Water leaking in around shaft on inboard

[ripcurl2785]

I have recently noticed water slowly leaking in around one of my shafts. This is the first boat that i have owned that is an inboard and im not to familiar on how to adjust (tighten down on the nut i assume but not sure which way and how much) and not sure how to tell when the whole thing needs to be repacked of whatever.

[Fortunate One]

Do a search engine on "Repacking the Stuffing Box".

It may not need re-packing it may just need a little tightening, but don't over tighten or you'll be re-packing shortly after.

You'll need a couple of plumbing wrenches.

It's easy.

[gottaflylee]

ripcurl2785,
hum, there are a couple of different kinds of stuffing boxes, one is called a dripless and then you have the ones that require packing. The later should drip most all the time as water is what lubricates them. If you have a nut on yours I would say that you have one that has a packing, but remember that it should leak some...

[JD5652]

I have recently noticed water slowly leaking in around one of my shafts. This is the first boat that i have owned that is an inboard and im not to familiar on how to adjust (tighten down on the nut i assume but not sure which way and how much) and not sure how to tell when the whole thing needs to be repacked of whatever.

Rip-

I think if you post up a couple of pics, we could probably give you a better idea of "exactly" what you need to do......

[Wicked Deep Stix]

Rip-

I think if you post up a couple of pics, we could probably give you a better idea of "exactly" what you need to do......

I second that, we want to give you the correct information the first time. Over tightening the packing will burn it up and may also damage the shaft.

[SHOWTIME2]

SOME SHAFT NUTS ARE HARD TO ACCESS IF I CANT GET WRENCHES ON THE NUTS I USE A SMALL PUNCH AND HAMMER. FIRST LOOSEN JAM NUT [LEFTY LOOSEY] TRY TO TIGHTEN PACKING NUT BY HAND,YOU WANT A DRIP ABOUT EVERY 5 SECS, IF U NEED TO PACK GET APPROPIATE SIZE WRAP AROUND SHAFT CUT WITH RAZOR ON ANGLE DO 1 PIECE AT A TIME, ALSO TEFLON GREASE [MERCUARY 101 ] WILL HELP TILL U PULL BOAT

[WAHOONBOX]

THIS THREAD HAS A LOT OF POTENTIAL.!!!

[backman]

to identify what type of seal you have, show you how your shaft seal works and what you have to do to maintain it.

This is not a system you want to DIY lightly - make a mistake and it can sink you!

[fountain-boy]

lets "assume" its an old style stuffing box with packing. it should drip one time every three seconds. . if its "dripless" then it shouldnt leak at all. over tightening an old style stuffing box will cause the shaft to over heat and snap.

[ripcurl2785]

Yes it is the old style stuffing box. I will try and post some pics this afternoon