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After reading Radioman's post, I new it was time to do some packing...lol
So I replaced the 4 yr old packing yesterday and used Western Pacific Trading GTU gore packing. I previously replaced the packing after purchasing the boat in 2015 and, decided to upgrade to gore from flax with teflon on this go around.
I used the 1/4" version...
The packing I removed years ago was jammed in so tight I had to use long sheet metal screws to get a hold on it. This time, it was much easier to remove with a 90* metal pick and some needle nose pliers. The gore packing is very easy to use, it cuts cleanly with a fresh razor blade and is much more supple compared to the flax packing making for a trouble free install. I used a bit of Syntef lubricant on the shaft side of each packing ring. I installed 3 rings with gaps at Port-Starboard-Port for easy removal.
I had some corrosion buildup on the "male piece" of the shaft log (I have the style with 2 studs) that prevented further compression of the existing packing so I cleaned the surface with a Dremel.
Total time was about 45 minutes with the majority spent on removal and cleaning. I'm planning on running the boat on the 4th and making final adjustments on the water.
So I replaced the 4 yr old packing yesterday and used Western Pacific Trading GTU gore packing. I previously replaced the packing after purchasing the boat in 2015 and, decided to upgrade to gore from flax with teflon on this go around.
I used the 1/4" version...
The packing I removed years ago was jammed in so tight I had to use long sheet metal screws to get a hold on it. This time, it was much easier to remove with a 90* metal pick and some needle nose pliers. The gore packing is very easy to use, it cuts cleanly with a fresh razor blade and is much more supple compared to the flax packing making for a trouble free install. I used a bit of Syntef lubricant on the shaft side of each packing ring. I installed 3 rings with gaps at Port-Starboard-Port for easy removal.
I had some corrosion buildup on the "male piece" of the shaft log (I have the style with 2 studs) that prevented further compression of the existing packing so I cleaned the surface with a Dremel.
Total time was about 45 minutes with the majority spent on removal and cleaning. I'm planning on running the boat on the 4th and making final adjustments on the water.
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