Bronze Porthole Glass Replacement - Any Tips ?

[David_Old_Jersey]

Before I buy anything (s/h)........I did a bit of Googling and seems that removing the bronze sealing (locking?) ring can be a complete PITA..........especially without the right tools and with 30 / 40 years of salt and sh#t acting as a sealant...........

Obviously a porthole that needs new glass is going to be cheaper ..........but just trying to get a handle on whether a few extra quid on a Porthole with good glass already installed would be worth it in time and aggro.

My initial thinking was that I could drill / cut the glass out, clean up what I can get at and maybe soak the porthole for a few days (in petrol?!). Then probably have to use a drift (and a hammer - my favourite tool )......but if that fails to succeed then the only thing that I can think of would be heat (from a heat gun?).........but I don't know how likely that is to succeed .......I could easily end up with a couple of cheap portholes - with no glass at all

Anyone been down this route?

[Wotname]

Well I haven't tried removing a bronze locking ring on a port but I have disassembled quite a few frozen / corroded / stuck metal assemblies over the years and the principles remain the same.
In order of importance:
1. Right tooling
2. A BIG source of heat (MAPP gas or better)
3. Right sized hammers (OK, just big ones)
4. penetrant fluid (I like diesel but others swear by their favourites)

Regardless of the foregoing, I can foresee a couple of cheap ports (sans glass) on ebay soon .

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Well I haven't tried removing a bronze locking ring on a port but I have disassembled quite a few frozen / corroded / stuck metal assemblies over the years and the principles remain the same.
In order of importance:
1. Right tooling
2. A BIG source of heat (MAPP gas or better)
3. Right sized hammers (OK, just big ones)
4. penetrant fluid (I like diesel but others swear by their favourites)

Regardless of the foregoing, I can foresee a couple of cheap ports (sans glass) on ebay soon .

The right tools? that's called cheating - was wondering whether I would be creating another DOJ special There could be 4 Portholes involved (eventually ) so some techinque in the bag that I know works would be useful

On the heat thing, I will work my way up........

.........."Red Sky at night = DOJ's alight "


Cheers for the input

[Chief Engineer]

Having replaced the glass on Tug Portholes

Check and see if there are any square type recesses in the rings.

If so use a drift with a blunt end and a dead blow hammer.

I made a nice drift out of an old bronze shaft

Petrol is not the best thing to use.

If you can pull all the glass out (tedious) that will reduce the stress on the ring.

A little heat on the outside followed by a dose of PB or WD40 will allow the stuff to penetrate down the threads.

Patience is the key

BTW the reason this glass breaks is that many times boats get hauled w/o opening the ports.........steel does flex