Leaking shaft log.

[Bill Root]

The port side shaft log on BUFFALO GAL is leaking. Nothing serious, just a steady drip even when the boat is docked. I've looked at the schematic in the manual and it appears that the packing sleeve bolts can be tightened to compress the packing and stop the leak, however, I am a little uncomfortable putting a wrench on those bolts without understanding if I broke one off could it cause a catastrophic leak. The closest place where the boat could be hauled is a two day trip up the St. Johns River. I could wait until I head up the river in the spring, but if it's a simple problem I can fix while the boat is at the dock I would like to do it. Advice from the experts would be appreciated.

 

[Bill Allen]

Spray some kind of lube on the threads after you try and clean them up. Let the lube sit for a while and put a wrench on it. With reasonable force if they don't move wait until your closer to a pull out. I can't imagine them not tighting up. Bill

 

[rsmith]

Take a pic of it and post what type of gland you have. I'm sure the exspurts will give a 27 step process for fixing it.

 

[Boatsb]

Bill the bronze is usually not stressed too much that the bolts will break unless someone screwed it up before. Depending on the installation there is a chance the bolt can be replaced in the water with some leaking but not so bad that the boat would sink.

The best advice I can give you is if you are not comfortable doing it call in a professional. Sanford may not be a hotbed of large boats but many of us in the Port Canaveral area work there too.

 

[yachtsmanbill]

If you break a bolt (unlikely) have a small C clamp at the ready to keep pressure on the gland. ws

 

[Pascal]

Not going to break unless maybe you apply a ton of pressure with anchrages bar... Even if you break one, the other bolt will keep it together anyway although with a faster drip while you replace the bolt

While you re in there, inspect the double clamps on the hose

 

[REBrueckner]

Above advice is fine. Expect to see two nuts as in photo #3 above..loosen the one on the end first...if the other doesn't turn with reasonable effort, just apply a propane torch to the remaining nut to heat it....it will break any bond and making turning it easy...

 

[Nonchalant1]

Bill,

Those packing glands are designed to drip a little, depending on what type of packing you have. When underway, a drip every 10 to 15 seconds or so actually helps cool the packing material. At the dock, they should drip once or twice a minute if you have waxed flax packing. GFO packed glands drip less, but if you tighten GFO too tight it can burn up underway, scoring the shaft. Be careful not to overtighten. I would adjust so it drips every 10 to 15 seconds at the dock and then take her out and run her 15 minutes at hull speed or so. Feel the gland to see if it gets too warm underway, or upon arrival at the dock. Compare to the other sb side gland warmth and drips. Watch it dripping underway and back at the dock after running. Then tighten it a little more if it drips too much. Assuming both sides are packed the same, you should be able to get to the same drip and warmth underway as sb.

Doug

 

[Bill Root]

Thanks to everyone who has offered their good experience. I thought that the shaft log seals were probably designed to drip under way, since that's how the shaft logs on my old wooden runabouts have always behaved. I did not know that some drip at the dock was OK. I'm going to try some easy tightening of the bolts. If that doesn't work, I'll either call Scott or wait until haul-out in the spring. Thanks again.

 

[ron6785]

unless your packing is totally destroyed you can remove the jam nut and it won't leak anymore than it is now. You can loosen the nuts and back off the jam nut. In the water you can usually ad a ringor two of packing if the jam nut is tightening all the way to the collar and that will get you by until you pull the boat and can replace all the packing. you can also tear up a rag and when you pull the jam nut if the leak is substantial put the rag around the shaft at the collar and attach and tighten the jam nut and that will stop the leak.

 

[fissioneng]

If it looks like mine (see pic in this thread) I can tell you about my experiences. Mine looks like yachtsmanbill's.

http://www.samsmarine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16238

I recently took it apart while in the water and repacked it. A little dripping is okay, but if you want it to stop for the winter, as others have said, just clean the threads with a small wire brush and give each nut a 1/2 turn or so. I used PB Blaster when I pulled mine apart. I would be surprised if they are really tight.

When I repacked, I just used a little bit of tapping and the whole sleeve came out.

 

[rsmith]

When I used to leave the boat for the winter I would just smack the top and bottom of the flange with a dead blow to compress the packing. As soon as you run it again it will loosen up.
"a small leak will sink a great ship"

 

[Bill Root]

Thanks again, guys. Fortunately we do not leave the boat for more than a couple of weeks at a time.