Should I worry about the colour of my seacocks?

[Poey50]

For those of you who know about seacocks can you cast your experienced eyes over these? Should I be concerned about the pinkness? Anything else I should do to check if these are still OK?

 

[VicS]

If the pink colour penetrates to any depth it is of concern, but not if only affecting the surface.

What is the condition of the valve bodies ?


See the relevant section on Vyv's website at https://coxengineering.sharepoint.com/Pages/BrassandBronze.aspx

 

[Heckler]

View attachment 61612

For those of you who know about seacocks can you cast your experienced eyes over these? Should I be concerned about the pinkness? Anything else I should do to check if these are still OK?

Vics has got it, Ive changed a couple, just out of curiosity I cut through them, the pink was only skin deep, although I did have a hose tail break once where the barbed bit was wafer thin and the pink went right through the wafer thin bit.
Stu

 

[vyv_cox]

That colour is absolutely standard for these seacocks, which I would guess is DZR brass. The colour of dezincified brass is a lot more red than that. You can sometimes find that there is a tiny bit of crumbly brass right at the edge of the port in the cone, filing this off should show you any significant attack. As VicS says (thanks), lots of examples on my website.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Agree with the other comments. I serviced all of my Blakes Seacocks just before launch late summer this year. Some were pink after cleaning, some were not, all went to a more yellow colour after lapping. My seacocks got wet for the first time 42 years ago and all are original.

Before Lapping

After Lapping

Images Hosted on Flickr

 

[Poey50]

Thank you all. The seacock bodies look pretty solid and I'm reassured by Vyv that the colour is usual.

 

[LittleSister]

I serviced all of my Blakes Seacocks just before launch late summer this year. Some were pink after cleaning, some were not, all went to a more yellow colour after lapping. My seacocks got wet for the first time 42 years ago and all are original.

Before Lapping

After Lapping

Images Hosted on Flickr

Those photos are near identical to what I had before and after lapping my (somewhat younger, but far from new) Blakes seacocks.

 

[MM5AHO]

Mine are same age as Blowing old boots, and look about the same too before and after lapping. I use automotive valve grinding paste, then wipe well then rinse well after that.

 

[Kukri]

The surface dezincification may be characteristic of DZR brass.

 

[Tranona]

The surface dezincification may be characteristic of DZR brass.

No. Happens with Bronze as well. Got the same on my 1963 Rowe seacocks (similar design to Blakes. Lapping in removes it, so just surface discolouration.

 

[Moonbeam]

View attachment 61612

For those of you who know about seacocks can you cast your experienced eyes over these? Should I be concerned about the pinkness? Anything else I should do to check if these are still OK?

Is the lower seacock handle in the picture meant to be that shape or has someone gorilla'd it due to seizing? I know I've been guilty of putting a bit of 'shape' into mine before realising it's time to service them!

 

[Poey50]

Is the lower seacock handle in the picture meant to be that shape or has someone gorilla'd it due to seizing? I know I've been guilty of putting a bit of 'shape' into mine before realising it's time to service them!

It's the inlet for the heads and in a bit of a cramped spot so someone bent the handle to make it fit better. Not a problem.

 

[Tim O]

When it comes to boats I have a blanket policy of worrying about everything.....it saves having to make decisions!

 

[Sandy]

If you are worried about them then change them, simple.

Changed all the sea cocks in my last boat and it was not that expensive and very easy to do.

Current boat has plastic sea cocks, which will have their own problems, but I prefer them.

 

[Poey50]

If you are worried about them then change them, simple.

It may be simple but is it necessary? In my case, no. See #4.

 

[Sandy]

It may be simple but is it necessary? In my case, no. See #4.

Depends if you can't sleep with that nagging doubt at the back of your mind.