Stuffing box .150 cable run with or without Teflon tube?

[Mike Caruso]

Stuffing box .150 cable run with or without Teflon tube?

OK Folk's,

I am looking for people who have run stuffing boxes each way for years or a lot of run time.

I would like to know why I should run the .150" cable on Teflon?

What clearance to use if just running in hard brass?

What clearance to use if just running in hard brass with Teflon?

If I can get the Teflon to transfer to the cable then I would have the best Teflon riding on Teflon.

Just like auto/trk engines which use a rear main crankshaft seal 1 pc. made of Teflon and does not have garder spring loading it like old style seals this one must be install DRY no oil, so the Teflon will transfer to crankshaft. If it has oil on the crank or seal it will leak until replaced and installed correctly DRY.

Even if I can prep the cable by spinning it in Teflon tube but tight to make it transfer and then install in the boat.

Any info will be greatly appreciated.

Mike

[MAMBA2200]

I use a mercury grease for jet pumps on my flexshaft because it has a high teflon content to it works great i have had great luck using this grease its called 2-4-C

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[BHChieftain]

I have run boats both with and without tubing and I don't see any difference. I don't get any water intrusion either way. One thing you might consider-- if you want some flexiblity in what diameter flexdrive to use-- say you want the option of running either a .150 or a .187 flex, then use a 1/4" stuffing tube + teflon liner for the 150 cable, then you can remove the liner and use the 187 cable.


I had recently asked what size stuffing tube to use with/without tubing, and somebody pointed me to this infofrom the OSE site:

Suggested stuffing tube sizes when used "WITH" Teflon tubing:
3/16" brass for Octura .098 Teflon tubing.
7/32" brass for Octura .130 Teflon tubing.
1/4" brass for Octura .150 Teflon tubing.
9/32 brass for Octura .187 Teflon tubing.
11/32 brass for Octura .250 Teflon tubing.

Suggested stuffing tube sizes when used "WITH NO" Teflon tubing:
5/32" brass for .098 Flex Cable.
3/16" brass for .130 Flex Cable.
7/32" brass for .150 Flex Cable.
1/4" brass for .187 Flex Cable.
5/16" brass for .250 Flex Cable

Chief

[Mike Caruso]

Thanks Chief,
I saw that read it a while ago and forgot about it. It's tough getting older HA.

Thanks MAMBA2200,
If you like the Mercury stuff try TX-7 out of Texas it has a superior additive package.
Carl Benton owns the place an is an old friend. Made his money Coating Oil Well drill bits or heads. And coating blades for cutting polyester cloth in the clothes making factories. Tens timnes the life of the cutters when coated. Since he was always a Gear Head he started coating engine piston tops, skirts bearings etc. Carl started Calico with Harold Elliot who was the head engine man for Blue Max racing back in the day he took in a partner. Well the partnership dissolved and today you will see adds for Calico and Elliot coating. Both are Carls process. Now Harold Elliot was also the engine builder for Tim Richman.
A LITTLE HISTORY

[bob_t]

Never thought of using Mercury Marine (or Quicksilver) 2-4-C ... I've got several tubes of that laying around. I also have some Maxima waterproof synthetic grease that I use on my dirtbikes, but not sure how compatible that would be with the teflon liners.

[MAMBA2200]

The 2-4-c works amazing on these boats i have never had a issue while using this

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[siberianhusky]

http://www2.dupont.com/Consumer_Lubricants/en_US/products/marine_waterproof_grease.html

Marine teflon grease, cut with a bit of 80/90 outboard gear oil to a mayo consistency, stays in place for a half days running, doesn't emulsify.
Personally not a fan of teflon tube, I don't believe it does anything better than plain brass and is just one more thing that needs attention, when it's new I think it's fine, once it starts wearing little strings peel off the inside of the tube, this can grab the flex and start the heat/bind cycle which ends badly.
I just think plain brass is a simpler solution, once it's done it's done, nothing more to think about.
Back in the early 80's when we started using flex cables it was plain brass tubes only, pull the shaft between runs and hose it down with WD-40 for lube. Then guys started using STP, Rislone and just about anything else you could imagine, first shaft oiler I saw was using straight castor oil. Not sure how much difference what you use actually is just as long as there is some kind of lube in there for every run and the teflon if you use it is in good shape.

[Chilli]

I used teflon with my first couple boats. No noticable difference in performance on a sport boat. Havent used it in a years. It's just one more thing to purchase and worry about.

I'm a 2-4-C fan also. Been using the same tube for three years now and not even half way through the tube.