Is there a trick to opening/closing Apollo seacocks?

[Cthoops]

Our previous boat had Groco seacocks. This boat has Apollo. When opening and closing Apollo seacocks do you simply push or pull on the handle like with Groco, or is there a step I'm missing?

I can't move the handle so the seacock may simply be frozen (not the end of the world since we're planning to eventually replace all of the seacocks/thruhulls anyway), but before we give this one the heave-ho I wanted to make sure we weren't missing something.

Thanks.

[Sailmonkey]

Just a 90 deg turn. If there is an extra piece of metal on the handle you might have locking valves, but I doubt it.


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[Cthoops]

That's what I figured. Wishful thinking, I guess.

Thanks.

[sailorchic34]

An apollo valve only open in one direction. If it has not been operated in some time, critters may have built up making the valve hard to turn. If it's really old something the shaft will shear off at the ball inside the valve. That is the weak point in ball valves.

If it remains hard to turn, I would replace it at the next haulout.

[Cthoops]

Thanks, Sailorchic. We're on the hard now, so if we can't get it turning we'll add it to the list of things to do.

[HopCar]

My Apollo ball valve seacocks are approaching thirty years old. They have always become difficult to turn if I let them sit in the same position for several months. I carry a handle extension for those times I forget to exercise them. Brute force has always fixed the problem for me. Handles must break sometimes because I sell a few replacement handles. As Sailorchic pointed out, the stems can break but it's pretty unusual. The only replacement stems I've ever sold were for the big 2-1/2" Apollo Seacocks.
Seacock Helper

[SeaSon]

Try an extension as Hop car suggests. When you get a little movement, then back and forth, back and forth until you reach full throw.t

[skiggy]

Hi, I make it a habit to relax the seacocks once a month by operating them to fully open and closed several times then spraying them with WD40. Don't forget the ones in the toilet either.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, skiggy.

[skiggy]

GordMay Hi GordMay, thank you for your kind welcome and greetings to all on the CF.