Seacocks - what's the right grease?

[D. Stump]

I'm going to disassemble all of Hanalei's seacocks this year and lap them if necessary and re-grease them. The question is, what is the proper grease to use, just an automotive wheel bearing grease or what? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks...

Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei (CD-30)



stumpdg@gwsmtp.nu.com

[Kim]

I'm going to disassemble all of Hanalei's seacocks this year and lap them if necessary and re-grease them. The question is, what is the proper grease to use, just an automotive wheel bearing grease or what? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks...

You may still be able to get Cape Dory seacock grease from Spartan Marine aka Robinhood Marine (800) 325-3287



Williwaw28@aol.com

[Bob Ohler]

Spartan has the grease, the wrenches (which I discovered I needed, because they are thin enough to do the job) and the instructions. Take your time, and adjust them until you get the right "feel." It's a good maintenance project to learn to do yourself, and it's a good feeling next year, knowing they were serviced.
Bob Ohler



bobohler@chesapeake.net

[Dave Olson]

I'm going to disassemble all of Hanalei's seacocks this year and lap them if necessary and re-grease them. The question is, what is the proper grease to use, just an automotive wheel bearing grease or what? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks...

Any grease will do. Vaseline...Axle grease...I used the waterproof bearing grease that I use to lube the trailer (best bet). I keep some in a film canister in my tool bag.
Dave

Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei (CD-30)

102065.2666@compuserve.com

[Larry DeMers]

I agree..this is a job that you can do yourself using Spartan's grease (not just 'any' grease) and the tools that they have if needed. The feel you are looking for is a smooth transition from closed to open. The handle shoud remain in the open position regardless of vibrations that it would experience. The downward pressure required to close the seacock should be firm but not tight. The grease needs only be a thin layer on all surfaces that contact other metal. Hint: Clean the old grease off with turpentine or diesel fuel first, then regrease it. It takes me about 15 minutes per seacock now..except for the cockpit seacocks..those buggers are *hard* to get to on my Cd30..so they get done every other year, but tested every year.
Lastly, there should be no weeping or dripping from the seacock while in either postition.

Cheers!

Larry DeMers
s/v DeLaMer
CD30 ~~~~~~~~~Sailing the Hard on Lake Superior~~~~~~~~

Spartan has the grease, the wrenches (which I discovered I needed, because they are thin enough to do the job) and the instructions. Take your time, and adjust them until you get the right "feel." It's a good maintenance project to learn to do yourself, and it's a good feeling next year, knowing they were serviced.
Bob Ohler

demers@sgi.com

[Serge Zimberoff]

Dave,
An excellent second choice, available locally at all better bicycle shops is 'Phil' Waterproof Grease, by Phil Wood. This is a ball bearing grease that really lasts and repels water well. It comes in just the right size tube to keep on the boat and is good for lots of other applications besides seacocks.



serge@srtrop.com

[sam]

Another good waterproof grease is the teflon based grease available at most marinas.

[D. Stump, Hanalei]

Serge,
I did the seacock valves on Hanalei on Saturday. Used some RamPar(made for Raleigh bicycles) bicycle grease that I've had in the shop for years. It is made for bike ball bearings, is waterproof and is very thick as described in other responses. It worked like a charm! The valves are now correctly adjusted, and work easily. The only bad part of the job was crawling into the awful lazzerettes and other knuckle busting places to get to the valves. Even the starboard cockpit scupper valve now works! Some of the valves were STUCK, and taping them with a 3 pound sledge(with nut on the shaft) worked well too, to free them.

Hey, one thing I did before I even started taking the valves apart was to get a brush from the hardware store for cleaning furnaces. Ran the brush into all thru hulls from outside and knocked loose any critters and gunk that was living or stuck in the valve/line.

Anyhow, thanks for your comments and suggestions. My bicycle has never sunk and I feel sure that Hanalei will be just fine next season with all her seacocks functional!

Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
Hanalei