Hello John Thank-you for the reply. We started with three strands but had the problem of dripping in idle but not once running and warmed up. So we added another. The idea being we could loosen it off more but still stop the drip when stopped. At least that was our logic at the time. Didn't work. Do you have the original stuffing box? The 1/4 inch we used didn't have to be jammed in but it certainly didn't just slip in either. Sort of pushed it in one ring at a time by screwing on the nut. I know the rings could have shifted position in terms of alignment of the cuts but it seemed a little too tight for that. Also, it seems if all the cuts somehow got in a straight line it would leak more. How snug are your 3/16 rings? Do they slide in without to much effort? We definitely got all the old rings out as we had the nut off. We should have put the new rings in then but we waited till it was back on the shaft. This time we will have to do it in the water. Is that how you do it? I think the rings are too big and we over tightened them out of the gates. We are putting new ones in just debating size. You are the second person that said 3/16. Tomorrow we will measure the inside of nut and do the math. As best we can with the shaft running through the nut and water coming in. Any one else with an early 80's 34' and a 1 inch shaft want to tell what size packing they use. In terms of fuel we have had it all apart. We will now start that task over also. The Racor is only a year old as are many of the fittings. It has only ever been hand tightened. I have this worry that when we changed the filter we didn't fill it enough which caused the engine to stop. Then in our efforts to clean the tank and do everything else trying to figure it out we introduced a leak somewhere which is causing the same result. But maybe I'm just being negative. Thanks for helping.DonAndante1982 C&C 34Victoria Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone. -------- Original message --------From: John and Maryann Read via CnC-List <[email protected]> Date: 2018-12-03 5:34 PM (GMT-08:00) To: [email protected] Cc: John and Maryann Read <[email protected]> Subject: Re: Stus-List Stuffing box issue and update on dirty fuel Don RE: packing - you may have too much in the stuffing box. Our 34 has a 1 inch shaft. We use 3/16 Teflon packing (much better than flax). 3 strands cut at 45 degrees with joints staggered. Works just fine. Takes a few adjustments to get the correct drip - none when at rest a few drops per minute when running. So we have 9/16 total packing. If you have 4 strands of 1/4 inch that is a full one inch - too much IMHO. Also most important to ensure you have all the old packing in fact removed. We use a 1 1/2 inch screw and screw it into each strand and it easily is removed. You know you have it all out if the nut moves freely around the shaft at various angles. RE: air - have you checked the shut off valve on the inlet? Maybe needs to be removed and rebedded?? Same thing on the filter fittings. How about the inlet tube inside the tank where it mates to the fitting? Yes a low fuel level in the tank will allow air in if heeled to starboard as the inlet is on the port side. Just some ideas John and Maryann Legacy III 1982 C&C 34 Noank, CT _______________________________________________ Thanks everyone for supporting this list with your contributions. Each and every one is greatly appreciated. If you want to support the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray
_______________________________________________ Thanks everyone for supporting this list with your contributions. Each and every one is greatly appreciated. If you want to support the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray
