Marelon Y Valves.

[alanporter]

Does anyone know how to stop Marelon Y valves from sticking ? I have two such valves in my toilet and holding tank system and, in spite of stripping and cleaning, and lubricating with either grease or silicone, they rapidly become very stiff or even seize completely. I have broken the handles twice in the past few years.

<hr width=100% size=1>Alan Porter

 

[MainlySteam]

We have the same valves but we have not any real trouble with them, apart from them occasionally getting tight, but never broken one (yet) - I try to remember to exercise them. I haven't got the answer but maybe someone may comment on the following.

I have a feeling that they should not be lubricated and we have never done so - I don't know if Forespar make any recommendation or not. Plastics are normally not very good with lubricants, even inert ones, and do not normally need them. As I say, I do not know the situation on that with Marelon, but maybe someone can comment

John

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[chas]

I have one marlon seacock. The instructions with it said it should be greased twice a season but I cannot remember the type of grease recommended. It came from ASAP so they might be able to help.

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[MainlySteam]

Hi Chas - after reading your post I thought I would have a look on the Forespar internet site. Unfortunately in their Technical Tips on one page the seacocks should be lubricated and on another they say that generally they don't need it! So I guess one can say the lubrication doesn't hurt.

For the Y Valves I am not sure what is inside their new model but the old model, from memory because it is a long time since I have had one apart, there is just a flat disc with an arc cut out of it which short circuits across two of the three ports in each position. In my experience, some time ago now because I have not had a problem in recent years, they would stick because of the build up of salts (not sea salt but pee salt or whatever) on the inside surface.

What we have been doing for about 5-6 years now is each time we leave the boat we pump a bowl full of fresh water through the discharge side of the toilet to the sea with a little household bleach in it - we don't pump the pipework dry just pump it through so the pipes are left full as far as the antisiphon loop (which means in our case that the Y Valves are also flushed with it). I have wondered if this has been the reason we have not experienced any bad sticking with the valves in recent years. Doing this was recommended by a boatbuilder (his wife actually) and despite claims seen many times that bleaches, even in moderation, will destroy the toilet valve seals, etc that has not been our experience. The boat gets used for at least 2 days every week plus for 2- 4 week cruises every now and again.

John

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[Oldhand]

Not much help, but had a boat for over 10 years fitted with Marelon seacocks, they never needed lubricating and worked fine throughout without any mainteneance apart from cleaning up inside the skin fitting. I wonder if calcium scale is causing a probelm, if so put some vinegar down your loo when you leave the boat, it prevents any scale build up.

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