How To: Stuffing Box Upkeep

Three new rings of packing material should be cut, their inside diameter matching exactly the diameter of the shaft; the ends of each piece of packing should be cut on a 45-degree angle so they meet in an overlapping fashion. Apply a coating of marine wheel-bearing grease to the packing sections; it acts as a lubricant, and it helps keep the sections in place as they’re inserted into the carrier. The joints should be spaced 120 degrees apart, or at 12, 4, and 8 o’clock. The packing nut should then be tightened by hand; you’ll likely adjust it once the vessel is launched and the engine run.