25D seacock grease

[Noel Heslop]

G,Day Fellas,
My apologises for not contributing to discussions.
I have been a little bit otherwise engaged for the last couple of years, but now all good.
So, I thought I would do a post and say hello to all you regulars, especially the CD25Ders.

I can say I just slipped Breezy and finally after much pain, they now only take me say 2 hours for the 6. Previous slipping 15 months before was say 5 hours I admit.
I do agree with all the above comments, very good.
Breezy has 5 oldies that I took out, paid to have reseated (as I was actually visiting USA). The raw water was too far gone so I purchased a new Spartan from Maine.
Therefore, my 5 are still heavily worn, but surfaces re ground, plus a bit of machining, leaving very little freeway for tab washer to be fitted.

Confirming my methods for 1983 Spartan seacocks:
1. My 3 double ended spanners I have taped the correct end. 2 large, 1 small size.(to ID correct end)
2. I have a bucket of water, plus fine wet&dry to clean up green growth. Yes I admit a bit of leakage.
3. A small rubber mallet as a gentle helper if needed.
4. Knee pads.
5. I mostly use my right hand. I am 5ft 8in and end up a bit sore and sorry for myself...
6. I start on the easily accessable first, then finish on the scuppers once I get in practice.
7. Yes, scuppers I now leave only 1 open at a time, both when on board, per (the member from Vancouver's) earlier post.
8. Once seacock removed and fully cleaned up, I smear grease with my finger across all surfaces firmly, leaving ONLY a fine layer spartan grease. Grease on all meeting/working surfaces works best for me.
9. A thick layer is no good to me, with my old seacocks, as I have minimal shaft thickness left for washer with tab. THIS IS THE MISTAKE I have made in the past, which i have now corrected.
10. A layer on all surfaces allows the parts once assembled to stick together, especially tab washer which you need to stay in place all by itself. I move washer around until it clicks into place, and hope it stays set ready for next step.
11. I hand tighten first nut, then attach large spanner, and tighten a touch more and lock off. Meaning, VERY Handy if you set the spanner permanently. Meaning, lean against something solid as I do not have a hand to hold this spanner again.
BEST TO NOT TIGHTEN TOO MUCH AT THIS STAGE.
12. Hand tighten 2nd nut. Attach spanner carefully, so as NOT to dislodge 1st nut spanner in a locking position. With your one hand, tighten against fixed 1st nut.
13. Remove spanners and test the movement of handle.
14. Are you happy? Great, you are done.
15. Unhappy, tighten a touch more and retest.
16. IF, you have to loosen, then you need to start again and redo grease AHAHAH...

All the best.
Noel