How To: Stuffing Box Upkeep

It’s critically important that the locknut be tightened against the packing nut using two wrenches, i.e., the nuts need to be tightened against each other to prevent either from moving. After Launching: Check for leakage, which to a small degree is normal. Ultimately, the sign of correct stuffing-box adjustment is temperature rather than drips per minute. The stuffing box should leak little and be no hotter than about 30 F above the ambient water temperature. If it’s overtightened, the wax in the packing will melt and run out of the stuffing box as a liquid, leaving behind little to prevent water from flowing past the packing material.