Talk with an old timer about pump packing changed my mind

I was swapping out packing on a 12 inch dredge last Tuesday and this guy in his 70s walked up. He said I was packing it too tight and showed me how he does it loose with a little drip. He claimed it actually lasts longer that way. Anyone else run their pump packing loose like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

wesleyflores12d ago

Ever notice the best stuff works when you stop forcing it?

aaron88012d ago

My grandpa used to run his old water pump the same way on his farm back in the day. Said a little drip meant the packing was breathing right and not burning up from heat. I swear that pump lasted longer than any new one we ever bought after.

gavin_kim12d ago

Had a buddy try that loose packing trick on his 8 inch dredge a couple years back. He was skeptical at first but said it cut his packing replacements in half that season. The drip drove him nuts for a day but he got used to it. He swore the pump ran cooler too, less drag on the shaft.