COMPRESSION PACKING

Engineering Data/FAQs

Installation Instructions for Pump Packing

1. Remove all the old packing with packing hooks, being careful not to damage the shaft/sleeve. This means all rings, even the lantern ring and the rings below the lantern. Clean the stuffing box and examine the shaft/sleeve. If scored or deeply grooved, replace worn parts.
   
   
2. Measure and record shaft diameter, stuffing box bore and box depth. To determine the correct packing size, measure the diameter of the shaft and the stuffing box bore. Subtract the shaft diameter from the bore diameter and divide the difference by two. This is the required cross-sectional size.
   
   
3. Always cut the packing into individual rings. Never wind the packing into a coil in the stuffing box. Rings should be cut with a butt joint. Cut rings by using a mandrel with the same diameter as the shaft in the stuffing box area. If there is no wear, rings can be cut on the shaft outside the stuffing box.
   
   Hold the packing tightly on the mandrel, but do not stretch excessively. Cut the ring and insert it into the stuffing box, making certain that it fits the packing space properly. Each additional ring can be cut in the same manner.
   
   
4. Install one ring at a time. Make sure it is clean, and has not picked up any dirt in handling. Lubricate the I.D. of each ring lightly. Stare one end and then the other, butted closely. Work around circumference from either or both directions. Joints of successive rings should be staggered and kept at least 90° apart. Each individual ring should be firmly seated with a tamping tool. When enough rings have been individually seated so that the nose of the gland follower will reach them, individual tamping should be supplemented by the gland.
   
   
5. If a lantern ring is provided, make sure the lantern ring is installed under the pipe tap hole.
6. After the last ring is installed, bring the follower down on the packing and finger-tighten the gland nuts. Do not jam the packing by excessive gland loading. Start pump, and tighten the bolts until leakage is decreased to a tolerable minimum. Make sure gland bolts are tightened evenly. Stopping leakage entirely at this point will cause the packing to burn up.
   
   
7. Allow packing to leak freely upon startup after repack. Gradually reducing leakage during the first hour of operation will result in a better seal over a longer period of time. Tighten the gland nuts one flat at a time until the desired leakage is obtained, and the pump is running cool.

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