[Public-List] A30 stuffing box hose

[gdinwiddie at alberg30.org]

Jason,

It sounds like someone got carried away caulking the stern tube. When I 
worked on my stern tube a few years back, I realized that the caulk that 
Whitby put around it was to keep it from turning when you unscrew the 
cutless bearing housing, not to keep water out. The cutless bearing 
housing keeps the water out of the boat except through the stern tube, 
and the stuffing box stops the water that's in the stern tube (except 
for a few drops while motoring).

It may well be advisable to replace the stuffing box hose if you can't 
see the condition of the hose clamps holding the stern tube end. And if 
it's really over 50 years old, I would want to replace the hose on 
general principles.

It sound ridiculous to me to cut the shaft rather than push it out of 
the coupler. One way to drive the shaft out of the coupler is to unbolt 
the coupler from the transmission flange, put a wrench socked in 
between, and re-tighten. You may need to use longer bolts when you do this.

You can see the stern tube-cutless bearing arrangement on 
https://alberg30.org/maintenance/MechanicalPropulsion/

  - George

On 3/28/23 1:50 AM, Jason S via Public-List wrote:
> I'm replacing the packing and started looking at stuffing box rubber hose
> to stern tube. The yard recommended replacing the rubber hose. It appears
> that the rubber hose is covered by some sort of putty or goo. I can only
> see two front clamps. Anyone else see this one their boats? It all seems to
> be original from 1967.
> How long is the prop shaft in A30 with Atomic 4 approximately?
> The yard said I'll prolly have to replace the bronze 7/8" shaft. This is
> because they said it would easier the cut the shaft than try and get it out
> of coupler....I'm not to sure...I may try and get it out of coupler before
> cutting it.
> 
> thank you

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