Renewing the flax in my stuffing box

This is a picture of me working this morning, trying not to think about how I am going to separate those silly two nuts on my stuffing box.

I really don't want to do it really. Those nuts look as though they would be impossible to take apart. Washing day IS Thursday after all.

Installing this pelican hook is SOOOO much more important than taking my stuffing box apart.

Same with the new EPIRB.

And fire extinguishers......say no more.

I am beginning to run out of excuses.

Alright......might as well get this over and done with.

Clean the thread first.

"Put your backs into it lads."

At this stage the stuffing box broke loose of the rubber hose. I started using a hammer on the wrenches.

Yeah! We have lift off! They came apart!

Now to pull all the old stuffing out. There were 5 rings of this white teflon stuffing.

I put back in 3 new rings of the 3/16" teflon.

There......... all finished. That wasn't so bad was it?

Dinner anyone?