Seacocks

[PeteCooper]

I am in the process of replacing a seacock on the waste pipe from my galley. The old one has what appears to be PTFE tape on the threads and I was woindering if this is necessary? Or indeed if I need to put anything on the threads or just bolt the whole thing up tight. I was also wondering if I should strip the new seacock, and apply grease to all it's working parts? All help gratefully received.

 

[tillergirl]

What sort of seacock are we talking about - bronze dismantlable 'Blakes' type, ball or gate. I don't think ball valves dismantle, gates can be but have no place on a boat really (yes I got two) since they can jam. Blakes type should be dismantled and greased annually. The PTFE tape is there to ensure water tight threads which is not a bad idea but I guess for everyone with tape there are two without.

 

[PeteCooper]

It is a ball type valve, and having looked at in more detail I see that it would be impossible to disassemble it. It does seem to have some grease in it already. So you would suggest I use PTFE tape for the assembly, and also for where the spigot screws in to the seacock?

 

[Talbot]

PTFE tape is good for water joints. Loctite sealant is better and is also good for fuel connections, but probably only available from a motor factors.

 

[Sea Devil]

For what its worth I always put PFTE tape on the assembly - cannot do any harm and probably makes a tighter joint.

As for stripping down and greasing there is always the problem that grease can go off over the years and harden up...

The sea cocks I use regularly never seem to have a problem - the ones that are there in case of a pipe failure so are never normally operate do seem to need re-newing more often... Use it or loose it,,,

 

[tillergirl]

Yes I would.

 

[Shakey]

I would use PTFE, it only costs 30/40p a roll from a plumbers merchants, it makes a tighter seal and because it's teflon it makes the nut easier to undo in future.

You only need a few turns of tape if that.

Remember to apply the tape on the thread in the right direction ie. clockwise for a normal thread. This stops the tape unwinding as you tighten the nut.

Hope this helps.