Stuffing box wrench size

  • April 23, 2026 7:57 PM
    Message # 13624361

    It seems that both nuts on my stuffing box are the same size, but I don’t have the right fixed wrench.

    What is their correct size?  (I think it’s about 1 7/8” )

    Thanks,

    Neil (Second Wind, #686)

  • April 26, 2026 10:30 AM
    Reply # 13624980 on 13624361

    You will likely have to measure them yourself as the sizes varied from boat to boat.  The stuffing box in Starwhite has two different size nuts.  I was able to order stuffing box wrenches on EBay. 

  • April 27, 2026 1:04 PM
    Reply # 13625373 on 13624361

    Thanks. Kevin.

    I’d like to get fixed wrenches - using an adjustable one, I measured about 1 7/8” on both nuts. I guess I should buy one and see. :-| 

  • April 28, 2026 11:34 AM
    Reply # 13625839 on 13624361

    I was aboard "Starwhite" our W28 yesterday afternoon and checked our stuffing box and the wrenches.  Sorry, I gave you wrong information previously. 

    I was thinking of the nuts on "Albatross" our other boat which are different sizes.

    The nuts on our W28's stuffing box are both 1 7/8" just like yours.  The pair of wrenches I bought on EBay are 1 7/8" & 2".  As I recall I was unable to find a pair of 1 7/8" wrenches so I ordered the mixed size pair knowing I could shim the larger one.

    I shimmed the 2" one down with a piece of scrap aluminum to get a tighter fit, although it worked ok without the shim.  It's been several years since I have needed to use them. When I repacked the stuffing box I used the Teflon packing material, it has worked well and has not needed adjustment yet... (200 hours of engine time).

    I made a mounting board for the wrenches (Blue) in the engine room.  Sorry, for the bad photo they're hidden behind some hoses.  

    Kevin 

    1 file
    Last modified: April 28, 2026 4:41 PM | Kevin Donahue
  • April 29, 2026 1:14 AM
    Reply # 13626069 on 13624361

    Thanks for the follow-up message.

    I ordered a 1 7/8” wrench from Home Depot ($40 !) - should be here in a few days

    I’ll try the shim trick on a 2” wrench I have from my previous boat.

    Cheers,

    Neil

  • May 31, 2026 9:09 AM
    Reply # 13637633 on 13624361

    Update - FWIW

    I got a pair of nice TEKTON wrenches on Amazon: 1 7/8” and 2”

    They fit my forward and aft stuffing box nuts, respectively.

    Being shorter than other wrenches this size, they work well in the laterally confined space.

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