How to grease the prop shaft ?

[Tonali99]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

They were common in the Panhandle of Fl on shrimp boats in the 70’s.
I believe also most had white metal cutless bearing too, and as long as they were kept greased they lasted pretty much indefinitely.
I don’t know if a modern “rubber” Cutless would last with grease?

I personaly would not put any petroleum product on rubber. Maybe if it's synthetic, but probably not.
Then again, how long do you think it'll last underwater at (any) speed?

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by Lancerbye

As Lepke stated. You have a dry stuffing box. My old commercial fishing boat had a 1/8 npt type plug on the top of the housing. That was to fit a grease zerk to add grease to the packing. Since this was located under a cover in a fish hold normally covered with ice, I ran a 1/4 in. tubing up into the wheelhouse permanently attached to a grease gun. Easy to give it a few shots from time to time.

Excellent! I may add a grease port to my packing gland next haul out.

Last year I pulled the shaft, 50 mm, cleaned and polished it with crocus cloth. I found a large high speed flap wheel and polished the bore of the gland. I repacked using graphite rope packing coated in waterproof grease. This was smooth and easy running with zero leakage all season. Our shaft only runs 450 rpm max so heating is not an issue.

[slug]

Originally Posted by wantacruise

I have owned this boat about two years and the prop shaft has not been greased and I just noticed it's squeaking a little when I turn the propeller shaft does that mean I am way overdue for greasing the shaft?
How do I do that do I disconnect it at the transmission and slide it out?
I'm a real newbie on this.
I am kind of concerned I'm gonna disturb the seal on the stuffing box.
Please help !
Gary

Normally you have a grease cup or nipple on the stuffing box fitting

http://coxeng.co.uk/stern-gear/stern-glands/

Doesn’t take much grease