Stuffing box tube

[Dominic]

Hi, I bought an aeromarine stuffing box tube last week and it has a reduced diameter at one end. The reduced section is about 10mm long. Just wondering what this is for and whether it should be at the engine end or prop end.

Thanks,
Dominic

[Dominic]

Here is a picture showing the reduced diameter of the brass tube.

Any ideas on which end this should be at?

[RCUK John]

It fits into the skeg - the diameter acts as the location into the skeg's bushing and also stops the teflon liner from leaving the casing.
The skeg is the main bearing support for the prop.