shaft packing help

[sandm]

so I got the 4 cords of the old packing out and am attempting to put the new stuff in, but it's REAL tight. how do yo get it forced into the nut, lined up right and able to be tightened down?
I would think that it would go in somewhat loose then the compression of the nut would force it to expand?

thanks

[ssmith]

Here ya go...

TIGHTENING/PACKING TECHNIQUE
Screw the packing nut onto the packing gland assembly. Tighten it up as much as possible by hand. Then using a wrench, turn the nut a 1/2 a turn forward and a 1/4 turn back. Then turn the nut a 1/2 a turn forward and a 1/4 turn back. Then turn the nut a ½ a turn forward and a 1/4 turn back. This will pack the packing fairly tight.
- Back the packing nut off the assembly again. Then thread it back on. Tighten it only as tight as you can get it using your hands. This should be almost the perfect tightness for the packing gland so that it does not leak, yet not too tight so that the packing burns up.
- Tighten the Lock Nut up to the Packing Gland Nut.

[sandm]

I'm having a hard time getting the packing into the nut enough to even find threads to start. the cord is WAY tight and doesn't seem to stay lined up when I try to put it in.
everyone else's experience that it will just slide right in or is it real tight going back in?

[ssmith]

I'm having a hard time getting the packing into the nut enough to even find threads to start. the cord is WAY tight and doesn't seem to stay lined up when I try to put it in.
everyone else's experience that it will just slide right in or is it real tight going back in?

I was able to just wrap the new packing around the shaft and get it barely started in the nut, just enough to be able to start threading the nut on and then basically tightened the nut to push the packing in and then loosened the nut and repeated the process. It is tight but shouldn't be terribly difficult. Are you sure you have the right size packing?

Here is the full write up on mine if you're interested...

http://supraboats.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=6381

[sandm]

dealer told me that they only sell one size. it was cut off a master roll and sold in a ziploc bag. problem is I ruined 2 sections trying to get it installed, so I'm off to the napa dealer tomorrow morning. they sell fel-pro teflon coated packing. they have 3/16 instock, so I'll get a couple of feet for mistakes. the stuff I bought looks just like what came out, but it doesn't seem to want to slide into the nut. I can get it almost all the way in, but not beyond the lip of the nut, and to try and "push" it the rest of the way in ruins it or pushes the joint out of alignment. guess I just need to play with it for a while.
it was easy to remove with the dental-pick looking tools I got at the local hardware store, just doesn't want to go back in..

[ssmith]

I had no idea Napa sold packing like that....interesting. Based on your boat model (v-drive), 3/16 should be right. Keep us posted and good luck.