Hose connector stuck in seacock

doughnut

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I've taken out the sea toilet and am replacing it with a portapotti. The toilet is out, the pipes are removed and all I need to do is remove the hose connectors from the seacocks and replace them with blanking plugs. The inlet hose connector unscrewed easily, no problem. The outlet hose connector (1.5 inch) is solidly jammed in. I've spent about 90 minutes trying everything to budge it, but came away from the boat because I was getting tempted to get the big hammer out and I might have some regrets later about that.

Anyone got any tips on how to loosen it? I guess the alternative is to try to blank the outlet hose connector, or even just attach a long bit of pipe leading to a high point.

I didn't want to but I did try to remove the seacock from the skin fitting for 10 mins but thats stuck as well. I'm ok with that being stuck as long as I can blank things at the hose connector end.
 

VicS

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Heat is the usual way forward,

Tip a kettle full of boiling water over it.

Also try soaking it in a good release oil such as Plus gas ( A release oil, not WD40)
 

doughnut

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Thanks for these answers. The whole thing is metal, so I will try some boiling water when I get there next weekend. And I will pick up some plusgas to soak it in for the week after.
 

pete

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Before you start find suitable spanners,stilsons or water pump pliers to get a good hold of both fittings and set them to the right size but don't apply them yet.

Apply wet rags under the seacock to prevent sending to much heat into the skin fitting and hull.

Heat the seacock's socket not the hose tail with a sensible amount of heat using a blow lamp (if space allows) or a heat gun, once hot speed is very important as it will not stay hot long.

I think the manufacturers of my boat had coated the threads with epoxy to enable them to leave the valve handle in an accessible position.

Pete
 

rob2

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I assume the boat is out of the water at the moment? Have a look up into the skin fitting, some have a couple of pegs moulded into them so that a tool can be inserted from beneath to hold them still while work is done on the inner end. If you have these pegs, it would be worthwhile to use them so that you don't risk breaking the seal to the hull. Beyond that, all you can do is to apply heat, lubrication and brute force. Unfortunately, you must accept that in the worst case scenario you may have to replace the hull fitting. Once you've accepted that, ask your self why you want to keep it, perhaps the most sensible or cost effective solution is to remove it and blank off the hole permanently.

So many jobs are quicker and easier if you go the "drastic" route rather than tinker about on the edges.

Rob.
 

doughnut

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Thanks again for the tips. Hopefully plusgas and heating will do the job. The boat is out of the water but I don't see any pegs to hold on to from outside - the fittings are probably very old.

As you say, I could probably be well on the way to blanking the hole permanently if thats what I'd set out to do at the start of the weekend. I've never fibreglassed anything so I'm a bit wary of my first attempt being below the waterline - maybe next year I will give it a go.
 

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