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Packing the rudder post stuffing box

sailmilagros

Paul Wernquist
Can anyone please advise how to get to the rudderpost stuffing box to re-pack it, on a 1980 M-382. Mine continuously leaks. How do you get past the round steering disk(quadrant?). Thanks in advance.
 
To repack the rudder post, you must remove the quadrant first. It's not difficult if you take your time and mark the position of everything. The next task is to remove the large nut at the top of the post which may or may not come off with ease. Pull out the old packing and replace with new alternating the joints of the packing. Then put everything back together.
 
On my 1980 M-382 the large packing nut in question was locked in place with a large ring of epoxy or resin. It required grinding the filler away completely in order to remove the packing nut. I used a tool & die grinder which was small enough to work in the rudder-post area. Good luck it is not an easy job.

 
On my '78 382, I too was having a leaky rudder post. I did not have to remove the quandrant. I heated the nut, tapped on it and with a good bit of muscle and large channel locks was able to get the huge nut off. I packed it with a silicone flax. Tighten everything up again. That was Oct 96. Since I've had some dripping, so I tighten it up some more. I'll let you know this season what gives, but I have a funny feeling it will continue to leak, therefore, I'll pull it back out and replace with regular flax.
 
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