1 7/8" Wrench for packing nut?

[Stick]

I'm looking to tighten the packing nut on my 01 Vdrive Sunsetter. It looks like I'll need to get 1 7/8" wrench or adjustable spanner wrench. Is this the size I need for my boat? I guess i'll need 2 of them? It's currently a constant drip, it sounds like I need to get it down to a drip every 10 seconds or so? Will it need less than a full turn?

Does the drip ever slow down once you've been in the water a few hours?

[bigD]

Bakes or an 1 7/8" crows foot

Edited June 3, 2009 by bigD

[Bill_AirJunky]

I used a pair of the plumbing spanner wrenches from Home Depot. Cost me half of the Malibu wrenches. And they were available here.

I'm considering going virtually dripless. Anyone ever used one of these packings?

[wienrdog]

Stick - You should have 1 7/8". Always adjust by 1 flat or less at a time. It's a pain on V-Drives, but you don't want to over tighten, heat it up too hot & score the shaft.

Bill - I put the GORE packing in last summer & it's been great.

I did have to adjust the packing nut quite a bit looser compared to the flax packing, but it was time (over 500 hours).

[rushman]

Stick - You should have 1 7/8". Always adjust by 1 flat or less at a time. It's a pain on V-Drives, but you don't want to over tighten, heat it up too hot & score the shaft.

Bill - I put the GORE packing in last summer & it's been great.

I did have to adjust the packing nut quite a bit looser compared to the flax packing, but it was time (over 500 hours).

I adjusted mine this spring too but I hope I haven't tightened it too much???? I can't say its a drop every ten seconds but after footing for a few sets there is water just beneath the packing. The shaft doesn't feel hot too touch or anything but the flywheel on the transmission is warm. If it was too tight would I feel the driveshaft getting hot. It leaked like a siv before I tightened it and I think I only tightened it about 3/4 to 1 turn.

Kevin

[wienrdog]

The shaft will heat up pretty quickly if it's too tight. As long as the shaft is not getting hot you should be OK.