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Check your packing nut


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Put the 'BU in for the season this weekend and she started right up and ran like a top. I noticed that there was excessive water in the bilge after 15 minutes in the water so I checked the packing nut and there was a steady stream of water coming in. When I put her away last fall it was 1 drip per 5 seconds. Adjusted back to original rate and everything is good now. I've never had the packing change like that over the winter, so do I need to replace the packing soon or is this normal? I keep mine on a lift so I have not been real diligent about packing nut adjustment but I would rather be safe than sorry. Thanks.

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I am not an expert on these, but I believe they dry our over the winter and will leak quite a bit whne they first hit water in the spring. It takes a while for the packing to get sturated then it should be fine. You may want to re-check your adjustment in a week to insure it is dripping the 1-3 drops per 15 seconds (or whatever it is supposed to be).

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I had exactly the same issue this weekend. We were free skiing (because the freakin course issue is not yet resolved-but that is another story) and I noticed the wake was a bit harsh after a footing run and two other people skied. The bilge was full of water. I pulled the rear cover and a steady steam of water was leaking from the packing nut.

I went to the local MC dealership (because we don't have a Bu dealer in the area) and he gave me some new packing material but he said it was highly unusual to need to replace the packing after two seasons. I pulled the jam nut and packing nut apart and the packing inside looked fine, so I tightened the nut until it only dripped once every 5 or 10 seconds and everything is fine. I ran around the lake several times and checked that the assembly was not hot and all was good.

Sounds like an adjustment and you should be fine.

Rip

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I had exactly the same issue this weekend. We were free skiing (because the freakin course issue is not yet resolved-but that is another story) and I noticed the wake was a bit harsh after a footing run and two other people skied. The bilge was full of water. I pulled the rear cover and a steady steam of water was leaking from the packing nut.

I went to the local MC dealership (because we don't have a Bu dealer in the area) and he gave me some new packing material but he said it was highly unusual to need to replace the packing after two seasons. I pulled the jam nut and packing nut apart and the packing inside looked fine, so I tightened the nut until it only dripped once every 5 or 10 seconds and everything is fine. I ran around the lake several times and checked that the assembly was not hot and all was good.

Sounds like an adjustment and you should be fine.

Rip

Anyone have instructions on how to do this? I know that mine needs to be adjusted as after about 2 hours in the boat I have quite a bit of water in the ski locker. Right now its cool because its like free balast, but I want to take care of it.

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I had exactly the same issue this weekend. We were free skiing (because the freakin course issue is not yet resolved-but that is another story) and I noticed the wake was a bit harsh after a footing run and two other people skied. The bilge was full of water. I pulled the rear cover and a steady steam of water was leaking from the packing nut.

I went to the local MC dealership (because we don't have a Bu dealer in the area) and he gave me some new packing material but he said it was highly unusual to need to replace the packing after two seasons. I pulled the jam nut and packing nut apart and the packing inside looked fine, so I tightened the nut until it only dripped once every 5 or 10 seconds and everything is fine. I ran around the lake several times and checked that the assembly was not hot and all was good.

Sounds like an adjustment and you should be fine.

Rip

Anyone have instructions on how to do this? I know that mine needs to be adjusted as after about 2 hours in the boat I have quite a bit of water in the ski locker. Right now its cool because its like free balast, but I want to take care of it.

I'm sure there are a few posts in history with details, but it was really easy. There is a jam nut and the large packing nut. The jam nut is thin and is on the aft side of the assembly. You will need two large wrenches. One on the packing nut and one on the jam nut. Break the two free and turn the jam nut a few turns aft to give you some room to tighten the packing nut. I tightened mine in the water in my lift so I could see the amount of leakage. My packing nut was loose enough that it stopped leaking when I tightened it by hand. Then I gave it another 1/4 turn and locked it in place with the jam nut. I get about one drop every ten seconds.

Edited by Rip6@36
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Thanks for the responses. It only has 70 hours on it so I wouldn't think the packing was shot yet but you never know..... I'll check it after a few runs on the course to see if it has tightened up on me and needs to be readjusted again.

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  • 1 month later...

Ok, I'm new here and i've just bought my first boat. I'm trying to read every post on this site to soak up as much info as possible...

What the hell is a packing nut and where is it? What does it do and am I supposed to take care of this or is it general thing that be checked by a service tech?

Thanks!

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Ok, I'm new here and i've just bought my first boat. I'm trying to read every post on this site to soak up as much info as possible...

What the hell is a packing nut and where is it? What does it do and am I supposed to take care of this or is it general thing that be checked by a service tech?

Thanks!

The packing nut is a little devil! Mad.gif Its located behind the engine and under the floor. If you have a DD you can just open up the hatch in the floor and its located on the shaft between the mufflers. You will see a large nut about 1" wide and another nut about 1/4" wide backed up against each other...this is the packing nut and in our case its a little female dog

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Ok, I'm new here and i've just bought my first boat. I'm trying to read every post on this site to soak up as much info as possible...

What the hell is a packing nut and where is it? What does it do and am I supposed to take care of this or is it general thing that be checked by a service tech?

Thanks!

The packing nut is a little devil! Mad.gif Its located behind the engine and under the floor. If you have a DD you can just open up the hatch in the floor and its located on the shaft between the mufflers. You will see a large nut about 1" wide and another nut about 1/4" wide backed up against each other...this is the packing nut and in our case its a little female dog

What is it for? Is it something I check before every outing? I have a V drive.

Thanks.

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The nut holds the seal together where your drive shaft goes through the hull. The shaft comes out of the transmission and goes through the nut just before exiting the hull. If the packing seal gets too loose, which can happen over time or use, water will leak past it. Tightening the nut will re-tighten the packing and stop the leak. A little drip is normal. 1 drip every 20-30 seconds or so is ok. You have to get the right tools to adjust the nut.

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The nut holds the seal together where your drive shaft goes through the hull. The shaft comes out of the transmission and goes through the nut just before exiting the hull. If the packing seal gets too loose, which can happen over time or use, water will leak past it. Tightening the nut will re-tighten the packing and stop the leak. A little drip is normal. 1 drip every 20-30 seconds or so is ok. You have to get the right tools to adjust the nut.

Thanks!

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What happens if you go too tight???

Cry.gif

burn up the seal.. and the correct drip time is 1 drip every 10 seconds per owners manual

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For what it's worth, mine does not drip at all, and the seal has been fine for about 40 hours that way. YMMV. My hull stays dry!

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  • 3 weeks later...

Found a good tool for adjusting the packing nut under your v-drive.

From Do-it Center, a 7" vice-grip. Has a weird arc shape to it instead of just plier shaped.

It opens more than wide enough and really locks on so no messing around with slipages.

The short handle makes it easy to get in there.

Costs about $7. Buy a few!

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