Just bought my first boat with an inboard. Bukh 10.

There is a drip coming from what I think is a stuffing box. I have photos. See below. You can seethe drip in the photo.

For the life of me I could not figure out how I could tighten the stuffing box - there was no nut. There was a grease nipple right where it was dripping from - would pumping it with grease stop the drip.

It's dripping about 1 drop per second. I'll go back to the boat tomorrow to install an auto bilge pump so it does not sink between now and when I haul it out to clean the bottom in 2 or 3 weeks


Cheers

Another photo with markup showing where leak is coming from (arrow) and grease nipple (circle).

I basically have no idea what I'm looking at so any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Pump a bit of grease into it but don't over do it ~ you will pop the seals out.

Are those grooves in the shaft? It looks like some form of mechanical seal, which has worn grooves in the shaft and then the PO cut the hose shorter in order to move the seal along the shaft. Just a guess based on what can be seen from the pic.

What usually happens is after you have used the ,motor at the end of the day give it a few pumps of grease helps stop the drips.

you can always replace it if you want with a modern sealing system Volvo make one , PSS seal kits are another like Ive just fitted and tides marine make one also if you search on you tube and google is your friend also



PSS seal kit



My old rope seal system with a grease hose fitted up so the grease nipple is easier to grease.
I think I still have the hose kicking around if you wanted to fit it


Also check all your hose clamps for rust and also make sure all there hose clamps are tight and check every sea cock you have and there hoses and clamps are in good order and the clamps are tight

Enjoy your B.O.A.T. Which Ill leave for Cisco to tell you what it means if you don't already

Thanks for the advice guys. I'm not so worried now! I'll pack it with grease and see how it holds up. It's being slipped in a few weeks so I'll inspect it better than and renew it if required.

And yes, I fully understand what the acronym stands for unfortunately!!!

I was under the impression the stuffing box required sea water lubrication and a drop or two coming in was normal. The stuffing box on Trek slowly drips and I never worried about it?

As I said I think Ive still have the old grease line which would screw on to your grease nipple fitting so its easier to get to can post it if you want it
Make it easier to grease I used to give it three pumps after use never adjusted it much just the grease and as Trek said they drip

That would be great if I could get that grease line off you. I'll pm you.

A slow drip would be OK, this was just a little faster than I was ok with- especially as I am yet to install a bilge pump! I'm pretty sure some extra grease in there should help.

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junek said..
That would be great if I could get that grease line off you. I'll pm you.

A slow drip would be OK, this was just a little faster than I was ok with- especially as I am yet to install a bilge pump! I'm pretty sure some extra grease in there should help.

its yours pm your address
Better to work again than throw in any bin shes done 37 years so far Id say its ready to do another

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HG02 said..
As I said I think Ive still have the old grease line which would screw on to your grease nipple fitting so its easier to get to can post it if you want it
Make it easier to grease I used to give it three pumps after use never adjusted it much just the grease and as Trek said they drip

Yep a stuffing box is packed with hemp & should drip a bit, it has to be tightened up every so often to keep the dripping in check.
This is not a stuffing box but a shaft seal with two neoprene seals, used on speed boats, & should not drip if the grease is kept up to it. It will wear a groove in the shaft though.
When you install HGs extender grease hose just check it is still connected every so often & you are not just pumping grease into the bilge.

I might have the rest of the stuffing box its suits a 1 inch prop shaft let me know it you can use it?
When I removed it the hose clamps were on the loose side so don't ever forget to check those bad boys Ok
I found this after a insurance survey just after I bought my money pit opps sorry Boat it was hiding under my engine sump just so you couldn't see it

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Lazzarae said..

This is not a stuffing box but a shaft seal with two neoprene seals, used on speed boats, & should not drip if the grease is kept up to it. It will wear a groove in the shaft though.
When you install HGs extender grease hose just check it is still connected every so often & you are not just pumping grease into the bilge.

Good info. Thanks.

Can I replace the neoprene seals? Easy job?

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junek said..

Lazzarae said..

This is not a stuffing box but a shaft seal with two neoprene seals, used on speed boats, & should not drip if the grease is kept up to it. It will wear a groove in the shaft though.
When you install HGs extender grease hose just check it is still connected every so often & you are not just pumping grease into the bilge.

Good info. Thanks.

Can I replace the neoprene seals? Easy job?

Just take a seals into a bearing shop if there neoprene double lip seals so they can measure the O.D.and I.d
While you have it apart change the hose and clamps make sure if you do buy stainless hose clamps
And if there's room add an extra hose clamp to the front where the is only one at the moment

Yes it looks like a lip seal system. It shouldn't drip at all. The drip would indicate a damaged seal between the saltwater and grease gallery. I have one made by Dave Porter (propeller company in Sydney). So they should be able to offer advice and service.

For more information and diagrams on the system, see Nigel Calders book, The Boat Owners Mehanical and Electrical Companion.

I was concerned about how hot it was getting so I have modified mine by replacing the grease cup (in your case the nipple) with a hose barb and placing a small tank just above wl which feeds oil into the seal instead of grease. It now runs a lot cooler.
Grease tends to get very hot and the more grease you pump the more likely you are to damage the seals.

That's a very good Idea Ambler

I have a spare stuffing box if you want one