Article: A versatile stuffing-box packing: Duramax's new Ultra-X reduces shaft wear and leakage.(Product roundup)

A stuffing box has two basic functions: It keeps the propeller shaft or rudder shaft centered, and then its "stuffing" or packing material, closes off the gap between the box and the shaft to all but a few drips, preventing the ocean from turning your engine room into, first, a swimming pool and then a death trap.

Most packing used in a stuffing box requires some checking; otherwise a lot of unfortunate things can happen to material surrounding a spinning metal shaft, such as losing its shape, wearing out, turning brittle and becoming hard. Then you'll have a lot more water going by the stuffing box than you anticipated, and maybe a scored shaft, as well.

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

 
 
Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!