![]() As it requires the boat to be out of the water, many owners simply repack the stuffing box as part of their annual haulout or spring commissioning routine. How often you repack depends on the number of hours your boat is used. This bit of routine maintenance should only take about an hour, and it normally costs less for materials than you'd spend on a mocha-frappu-latte-whatever and a free-range muffin. What you should do: You can avoid excessive leaking and shaft damage simply by replacing the packing on a regular basis. Keep compressing it and it will eventually score the propeller shaft, which will then have to be replaced before the stuffing box will seal properly. This works to a point, but as the packing gets smaller it also gets harder. When this happens, the first reaction is often to simply tighten the packing nut(s) to compress the packing material and stop or reduce the leak. Packing material hardens over time as the lubricant dries out and gets worn away by shaft rotation, allowing water to pass and enter the vessel. A leaking stuffing box can cause a number of issues, from corrosion caused by the spinning shaft slinging excess water all over your engine compartment to sinking, particularly if the boat is left unattended in the water for longer periods of time. More than that amount, say 10 drops per minute, or it drips while the shaft is not turning, indicates the need for maintenance. What you should know: Water helps lubricate the packing material, so it's OK for a stuffing box to leak a few drips (three or four per minute) while the vessel is underway. Most packing consists of a square plaited material and comes either as traditional greased (or waxed) flax, or a more modern version impregnated with Teflon. The more you tighten either type of gland, the more the packing material is compressed against the shaft. Dealers have qualified, factory-trained technicians.The shaft is sealed by compressing packing against it, most often by using a hollow nut that screws onto the inboard side of the shaft tube or a tightening arrangement that uses a plate secured by nuts and studs on either side of the shaft. Remember, your authorized dealer is there to provide service for your power package. It is difficult to diagnose a problem over the telephone. ![]() Please do not contact the dealer, customer service office, or the factory to request troubleshooting help or to request the repair procedure. ![]() Do not attempt these repairs unless you have these special tools and/or equipment. There are special tools and equipment that are required to perform some repairs. Do not attempt repairs if you do not understand the procedures. The service manual is written for the trained technician. Electronic ignition and special fuel delivery systems provide greater fuel economies, but are also more complex for the untrained technician.ĭo not attempt any maintenance or repairs which are not covered in the service manual unless you are aware of the precautions and procedures required. Your MerCruiser power package is an advanced technological piece of machinery. If you are a person who likes to do-it-yourself, here are some suggestions for you:
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