver and hammer?), I should be able to turn the adjusting nut tighter to cut down on the drips to about 2-3 per minute. Any comments about this plan would be appreciated. If any jockey sized people are close to Topping, Virginia and want to learn how to adjust a stuffing box on a CD-36, I'll be happy to buy them dinner. Thanks in advance for any comments from this knowledgeable board.

Bob Grabham
CD-36, #140
Hunky Dory
Topping, VA (Rappahannock River)



grabhamb@chesterfield.gov

[matt cawthorne]

Bob,
You are correct about the function of the two nuts. Spartan sells a pair of wrenches that makes the job easier, and is less likely to damage the nut than using a hammer and screwdriver.

BTW, Do not do this job upside down. You can sit in the quarterberth with your feet in the engine compartment. Lay down, roll face down and go into the engine compartment feet first. Curl up as you go in and you end up sitting behind the stuffing box facing forward. While re-wiring the boat this year I have been in there at least a hundred times. It is really not so bad. While you are there inspect all of the hoses in the area, inspect your exhaust riser and clean up any debris that might one day clog a pump.

The following will be a little controversial. If you are willing to make very small adjustments to the stuffing box you can safely get that drip to stop completely (assuming that you have a stainless shaft). You must make very tiny adjustments, and keep your engine aligned well. It would also be recommended to switch to teflon grease in the box next spring. Also, when you first launch the boat in the spring do not adjust the stuffing box for a day. That gives the packing a chance to swell. I changed the stuffing last year and had it in a no-drip condition. When the boat was launched this spring it had a steady stream coming out of it. Within a half hour is was just dripping and by the end of the day the drip had stopped altogether. Be careful to check and make certain that the unit does not heat up while motoring. Lock the shaft before checking. If it is you have to loosen it a bit. At last check my shaft was 19 years old and had no significant wear despite my 8 years of setting the stuffing box so it does not drip. Again, very tiny adjustments at a time.

If you have two drips per minute you are looking at a quart or two in the engine sump each week. That will mix with the oil that is likely to be leaking from your Perkins engine and will have to be dealt with. Messy and potentially bad for the environment.



Matt



mcawthor@bellatlantic.net

[Steve Alarcon]

Hi Matt,

Just curious, how tall are you? I can't imagine being able to sit in there. :^)

Steve Alarcon
CD36 Tenacity
Seattle



alarcon3@prodigy.et

[Ken Coit]

I'm 5'11" or so and 220# on a bad day; I can get in there and sit as well, but buying someone a free dinner might not be a bad alternative. At "sea" I would opt for the upside down position for a quick adjustment just to be certain someone else could drag me out if I were to become stuck or otherwise disabled.

Keep on sailing,

Ken Coit
CD/14 #538
CD/36 #84 Parfait
Hailing Port: Raleigh, NC
Sailing from: Beaufort, NC

Hi Matt,

Just curious, how tall are you? I can't imagine being able to sit in there. :^)

Steve Alarcon
CD36 Tenacity
Seattle

parfaitNOSPAM@nc.rr.com

[Ken Coit]

Matt,

We use those white mats from West Marine and others to keep the Perkins drips contained. They work well and are safe for the environment.

Keep on sailing,

Ken Coit
CD/14 #538
CD/36 #84 Parfait
Hailing Port: Raleigh, NC
Sailing from: Beaufort, NC

Bob,
You are correct about the function of the two nuts. Spartan sells a pair of wrenches that makes the job easier, and is less likely to damage the nut than using a hammer and screwdriver.

BTW, Do not do this job upside down. You can sit in the quarterberth with your feet in the engine compartment. Lay down, roll face down and go into the engine compartment feet first. Curl up as you go in and you end up sitting behind the stuffing box facing forward. While re-wiring the boat this year I have been in there at least a hundred times. It is really not so bad. While you are there inspect all of the hoses in the area, inspect your exhaust riser and clean up any debris that might one day clog a pump.

The following will be a little controversial. If you are willing to make very small adjustments to the stuffing box you can safely get that drip to stop completely (assuming that you have a stainless shaft). You must make very tiny adjustments, and keep your engine aligned well. It would also be recommended to switch to teflon grease in the box next spring. Also, when you first launch the boat in the spring do not adjust the stuffing box for a day. That gives the packing a chance to swell. I changed the stuffing last year and had it in a no-drip condition. When the boat was launched this spring it had a steady stream coming out of it. Within a half hour is was just dripping and by the end of the day the drip had stopped altogether. Be careful to check and make certain that the unit does not heat up while motoring. Lock the shaft before checking. If it is you have to loosen it a bit. At last check my shaft was 19 years old and had no significant wear despite my 8 years of setting the stuffing box so it does not drip. Again, very tiny adjustments at a time.

If you have two drips per minute you are looking at a quart or two in the engine sump each week. That will mix with the oil that is likely to be leaking from your Perkins engine and will have to be dealt with. Messy and potentially bad for the environment.



