Spartain Seacock "frozen" ...Suggestions needed

[Edd Rogers]

The seacock on the "head" discharge thru hull of our CD28FBC needs cleaning and greasing but neither heat nor oil will free it. How can I get it free and out?



Erogers711@AOL.com

[Duncan Maio]

The seacock on the "head" discharge thru hull of our CD28FBC needs cleaning and greasing but neither heat nor oil will free it. How can I get it free and out?

Edd: Assuming that yours is the typical tapered-barrel Spartan seacock, try backing off the retaining nut (don't completely remove it), use a plastic mallet or a wood block and a hammer, and strike the end of the barrel. If you can manage, put some pressure on the handle at the same time, so that you will know right away that the barrel is loose.

Don't be shy about using as much force as you can; the seacocks are tough and, given the space limitations, you can't really get a good swing going anyway. Just be sure to protect the threads on the barrel.

Duncan Maio
s/v Remdy
CD27 #37



dmaio@meganet.net

[Mac Taylor]

The seacock on the "head" discharge thru hull of our CD28FBC needs cleaning and greasing but neither heat nor oil will free it. How can I get it free and out?

Edd,

I had the exact same problem with a seacock on my CD28'84. I agree with everything that Duncan said with only a slight qualification. I would go easy on the forced used. Remember that form follows function, so if you loosen the two nuts (put the outermost nut at the end of the bolt so as to protect it), and tap gently while moving the handle in the direction you want it to go it should move. This worked for me; however, it took longer than I expected so be patient. My boat was in the water at the time, by the way. Good Luck!!!

Mac Taylor
CD 28 '84
Wind Bairn



Mtaylor673@aol.com

[andrew blight]

If the excellent suggestions already provided do not work for you, as they did not for me in the tiny amount of space available around the head discharge) you can try what worked for me. I constructed an apparatus composed of two short pieces of aluminum angle with holes drilled at either end to take long (5-6"?) half inch bolts so that the two angle pieces could be brought together under the action of screwing on the nuts. With just the right placement of the angle pieces, one on the end of the screw end of the barrel, and one perched on the edge of the handle end of the barrel housing, I was able to screw the nuts tighter and tighter with a ratchet until the barrel popped free from the gunk holding it. No amount of tapping with 1-2 inches of swing would have freed it. The nuts exerted a lot of force by the time it broke free. Even if there was swing room, I would have been a bit nervous about the hull integrity hammering away at the seacock against years of attachment. Good luck. It is a great feeling when it finally gives up!