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30-03-2024, 09:03
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2021
Boat: Passport 41
Posts: 404
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Seacock handle turns freely but valve doesn't close
Hi everyone,
I just came back to the boat after a month away and the handle on one of my ball valve seacocks was very stiff. After applying some extra force it turned but then felt like no resistance at all. I've now confirmed that turning the handle no longer closes it. This video shows the problematic seacock, whereas this shows a working one. You can clearly see that in the working one the bit close to the body (is that a nut or what?) turns together with the handle, but that doesn't happen with the problematic one. Is this something that I can repair with the boat in the water? If not, is there any way I can try to close this seacock until I get the boat out of the water?
Thanks in advance!
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30-03-2024, 09:31
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Muskegon, Mi
Boat: Columbia 36
Posts: 1,299
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Re: Seacock handle turns freely but valve doesn't close
Video didn't post. If the nut or shaft doesn't appear to turn with the handle I'd suspect the handle itself is stripped out. I'd take the handle off and see if I could turn the shaft with a vice grips or something. But... If the valve is stuck enough to strip the handle you might not be able to turn it with anything. Is this an intake or discharge? If it's an intake without an external screen it's possible a stick or something got sucked in and is blocking the ball from turning.
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30-03-2024, 09:39
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2021
Boat: Passport 41
Posts: 404
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Re: Seacock handle turns freely but valve doesn't close
Quote:
Originally Posted by capt jgw
Video didn't post. If the nut or shaft doesn't appear to turn with the handle I'd suspect the handle itself is stripped out. I'd take the handle off and see if I could turn the shaft with a vice grips or something. But... If the valve is stuck enough to strip the handle you might not be able to turn it with anything. Is this an intake or discharge? If it's an intake without an external screen it's possible a stick or something got sucked in and is blocking the ball from turning.
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It's a discharge. You should be able to see the video now. If on a mobile app, just "click" on the "this video" and "this shows" texts and you'll be taken to the videos
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30-03-2024, 09:49
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Muskegon, Mi
Boat: Columbia 36
Posts: 1,299
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Re: Seacock handle turns freely but valve doesn't close
Got it, didn't realize that was a link. It's a little hard to tell but I think the shaft is turning with the handle, at least a little bit. I'd still unscrew the nut and remove the handle, then see if I could turn the shaft. If it still turns free without closing, then the shaft is broken inside. Not much you can do with that.
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30-03-2024, 09:52
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2021
Boat: Passport 41
Posts: 404
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Re: Seacock handle turns freely but valve doesn't close
Quote:
Originally Posted by capt jgw
Got it, didn't realize that was a link. It's a little hard to tell but I think the shaft is turning with the handle, at least a little bit. I'd still unscrew the nut and remove the handle, then see if I could turn the shaft. If it still turns free without closing, then the shaft is broken inside. Not much you can do with that.
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I'm pretty sure the shaft is turning, but I'll double check by removing the handle and turning it by hand
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30-03-2024, 10:01
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Muskegon, Mi
Boat: Columbia 36
Posts: 1,299
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Re: Seacock handle turns freely but valve doesn't close
The working one looks to be stiffer than it should be too. I'd take it out too (and any others in the boat as well) and clean and lube them. I just got done doing this in my boat, all 7 tapered plug seacocks disassembled, cleaned, and lubed.
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30-03-2024, 10:09
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 682
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Re: Seacock handle turns freely but valve doesn't close
Quote:
Originally Posted by LifesBetterWhenYoureBeating
It's a discharge. You should be able to see the video now. If on a mobile app, just "click" on the "this video" and "this shows" texts and you'll be taken to the videos
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I have had that happen twice. Need a new ball valve. You can do it in the water. Just tap a bung into the thru hull from below. Remove and replace the ball valve. Retrieve the bung.
I would have a plan to haul out if you break something.
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30-03-2024, 10:26
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 8,005
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Re: Seacock handle turns freely but valve doesn't close
Quote:
Originally Posted by jzk
I have had that happen twice. Need a new ball valve. You can do it in the water. Just tap a bung into the thru hull from below. Remove and replace the ball valve. Retrieve the bung.
I would have a plan to haul out if you break something.
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As if you end up bungling the replacement task.
