Stuffing Box Temperature

[TugScout]

The recent thread about stuffing box wrenches got me thinking about temps.

What is the group consensus regarding acceptable stuffing box / shaft temperatures? When using an infrared thermometer, it is better to take the reading off the box or the shaft itself?

Thanks gang. This forum is an incredible resource for everyone.

Cheers,
Mark

 

[BB marine]

The heat is generated from the friction between the packing and the shaft. The shaft is the component that gets warm the heat is transferred to the packing and eventually transfers to the packing gland. It's not a bad idea to hit the shaft and then the gland (where the packing is) to see what the differential is. Normally after running the shaft and packing gland are very close to the same because they heat sync together. You want to see approx. 5 to 10 degrees above ambient water temperature. If it is slightly higher then that I wouldn't worry about it because the water cooling or lubricating the packing is coming from the raw water cooling that has passed through the reverse gear cooler, after cooler, engine heat exchanger, possibly a fuel cooler if equipped. There is a temperature differential already. In general you don't want it "noticeably" warm to touch.

 

[TugScout]

Thanks Brian,

Makes perfect sense.

Mark



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