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From: Philip Lange (no email)
Date: Wed Jan 02 2008 - 14:58:21 EST
The need for a drip on conventionally lubricated flax packing is to let
the operator know that the maximum allowable pressure of the packing
against the shaft has been obtained. It also serves in a small way to
carry away the heat generated by friction of the packing against the
rotating shaft, carry away the degenerating packing material and in a small
way act as a lubricant. You can not tighten conventional lubricated flax
packing tight enough to stop the drip without excessive friction and the
resulting heat build up. The increase temperature also evaporates the
volatile part of the lubricant and dries out the packing.
This is not the case with Teflon (PTFE) impregnated flax packing. The
coefficient of friction between the Teflon and SS Shaft is so low little
heat is generated and a water-tight seal can be obtained.
Why I Prefer Simple Packing Over A Complex Mechanical Seal -
I once worked with large volume pumps that had mechanical seals on them. It
was great not to have to go around the engine room tweaking the stuffing
boxes. One night while on watch one of the seals had a catastrophic
failure. No warning, no noise, no small drip or other sign that failure was
imminent. The engine room flooded.
I would not have one of these mechanical seals on anything that my life or
property depended upon.
I bought my Teflon packing at a shrimp boat supply house. Cost me a couple
of bucks for a few feet of it.
I realize there are many who have bought the advertising and spent
money for a complex system that does the same job as a couple of bucks
worth of packing. I feel your pain.
Philip
Philip & Marilyn Lange
AE4OV & KD4JRC,
ORYOKI
Witness 35 Catamaran (sail drives UGH!!)
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