Be prepared for a "prompt" haul out. I never feel easy relying on a cork on the outside of the hull.
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30-03-2024, 11:01
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 682
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Re: Seacock handle turns freely but valve doesn't close
Quote:
Originally Posted by Montanan
As if you end up bungling the replacement task.
Be prepared for a "prompt" haul out. I never feel easy relying on a cork on the outside of the hull.
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No problem. If you want to pay a few thousand for a haul out to make you feel comfortable, that is your right. But these things can be done in the water with a little preparation.
One time we were launched in Chicago, but one of the ball valves was broken and shooting a stream of water. They agreed to haul us back out for $1000 and launch us in a week. I replaced the ball valve in 5 minutes in the water without even bunging the hole. It was super easy.
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30-03-2024, 11:03
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Santa Cruz
Boat: SAnta Cruz 27
Posts: 7,221
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Re: Seacock handle turns freely but valve doesn't close
I've had that happen with a 2 year old ball valve. Replaced 10 and one was defective. I'd recommend hauling and replacing.
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30-03-2024, 11:53
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2021
Location: PNW
Boat: 35 Ft. cutter, custom
Posts: 2,952
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Re: Seacock handle turns freely but valve doesn't close
As mentioned up-thread, it's not a big deal to change a ball valve in the water with a little prep work/thinking thru.
Don't just start applying force to unscrew the valve without first having a grasp on the thru hull with some good sized "water pump pliers" on the exposed area between the thru hull nut and the valve body.
The last thing you need is for the thru hull to start rotating in the hull.
Have your tapered wood/rubber plug handy, when old valve comes off stick in the plug.
Now you can clean the threads of the thru hull and apply your choice of thread sealant.
Pull the plug, screw-on new valve,, don't forget to hold the thru hull again with your pliers as you tighten up the valve.
__________________
Beginning to Prepare to Commence
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30-03-2024, 15:05
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Muskegon, Mi
Boat: Columbia 36
Posts: 1,299
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Re: Seacock handle turns freely but valve doesn't close
I've done such things in the water but I ran the boat aground first on a trailer boat launch ramp. The boat can flood but not sink and you have a nice concrete bottom to work from and a dock to tie up to. The trick is to find a time when the ramp isn't busy.
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30-03-2024, 15:08
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Muskegon, Mi
Boat: Columbia 36
Posts: 1,299
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Re: Seacock handle turns freely but valve doesn't close
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bowdrie
As mentioned up-thread, it's not a big deal to change a ball valve in the water with a little prep work/thinking thru.
Don't just start applying force to unscrew the valve without first having a grasp on the thru hull with some good sized "water pump pliers" on the exposed area between the thru hull nut and the valve body.
The last thing you need is for the thru hull to start rotating in the hull.
Have your tapered wood/rubber plug handy, when old valve comes off stick in the plug.
Now you can clean the threads of the thru hull and apply your choice of thread sealant.
Pull the plug, screw-on new valve,, don't forget to hold the thru hull again with your pliers as you tighten up the valve.
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It's hard to tell from the videos but those look to me like proper seacocks. If so there's no exposed through hull to grab with the pliers. You'd have to do it from the outside with a through hull wrench.
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30-03-2024, 16:00
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#14
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Port Credit, Ontario or Bahamas
Boat: Benford 38 Fantail Cruiser
Posts: 7,581
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Re: Seacock handle turns freely but valve doesn't close
Quote:
Originally Posted by capt jgw
It's hard to tell from the videos but those look to me like proper seacocks. If so there's no exposed through hull to grab with the pliers. You'd have to do it from the outside with a through hull wrench.
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I agree with Bowdrie, those are ball valves on a throughull, not seacocks.
To me that calls into the question the metallurgy of the throughull and the ball valve. It's been many years since I've seen a real bronze ball valve on a boat. Until I was sure of that, I wouldn't attempt it in the water.
__________________
If you're not laughing, you're not doin' it right.
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30-03-2024, 16:32
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Bay of Fundy,Grand Manan,N.B.,Canada N44.40 W66.50
Boat: Mascot 28 pilothouse motorsailer 28ft
Posts: 3,653
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Re: Seacock handle turns freely but valve doesn't close
__________________
 My personal experience & humble opinions-feel free to ignore both
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