1990 malibu skier rudder packing

[Landwaster]

My old malibu skier needed the rubber repacked. Last week I pulled it apart and noticed it came form the factory with only one ring of 5/16th packing rope. Well I put two rings back in but apparently it was to thick to get the locking nut down all they way to reinstall the control arm and rudder. So I pulled it all part and removed one and it all went back together fine.  Only problem is it still leaks faster then normal rate even after adjusting it.      

Was one strand of packing rope normal in 1990 malibu skier?   Or do I need a different size and get strands of rope packed in? 

[csleaver]

Is it like the one in this video?

 

[Landwaster]

That's the video I watched before I did the repacking. I definitely could not fit Two packing rings in during reinstall like he did.   I just thought it was wired that my boat only had one packing ring in it originally. 

[justgary]

47 minutes ago, Landwaster said:

That's the video I watched before I did the repacking. I definitely could not fit Two packing rings in during reinstall like he did.   I just thought it was wired that my boat only had one packing ring in it originally. 

Is it because the rudder shifts to the side slightly?  Maybe a helper can wiggle the rudder while you start the nut.  If that doesn't do it, maybe use a socket of the right diameter and push the packing down into the nut before you try again.

[csleaver]

I used to use a cut piece of pvc tubing to get the packing into prop shaft stuffing boxes.  Maybe something like that would work.