Rudder Packing Glands

[louis Schlotter]

We have 2 Bronze Rudder Glands 1 1/4", that are leaking badley. No one seems to know "What size Packing and How many Rings" to install. We are useing 3/16"Packing Material.

The Lock Rings have to be loosened and moved up, so the Packing Gland can be backed off to "Install" new packing. The Problem is "If we Install more than 1 Ring of Packing" and screw the Packing Gland down, the Lock Ring will not go down on the Rudder Post to it's Original Position.

The Lock Rings have 2 Bolts, one on each side and the Rudder Post have been Drilled approx. 1/8" for the 2 Bolts to seat into.

Could the Rudder Posts have "Dropped"? And have to be Raised up, so that more Rings of Packing can be installed? Or should the Lock Rings be "Re-Positioned" to allow for more Packing?

We are doing this in the water, as we have always done.

We have owned several boats and have never "Repacked" Rudder Glands and Installed less than 3 Rings of Packing.
When we Opened the Packing Gland, there was "No Packing" left in the Gland. Useing a Packing Puller Tool, the tool hit Metal to Metal, this let us know all the packing was gone.
The boat is a 1988 Tollycraft, 32ft.Sportfisher.Twin Screw, Gasoline Engines. Please Advise and thank you. Lou Schlotter

 

[Bob J]

A lot of hard to believes here! First off; NO packing in gland ??????? I can see it being hard as a rock because it's so compressed but where could or did it go?? I would think that if there was NO packing, water would be pouring in; not just dripping. Re size of packing; most accurate method I use is to pull compression portion out of way and insert a drill bit into opening next to shaft. Make sure shaft is centered and take note of bit size that fits snuggly in opening. Whatever size drill w/b packing size required. Your post mentions bolts which makes me think of the type I have on my drive shafts. Is this type you have on rudder posts; I doubt it !

 

[Gregory S]

I've never seen the "flange" type packing glands on rudder posts, only on prop shafts. I think she's describeing the large nut type with the smaller lock nut. She need s to measure the packing gland as you describe before she does anything else.

 

[JimPend]

Just tighten then down, no need to replace.

 

[lobsta1]

Lou, if you have the type that Bob (I doubt it) posted, that is what my boat came with for both prop shaft & rudder shaft. The rudder shafts are 1 1/4". I used 1/4" packing on mine. I can fit in at least 5 rings. I'm wondering if your rudders have slipped down or were pulled at one time & not put back in all the way.
Al

 

[Bob J]

Greg, reason I showed mine is because he said something about two bolts: "The Lock Rings have 2 Bolts, one on each side and the Rudder Post have been Drilled approx. 1/8" for the 2 Bolts to seat into".
Maybe this is part he's describing:

Jim P; just tightening down is all well & good if packing isn't rock hard & functioning. I had to replace the packing in my engine shafts 2 years ago because cranking down on flange no longer stopped leaking. Old packing came out in pieces as they were so dried out & hard. Just my 2¢.

 

[thataway4]

I would agree with Bob J. I don't see any mention of removing the old packing material--and tha must be done before putting in new packing. You should be able to measure the gap after the old packing is removed with either the drill bit, or some calipers.