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Stuck seacock valve
Posted: October 30th, 2023, 8:56 am
by tgebler
The starboard engine seacock will not budge in my 2000 396 aft cabin. I have attached several photos. Any suggestions?
Re: Stuck seacock valve
Posted: October 30th, 2023, 9:20 am
by bud37
Wow that looks fairly recent....how much force have you tried so far and is the boat in the water.
Be sure you are trying the handle in the correct direction first. Sometimes a foot of plastic pipe over the handle will add just enough leverage, just be careful. Make sure that handle nut is tight as well.
On another note I would clean up those bonding connections.
Re: Stuck seacock valve
Posted: October 30th, 2023, 9:41 am
by Cooler
Stop at a marine store and pick up some Hot Sauce brand product. The "conditioner" will free up almost anything. Great to have onboard all season. Good luck.
er
Re: Stuck seacock valve
Posted: October 30th, 2023, 10:07 am
by km1125
Don't try too hard on the handle, as you can break the stem off.
You can remove the drain plug opposite the handle and fabricate a grease fitting to go in there. Inject some grease there. You can use teflon grease, but Groco actually as a "custom formulated" grease they recommend. Supposedly it has some "anti-growth" additives, but I think just filling that compartment with grease would stop any growth from forming.
You can also remove the stop (that little black allen-wench bolt in the center of the picture) and try the handle both ways. That might help, but again be careful because pushing too hard can break the stem or distort the "flats" in either the stem or the handle and make the handle loose.
If the boat is out of the water, you can remove the hose and hose barb from the top, and fabricate a tool so you can loosen the ball from the inside. Below is one I made for a friend. Pretty simple, just a bar of stock and you drill and thread two small holes for two small bolts.
ball_valve_tool_pic.jpg
ball_valve_tool.jpg
Re: Stuck seacock valve
Posted: October 30th, 2023, 10:10 am
by tgebler
bud37 wrote:Source of the post Wow that looks fairly recent....how much force have you tried so far and is the boat in the water.
Be sure you are trying the handle in the correct direction first. Sometimes a foot of plastic pipe over the handle will add just enough leverage, just be careful. Make sure that handle nut is tight as well.
On another note I would clean up those bonding connections.
I was trying in the correct direction. I am in the water for the winter. I will try the plastic pipe. I am getting about 1-2" movement.
Any suggestions for cleaning the bonding connections?
Re: Stuck seacock valve
Posted: October 30th, 2023, 10:11 am
by tgebler
km1125 wrote:Source of the post Don't try too hard on the handle, as you can break the stem off.
You can remove the drain plug opposite the handle and fabricate a grease fitting to go in there. Inject some grease there. You can use teflon grease, but Groco actually as a "custom formulated" grease they recommend. Supposedly it has some "anti-growth" additives, but I think just filling that compartment with grease would stop any growth from forming.
You can also remove the stop (that little black allen-wench bolt in the center of the picture) and try the handle both ways. That might help, but again be careful because pushing too hard can break the stem or distort the "flats" in either the stem or the handle and make the handle loose.
If the boat is out of the water, you can remove the hose and hose barb from the top, and fabricate a tool so you can loosen the ball from the inside. Below is one I made for a friend. Pretty simple, just a bar of stock and you drill and thread two small holes for two small bolts.
ball_valve_tool_pic.jpg
ball_valve_tool.jpg
The boat is in the water. Someone else suggested the grease in the fitting. I am going to try the grease this week. Thanks.
Re: Stuck seacock valve
Posted: October 30th, 2023, 10:13 am
by tgebler
tgebler wrote:Source of the post km1125 wrote:Source of the post Don't try too hard on the handle, as you can break the stem off.
You can remove the drain plug opposite the handle and fabricate a grease fitting to go in there. Inject some grease there. You can use teflon grease, but Groco actually as a "custom formulated" grease they recommend. Supposedly it has some "anti-growth" additives, but I think just filling that compartment with grease would stop any growth from forming.
You can also remove the stop (that little black allen-wench bolt in the center of the picture) and try the handle both ways. That might help, but again be careful because pushing too hard can break the stem or distort the "flats" in either the stem or the handle and make the handle loose.
If the boat is out of the water, you can remove the hose and hose barb from the top, and fabricate a tool so you can loosen the ball from the inside. Below is one I made for a friend. Pretty simple, just a bar of stock and you drill and thread two small holes for two small bolts.
ball_valve_tool_pic.jpg
ball_valve_tool.jpg
The boat is in the water. Someone else suggested the grease in the fitting. I am going to try the grease this week. Thanks.
Which bolt is the grease fitting?
Re: Stuck seacock valve
Posted: October 30th, 2023, 10:29 am
by bud37
Well if you are in the water and getting a couple inches movement then go easy, it is possible there may be something stuck in there. It is possible.
Just have a close look to see if the movement is just the handle itself or the shaft, you can distort those handle mounting surfaces , that is why I suggested to make sure the nut is tight and go easy. Maybe the grease idea first.
Sometimes if the valve is wide open it may be best to leave it alone until the boat gets pulled, you wouldn't want to break it closed, then you will have to pull the boat.
Re: Stuck seacock valve
Posted: October 30th, 2023, 10:40 am
by tgebler
Since I have to winterize that engine (gets cold here in Pittsburgh), I need to get the valve closed. The stuck item was suggested by someone at the marina. I am planning to try the grease and, if no success, try blowing air down the hose to dislodge any blockage. Thanks.
Re: Stuck seacock valve
Posted: October 30th, 2023, 11:05 am
by Viper
It's a ball valve so it can be turned both ways. Remove the stop screw for the handle and that will allow you to work it back and forth more. It is the small stainless screw with no head in your pic beside the base of the handle. Just go easy working the handle back and forth, lubricate once you've freed it, then remember to reinstall the stop screw. Hope it works out. Keep us posted.