Need to find a nut for a benny seacock lever , can anyone help please?

[Robin]

We have a number of lever operated stainless steel ball valve seacocks on our1988 oceanis 36CC which have a 1/4 turn on/off lever, which has an oblong hole in the valve end that is simply fitted over the spindle and held in place by a nut. For some reson one of these seacocks had a missing lever when we bought the boat. I have found another lever that fits by buying new valve in the local DIY store, but the spindle nut on that is a completely different size or thread from the one on the boat. I have tried M8 and M10 and 3/8 and 5/16 nuts , none of which work. it looks like about 9mm but no such thing exists here in the USA, even at the specialist bolt and nut stores.

DOES anyone perchance have an old 3/4 inch Benny ball valve that could maybe send me the lever nut ( postage to us in Florida refunded of course) Replacing the entire seacock with a completely new one is an obvious solution but would require a lift out to do it. In the meantime we can operate the valve (on a heads compartment sink drain) just fine but the lever would fall off into the bilges if left in place so is simply kept handy nearby just in case it should be needed. A silly little job on the 'to do list' but one that I would love to cross off as done....

 

[PCUK]

How about just sticking it on with a big dollop of Sikaflex? As long as it's not pulled sideways it will never come off.

 

[Robin]

How about just sticking it on with a big dollop of Sikaflex? As long as it's not pulled sideways it will never come off.

Have it in place held by a cross threaded nut pro-tem but someone somewhere will have replaced a benny lever valve and still have the old one kicking around that will have the correct nut/lever just waiting to have a Florida vacation

 

[jfm]

I don't know what size thread you have - you'd need to measure it. Some ideas:

1. M9 does exist, though isn't widely used. The standard pitch is 1.25. I just looked and there are plenty on US eBay at $3 sort of prices

2. M8 and 10 come in different pitches fromt he standard pitch, though it would be surplising if the fine pitches were used in this application. You could see just by looking whether the pitch is particularly fine

3. If you find a thread that is close then you could run a die down your seacock thread to "adjust" the thread you already have. Die would be $3 off eBay

4. As regards changing the whole ball valve, if you end up needing to do that, there is a device you can buy like a plastic mushroom, that allows you to change the valve (as opposed to the skin fitting of course) without hauling the boat out. You open the valve briefly and stuff it down the hole, with only a pint of water coming in the boat. Then you can change the ball valve, then remove the device. Overall you get a couple of pints or so of water in the boat but no more. Unfortunately I cannot remember the name of it sorry. I seem to remember seeing it on youtube. I've listed this as #4 because I don't really like this idea At least, have a rubber bung close at hand!

 

[Vara]

Have successfully changed two valves while in the water, just using a wooden plug, key is preparation, all bits ready and to hand, first one was a bit of a heart stopper but second was easier, same principal as cleaning log impeller.

Used a paste thread sealant, easier than PTFE tape.

 

[Robin]

I'm chicken at the idea of removing the valve and finding the new valve doesn't fit the skin fitting, so it will be left until next haul out and we will leave it as is, useable with care.

Thanks to all

 

[the lloyds]

I'm chicken at the idea of removing the valve and finding the new valve doesn't fit the skin fitting, so it will be left until next haul out and we will leave it as is, useable with care.

Thanks to all

I think I have one

I have just removed all my skin fittings asnd have several 3/4 inch valves in junk pile. Not abeneteau but I think it is the same stuff

Happy to post you the nut

I can photo it next week first if you like

Pm me your private email and address and I will send pic then nut

 

[Robin]

I think I have one

I have just removed all my skin fittings asnd have several 3/4 inch valves in junk pile. Not abeneteau but I think it is the same stuff

Happy to post you the nut

I can photo it next week first if you like

Pm me your private email and address and I will send pic then nut

Thank you, very much appreciated, I will send my address by PM. It is a thin nut (called I think a half nut like used for locking nut on tappet adjuster on car) the material doesn't matter it is a dry place on the boat but I want to make sure the lever doesn't fall off if someone shuts the valve not knowing to take care