Stuffing box wrench

S

Scuba Too

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 25, 2016
Messages
272
Fluid Motion Model
C-30 CB
Vessel Name
Blue Honu
MMSI Number
367783950
The stuffing box on the 2017 R29 with generator is located under the generator shelf. As a result there's not much working room. I tried the short handle pipe wrenches recommended on another post but they were still a bit long and the head of the wrench didn't seem to get a good grip so there's concern over striping the nut. I ran across some cool wrenches made by York Design (http://yorkdesignandfab.com/) specific for stuffing boxes - short handle and hexagonal fit on 4 sides (less the opening of course). I had measured the nut and was confident that it was 2.5". But then I received them (bought off Amazon) and of course it was undersized - not the wrenches fault as it does measure 2.5" across. I'm planning on ordering the next size up which is 2.75" but a little concerned it may be oversized. Does anyone know the size of the nuts on the stuffing box?
 
The stuffing box nut should be closer to 2-9/16" as I measured on my 2020 R-29 CB with the Volvo Penta D4-320HP. Suggest you try the BUCK ALGONQUIN packing box wrench (relatively short handle) at Fisheries Supply; https://www.fisheriessupply.com/buck-al ... x-wrenches. Priced at $47.

Marc Doyle
Port Ludlow, WA
2020 R-29 CB / Puffin
 
I bought a 2 1/2” crow’s foot wrench and used a dremel tool to grind a small amount from the face. Works well.

Gordon
 
Scuba Too":216oca7m said:
The stuffing box on the 2017 R29 with generator is located under the generator shelf. As a result there's not much working room. I tried the short handle pipe wrenches recommended on another post but they were still a bit long and the head of the wrench didn't seem to get a good grip so there's concern over striping the nut. I ran across some cool wrenches made by York Design (http://yorkdesignandfab.com/) specific for stuffing boxes - short handle and hexagonal fit on 4 sides (less the opening of course). I had measured the nut and was confident that it was 2.5". But then I received them (bought off Amazon) and of course it was undersized - not the wrenches fault as it does measure 2.5" across. I'm planning on ordering the next size up which is 2.75" but a little concerned it may be oversized. Does anyone know the size of the nuts on the stuffing box?
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Hello,

I would agree with Gordon in the comment above, while in FL working a rendezvous I was trying to adjusts Gordon's packing gland but was running into the same issue where the generator tray is slightly in the way. Depending on how its positioned you maybe able to trim the wood tray but I personally like the idea of getting the crows foot, grinding down slightly to adjust the packing gland. Hope this helps!!

Thanks,
 
Kevin, just to finish that story. The reason you and I were unable to adjust the packing nut on my R-29 was discovered when I finally bit the bullet, pulled the shaft, and removed the nut, with Dan McClanahan’s help. (Full disclosure: Dan did all the heavy lifting). We found that the threads on the nut had been damaged, preventing any adjustment beyond the point it was when I purchased the boat from the previous owner two years earlier. I ordered a replacement packing nut/jam nut combination from Marine Hardware. They initially sent the wrong size, but shipped out the correct one within a couple days of discovering their error.

The new nut came with packing material already installed. We spun the new nut assembly on, reinstalled the shaft, and buttoned things up. I’m finally able to adjust the packing nut properly, and using the crow’s foot wrench it’s relatively easy to do.

Gordon
 
I also have a 2017 R29LE with Generator. I bought the Rigid E110 offset hex wrenches 9.5 in as recommended in "As the Prop turns" Spring Maintenance by Tim Bates. Will these not fit? I haven't had a chance to try them due to covid restrictions where the boat is stored for the winter. Thanks
 
Yes those wrenches just fit on my 2015 29S. It took a few tries and different angles but they did the job. And no bloody knuckles unlike many other chores.
 
Before I go and spend another $60 at Fisheries, can anybody confirm that the D4-300 in the R31-CB also has a 2-9/16" packing nut size?

I suspect that the R-31 has enough room for the Rigid, but I'm trying to keep my toolbox relatively small and those things are *huge*!
 
I purchased 2 of these. https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=htt ... AdAAAAABAD

I fit the wrench to the packing nut snugged it up and measured the opening. I then drilled and tapped then installed a 1/4 20 bolt to the wrench jaw to hold the opening in this exact dimension. I repeated this procedure for the packing locking nut. It is a different dimension. This makes the wrench hold the dimension better. After locking the wrench to the proper dimension I filed the contact surface so it easily fit the two nuts. These wrenches are light and easily stored. When cruising the rivers last fall a R31 owner was at the marina we stoped at. His packing was leaking badly along with a failed bilge pump. I volunteered to help him. With some adjustment to my packing wrenches ( R31 larger packing gland then my C26 ) The wrenches worked perfectly with plenty of room. The bilge pump replacement was not as easy !!!!
 
