TOPIC: Packing size for 1 1/8 prop drive shaft

Looking for a little help for a leaking prop shaft and rudder seal. Looking for what size of flax rope to use for a 64 Chris Craft with a 283 and a 1 1/8 inch drive shaft. Thanks in advance.

B welcome aboard! Show us some pics of your boat, we love pics. Now for the flax rope, I'm not sure but I think 1/4" but that's purely a guess. Someone here who is much smarter on this than me can jump in. Have you checked with the Chris Craft Antique Boat Club guys yet?

Bob

I bought a roll of packing years ago and have used it for every packing job I've ever had. It's square, about 3/8" and it's covered with what looks like animal fat. It's easily "mashable" into the fitting, it's messy and it stinks...but it works great.

The trick is to mash the packing into the fitting with your thumb (at least two layers) and then work the shaft into the fitting BEFORE you try to install it. Once you get it to the point where the shaft can be stuffed into the nut, you're ready. Snug it up, don't over-tighten, and then adjust the nut to stop any/all leaks while the boat is in the water. Re-check/adjust after you've run the boat awhile.

If the boat ends up sinking, I'll deny I wrote this.

Thanks for the replies. I took it apart and measured. It is 1/4, on order.

A little late on this but most hardware stores carry packing rope. Some impregnated with a carbon substance for slipperiness(?). I was told that when you snug down the packing nut it should not be over tightened. Leave it loose enough so you get a drip of water once and a while for lubrication. When I had my Century I over tightened the nut at first and at high speed I could smell the heat.