Servicing Seacocks

[syd]

Sorry if this has been covered before, I could'nt find it in archives.

I have two Huge seacocks (5" diam) supplying my engines. Both are very stiff to open and close. How can I free these up ?

Syd

 

[VicS]

A tapered cone seacock or some other type of valve?

 

[syd]

I believe thay are ball valves

 

[sailorman]

I believe thay are ball valves

you had better mention that on your double post too

 

[prv]

Not sure there's really much you can do with ball valves. They're not adjustable, and the bearing surfaces should be teflon so not requiring additional lubrication. They do get stiffer in bigger sizes (and 5" sounds massive - more like a small ship than a boat!) as the bearing surface gets bigger so whatever friction there is gets multiplied. Exercising them regularly to prevent growth on the ball is recommended. Make sure the handle's in good nick so that it will withstand the necessary closing force.

Pete

 

[vyv_cox]

Ball valves often have plastic seats. Sounds like they have swelled on immersion in water, which all plastics do to some extent. Unless they can be opened up to relieve the growth it would seem replacement may be the only option. Drying them out might help but I believe the swelling is largely permanent.

 

[Tranona]

If the valves have been left in the open position it is quite possible that there is a build up of deposits on the outer side of the ball which is stopping it from rotating. obviously you can only check this if the boat is out of the water. As already advised, operating the valves from time to time reduces the chance of them seizing.

BTW with that size valve it is possible that you can dismantle them unlike the small ones used in most yachts.

 

[syd]

Many thanks. I think I'll arrange a lift out when the weather gets a bit warmer

Syd

 

[GrumpyOldGit]

Sorry if this has been covered before, I could'nt find it in archives.

I have two Huge seacocks (5" diam) supplying my engines. Both are very stiff to open and close. How can I free these up ?

Syd

Hmmm, two huge stiff cocks Don't quite see where the problem lies

 

[syd]

Lol

 

[temptress]

Seacocks do eventually need replacing - how old are they?

With the boat out of the water I would work them open and closed say 30 or 40 times and see if that frees them up a bit. Otherwise replacement. I find that ball valves go this way if they are not operated regularly. I close ALL my seacocks when i leave the boat for more than a couple of days and open them again on return.