Cleaning out stuffing tubes ?

[zooma]

Well, I thought I had been doing this just right. I have been using pipe cleaners that are dampened with denatured alcohol. Then I re-grease with ProBoat grease in a tube. Today I was doing some post-race maintenance and, when I pulled a couple of shafts, they were gunked up with grease and lint from the pipe cleaners. Also, wads of lint collected where the stinger meets the stuffing tube. (TFL stingers with Teflon liners on Pursuit boats). I have been using craft-store pipe cleaners because the smoke-shop variety are too short.

Does anybody have a better method?

[fweasel]

Personally, I use the cheap dollar store pipe cleaners with no alcohol or cleaner. I pull them through my fingers a few times beforehand to remove any loose fibers, and bend about half the length into a kinked shape. I thread them in from the motor side, and out the back of the boat. When the first bits makes its way through the strut, I bend a crank handle shape into it and spin in in circles as I pull the remaining kinked length through the rest of the tube. Occasionally I see a stray fiber or two on a flexshaft the next time out, but never anything worrisome. Sounds like maybe you need to pick a new supplier if you're getting that kind of lint build-up.

[Fluid]

I almost never cleaned out my stuffing tubes, and they remain clean. I do use gear oil instead of grease, and no Teflon liner. The few times I do clean out the tubes, I use a wad of twisted paper towel pushed through with the flex cable. Works great and done right leaves no residue.



.

[Nevs]

I have never cleaned a stuffing. There is no reason when I use Liqui Moly...

[Keagan-Z06]

WD40, cloth over the mouth of the tube on the inside, spray from the outside and let drain into rag.

[Nevs]

If you experience small amounts of water comming trough your drive, ( short strut). Liqui Mole is great. "No" friction..But good sealing.

[ray schrauwen]

I almost never cleaned out my stuffing tubes, and they remain clean. I do use gear oil instead of grease, and no Teflon liner. The few times I do clean out the tubes, I use a wad of twisted paper towel pushed through with the flex cable. Works great and done right leaves no residue.



.

me too

[zooma]

I almost never cleaned out my stuffing tubes, and they remain clean. I do use gear oil instead of grease, and no Teflon liner. The few times I do clean out the tubes, I use a wad of twisted paper towel pushed through with the flex cable. Works great and done right leaves no residue.



.

Do you apply the gear oil to the whole shaft, or just the solid part that rides in the bushing?

[zooma]

If you experience small amounts of water comming trough your drive, ( short strut). Liqui Mole is great. "No" friction..But good sealing.

What grade of Liqui Moly? Seems to come in a bazillion varieties.

[Nevs]

https://www.amazon.de/Liqui-Moly-3506-Bootsfett-400/dp/B00295JXEI?th=1

[zooma]

https://www.amazon.de/Liqui-Moly-350...00295JXEI?th=1

Can't find it in USA. Any chance that this is a good substitute?

https://www.amazon.com/Liqui-Moly-20...+marine+grease

[dasboata]

Well, I thought I had been doing this just right. I have been using pipe cleaners that are dampened with denatured alcohol. Then I re-grease with ProBoat grease in a tube. Today I was doing some post-race maintenance and, when I pulled a couple of shafts, they were gunked up with grease and lint from the pipe cleaners. Also, wads of lint collected where the stinger meets the stuffing tube. (TFL stingers with Teflon liners on Pursuit boats). I have been using craft-store pipe cleaners because the smoke-shop variety are too short.

Does anybody have a better method?

just blow some carb or brake cleaned threw the tube !!!

[rdcracer]

I found this but cant find where to buy. I am contacting Liqui Moly to see if they can list distributors. I tried the local marine stores in Tampa with no luck. https://www.liqui-moly.eu/liquimoly/...3Fopendocument

[rdcracer]

I contacted Liqui Molly and someone named Scott responded and will let me know where to get the marine grease in the US next week. I will post what he sends.

[zooma]

I contacted Liqui Molly and someone named Scott responded and will let me know where to get the marine grease in the US next week. I will post what he sends.

great