Shaft Seal - How tight is too tight.

[dprice]

Newbie owner here.  1998 MarkII model.

I replaced the shaft seal while the boat was out of the water with the GFO Gortex product.

What was in there previously was 2 rows of 1/4".

I was able to put in 3 rows of 1/4".

I tightened it.  Shaft could still be rotated by hand quite easily.

Boat was launched this past weekend and after running the engine for 30 minutes or so I check the seal and found a ring of blackened material around the shaft adjacent to the seal.  My first thought was it was burned gortex and that I had over tightened the seal.  However, the shaft log was not hot, barely warm to the touch.  

Does this sound OK ?  How to tell how tight is too tight ?

Should I loosen until I get drips and then tighten it back up ?

Thanks All.

Dave

[Ron Hill]

Dave : I believe the Gore packing is impregnate with graphit.  The same happens to me - that the black graphit come out when water is dripping.  Tighten the gland nut by hand.  If you overtighten the nut and it's so HOT you can't keep your hand on it-that's too tight.  Warm is OK.  I only use the wrench to tighten the lock nut and make all gland nut adjustments by hand, about a 1/12 of a turn at a time.  There should be NO water dripping.  APACHE #788  ;)

ronphylhill@erols.com