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Poche · 08-07-2020, 11:05

I have a bronze tapered valve that I cleaned up the inside and barrel with a fine sandpaper. I greased it and it leaks unless you tighten it so hard it cannot be turned.
"This Old Boat" Casey recommends coating the moving parts with honing compound and turning until the surfaces are mated again. Has anyone serviced their valves and can offer some tips?

Thumbs Up · 08-07-2020, 11:10

Yes you use valve grinding compound then you are supposed to use Blakes seacock grease which is hard to find. I used prop shaft grease.

**Dockhead** · 08-07-2020, 11:11

Yeah, you can't service those with sandpaper

You need to lap them in with jeweler's paste to a fine finish. Here's the best resource, from our very own MaineSail: https://marinehowto.com/servicing-ta...cone-seacocks/

Those things are beautiful, and with maintenance last forever, but -- give me a ball valve any day. I have enough other things on the boat which require maintenance.

**tkeithlu** · 08-07-2020, 11:13

That's it in a nutshell. My main seacock does that. You can open and close it by lossening/tightening the adjustment nut until you get it out of the water. Then replace the grease with fine abrasive, assemble it, tighten just enough for the grit to grind, and go back and forth until it smoothes out. You might have to tighten again as you go. Then get every bit of that grit out of there, grease (lithium waterproof), and go. On these it is better to allow a drip every once in awhile than to tighten it to the point that you have to repeat the process.

Then, exercise the !@#$ valve. They don't like to be left to accumulate corrosion. Love "This Old Boat."

**tkeithlu** · 08-07-2020, 11:15

PS: It's probably binding despite your sanding because the sanding has left the two surfaces not quite round. Using the grit and grinding it forces the two to be round.

Poche · 08-07-2020, 11:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Those things are beautiful, and with maintenance last forever, but -- give me a ball valve any day. I have enough other things on the boat which require maintenance.

I know what you mean but a teflon coated ball doesn't appeal to me.

Poche · 08-07-2020, 11:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Yeah, you can't service those with sandpaper

You need to lap them in with jeweler's paste to a fine finish. Here's the best resource, from our very own MaineSail: https://marinehowto.com/servicing-ta...cone-seacocks/

.

That looks like what I need, thanks. What do you mean "our very own"?

wingless · 08-07-2020, 11:22

Yes, lapping compound would be useful in the instance.

It is available in a wide range of grits.

When I changed the poor original fit of my shafts to the propellers and the couplers, from diagonally opposite contact patches (with the associated super difficult disassembly), to a perfect fit, I used 90, 320 and 500 grit lapping compound.

In my case I lapped all parts to fit at all locations, so that assembly would not be an issue.

The initial disassembly showed diagonally opposite contact patches. I used 90 grit until I attained a uniform distribution of the compound on the surfaces, rotating the parts 360° to the other parts, for a uniform fit.

Once I attained uniform distribution, then I attained that on mating to the other parts.

Then the lapping was progressed up through the finer grits.

This would be applicable to your valve.

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Poche · 08-07-2020, 11:26

Excellent posts!

**Dockhead** · 08-07-2020, 11:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poche

I know what you mean but a teflon coated ball doesn't appeal to me.

The ball is actually hard chrome plated bronze. The teflon is in the seat.

But hey -- to each his own! More power to you if you have the dedication to properly service a bunch of those beautiful devices.

Stripping down, solvent cleaning, greasing, and reassembline each of my 10 winches every year, is quite enough for me, thank you. My boat has 13 sea cocks -- just imagine the fun I would have if they were tapered cone valves!!

**Dockhead** · 08-07-2020, 11:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poche

That looks like what I need, thanks. What do you mean "our very own"?

MaineSail is an honored CF citizen, frequent contributor, amazingly knowledgeable, and a great guy!

Poche · 10-07-2020, 17:13

I've got some learning to do. I was encouraged by the Spartan website stating that valves can last a long time and could be 7 to 8 years between major service. If I can grease them every 2 year haul out that would be awesome. Looking forward to this, thanks.