Confirming that the Rigid E110 which Tim featured in ATPT last year fits the D4 packing box nuts in the R31. These wrenches are available on Amazon for $29.97 and work well.
 
Dubs":3uolu5bw said:
Confirming that the Rigid E110 which Tim featured in ATPT last year fits the D4 packing box nuts in the R31. These wrenches are available on Amazon for $29.97 and work well.
Click to expand...

Yes, but those are *big* wrenches 🙂
 
FlyMeAway":37zha8u3 said:
Dubs":37zha8u3 said:
Confirming that the Rigid E110 which Tim featured in ATPT last year fits the D4 packing box nuts in the R31. These wrenches are available on Amazon for $29.97 and work well.
Click to expand...

Yes, but those are *big* wrenches 🙂
Click to expand...


The wrenches that I described in a previous post are light compact and once adjusted to correct packing nut dimension work flawlessly. I did my third packing adjustment (600 hrs) yesterday which took less than 5 minutes. I keep the packing nut and lock nut threads covered with anti-corrosion grease. Install the wrenches, a quick tap with a ball peen hammer loosens the lock nut. I moved the packing nut 1/16 th of a turn which was enough for proper adjustment. Snug the locking nut back up faced to the packing nut. Another quick tap with the hammer. ( always packing up the other nut with the wrench) These inexpensive light weight wrenches if properly set up work flawlessly in tight quarters.

gallery2.php?g2_itemId=78313
Veiwing the wrenches you will see the two bolts installed in each wrench. The original design is one bolt. The key to flawless use of these wrenches is to properly size the wrench then drill and tap a second place for a bolt /nut. This insures the jaw adjustment will not move and the wrench does not slip off the nut.

I carry a large assortment of tools on board. Weight is always an issue. Carrying two big pipe wrenches that are awkward to use in tight places was not an option for me. I will say I watched a fellow looper use the E110 on a R29S, after multiple positions and angles, jaws slipping off the nut surfaces, he was able to get the task at hand completed. The E110 do work but because of the limited space on that boat smaller more compact wrenches would make the task quicker and easier.
 
I bought 2 9/16" crows feet wrenches from Grainger. Good news is that the offset looks good for clearing the generator shelf. Bad news is that the nut is bigger than 2 9/16"! Feel like I'm sneaking up on it - first 2 1/2, next 2 9/16 and next will be 2 5/8.
 
This is the wrench you need to break the lock nut free. You might need to attach a breaker bar to the handle of it if the lock nut is corroded tight. This wrench opens to 2-5/8":

https://www.amazon.com/RIDGID-31305-Wre ... B0009W9BT0

Also, you need to get this plumbing slip wrench to place on the adjusting packing nut to hold it in place while you break the lock nut free:

https://www.amazon.com/Adjustable-Wrenc ... lip+wrench

After the lock nut is free, use the slip wrench to make very, very small adjustments to the packing nut to get the right drip rate.
 
it4llc said:
I needed to adjust the packing gland on our boat for the first time and found this wrench at Ace: https://www.acehardware.com/departments/plumbing/plumbing-tools/plumbing-wrenches/2010572. It was $20 after my Ace Rewards coupon and has a lifetime warranty. It also has a locking nut on it to keep the same width. It worked well for the adjustment, although the handle is short to you don't get as much leverage.
Click to expand...
Just tried to adjust for the first time on my 2025 R29 with generator, and couldn’t do it with the Rigid wrenches from the Ranger Tugs Spring Maintenance video, for the reason discussed in this thread- the generator shelf is in the way of the wrench handle on the lock nut. I guess I’ll try this wrench from Ace unless anyone else has any other updates? Also- did you buy 2 of these? I already bought the Rigid wrenches, so maybe I could use one of them on the packing nut?
 
Haven’t done this yet, which direction are we turning these nuts?
 
Jfrano said:
Haven’t done this yet, which direction are we turning these nuts?
Click to expand...
The Ranger Tug spring maintenance video does a good job of describing what to do with the stuffing box. It's discussed at 16:31 on the video.

Here's the link:
 
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