tighten packing gland?

[selvyselvy@aol.com]

Good morning,
If I wanted to tighten up my packing gland (It's dripping a bit too fast)...

1. Does the prop have to be locked up? Might I lock the shaft with a plumber's wrench from inside? Or swim on it and tie it?
2. Any specialized wrench to get to the gland nut? Plumber's wrench?

Thanks for sharing all your experience.

And, Yes, I know I should have done this while on the hard last winter!!! Sorry.

Jim

[popeye323]

It has been a while since I have adjusted my stuffing box because I converted to a dripless system but to the best of my memory this is how to do it. You do not worry about the prop shaft at all when you are adjusting the stuffing box. All the adjustments are done with nuts on the stuffing box. Simply use two large plumbers wrench to accomplish the job. With one wrench lossen the large locking nut, the forward one of the two nuts that  goes around the shaft. Once the locking nut is lose you can now tighten down the back nut to reduce the drip. The stuffing box should drip one drop every 30 seconds. Once you have it adjusted to the right drip amount tighten up the locking nut.  Good Luck.

[selvyselvy@aol.com]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate your help.

[selvyselvy@aol.com]

your advice worked perfectly. Thanks again. Jim