Matt

parfaitNOSPAM@nc.rr.com

[Tom Blanchard]

I'm 5'11" or so and 220# on a bad day; I can get in there and sit as well, but buying someone a free dinner might not be a bad alternative. At "sea" I would opt for the upside down position for a quick adjustment just to be certain someone else could drag me out if I were to become stuck or otherwise disabled.

Keep on sailing,

Ken Coit
CD/14 #538
CD/36 #84 Parfait
Hailing Port: Raleigh, NC
Sailing from: Beaufort, NC

Hi Matt,

Just curious, how tall are you? I can't imagine being able to sit in there. :^)

Steve Alarcon
CD36 Tenacity
Seattle

Bob, I agree with all that matt said. I just had to replace a badly scored shaft, so while in there I had a dripless packing box put in. Avoids the problem of water in the engine oil pan. I've got the Spartan stuffing box wrenches if anyone wants a deal on them.
Tom Blanchard CD36#44
Stasia Louise



tblanchard@empire.state.ny.us

[wayne grenier]

Just wanted to make sure what I was looking at, while upside down in my engine compartment, was what it appeared to be. My stuffing box is now leaking about 30 drops per minute and that seemed to be excessive given what I've read about them on this board and elsewhere. I have the knurled knob type of lock nut and adjusting nut on my shaft. It appears to me that the thinner nut, the one closer to the prop, is the locking nut and the thicker (wider) nut closest to the transmission is the actual adjusting nut. I'm just looking for reassurance that that is the correct asumption. Once I get the locking nut loose (flat screwdriver and hammer?), I should be able to turn the adjusting nut tighter to cut down on the drips to about 2-3 per minute. Any comments about this plan would be appreciated. If any jockey sized people are close to Topping, Virginia and want to learn how to adjust a stuffing box on a CD-36, I'll be happy to buy them dinner. Thanks in advance for any comments from this knowledgeable board.

Bob Grabham
CD-36, #140
Hunky Dory
Topping, VA (Rappahannock River)

if you think about it-no matter what kind of boat-you want to tighten the rear nut-threading it towards the stern of the boat-or clockwise-while at the same time lossening the front nut-or moving it towards the front of the boat-counterclockwise-soak everything in wd-40 for a day-get 2 wrenches-vice-grips-pipe wrenches-long needle nose locking pliers-whatever-get a good grip on both nuts and assuming you are not upside down-the back one goes towards you and the front one goes away from you-then adjust in small increments-and tighten-just visualize what you are doing-the back nut has to be turned clockwise-anf the front one in the opposite direction-p.s.-after my vent hose incident the boat yard is replacing the stuffing box with a dripless seal-they don't do stuffing boxes anymore-I guess they don't want the liabilty-so my days are over-keep in mind a stuffing box is very very low-tech-don't be too fussy-a drip every 20-30 seconds will not sink your boat-see ya and you are correct-the rear nut is the locking nut and the front nut the adjusting nut-



grenier@localnet.com

[matt cawthorne]

Steve,
6'2" One is hunched over a bit, but it is pretty workable. I do not consider myself a contortionist.

Matt



mcawthor@bellatlantic.net

[Ken Coit]

Are those stuffing box wrenches for use on splined nuts or the ones with knobs?

Ken

I'm 5'11" or so and 220# on a bad day; I can get in there and sit as well, but buying someone a free dinner might not be a bad alternative. At "sea" I would opt for the upside down position for a quick adjustment just to be certain someone else could drag me out if I were to become stuck or otherwise disabled.

Keep on sailing,

Ken Coit
CD/14 #538
CD/36 #84 Parfait
Hailing Port: Raleigh, NC
Sailing from: Beaufort, NC

Hi Matt,

Just curious, how tall are you? I can't imagine being able to sit in there. :^)

Steve Alarcon
CD36 Tenacity
Seattle

Bob, I agree with all that matt said. I just had to replace a badly scored shaft, so while in there I had a dripless packing box put in. Avoids the problem of water in the engine oil pan. I've got the Spartan stuffing box wrenches if anyone wants a deal on them.
Tom Blanchard CD36#44
Stasia Louise

parfaitNOSPAM@nc.rr.com

[Tom Blanchard]

Are those stuffing box wrenches for use on splined nuts or the ones with knobs?

Ken

I'm 5'11" or so and 220# on a bad day; I can get in there and sit as well, but buying someone a free dinner might not be a bad alternative. At "sea" I would opt for the upside down position for a quick adjustment just to be certain someone else could drag me out if I were to become stuck or otherwise disabled.

Keep on sailing,

Ken Coit
CD/14 #538
CD/36 #84 Parfait
Hailing Port: Raleigh, NC
Sailing from: Beaufort, NC

Bob, I agree with all that matt said. I just had to replace a badly scored shaft, so while in there I had a dripless packing box put in. Avoids the problem of water in the engine oil pan. I've got the Spartan stuffing box wrenches if anyone wants a deal on them.
Tom Blanchard CD36#44
Stasia Louise

Ken, The wrenches are for splined nuts I believe, but I'll comfirm tonight and let you know Monday.
Tom



tblanchard@empire.state.ny.us