Re: changin the driveshaft seal on an inboard ski boat
Re: changin the driveshaft seal on an inboard ski boat
Being a boat, it is a 'propeller shaft stuffing box'. Because you state "I think it's been tightened as far as it can go" I'm presuming it is a traditional stuffing box with packing in it and a hex packing nut and hex locking nut, and not a new 'dripless' type of stuffing box. It is and easy job, though getting to it can be less than ideal. If it has been tightened completely and still leaks ideally you would want to replace and not just add more packing, but often times you can just add a bit more. You need a couple of good size wrenches (pipe wrenches are usually ok), loosen the locknut and then back the packing nut completely off the shaft log (loosen it & slide it up toward the engine). If you are removing the old packing you will need a 'packing puller' (looks like a long flexible corkscrew) that you screw up inside the packing nut - you are actually screwing it into the old packing- to pull the old packing out. Once removed you cut (typically)three rings of new packing material that just wrap around the prop shaft and fit up inside the packing nut, stacked one after the other (three separate rings, not one piece that goes three times around). Then you tighten and adjust the packing nut & locknut & you are done. -- It should be adjusted with the boat in the water, better too loose than too tight. You want some wetness around the shaft and an occasional drip of water when under way. - If you are just adding some new packing you just back the nut off, add a ring or two of packing and tighten & adjust. You need to measure and get the right size packing. -It really is an easy job once you understand it.
