Forums, Internal Fixtures and Fittings, Blakes sea cocks

Zoom 495 at 02/05/2015 20:37:30
Hello all and happy Beltane.
I need to refit all my Blakes sea cocks as they are either seized or leaking.
I am sure they need lapping or some such attention. Does anybody have a heads up on this job?
Is using sea cock grease critical? I seem to be coming up short looking for it and perhaps there is a substitute? Thanks,kris

George Isted at 02/05/2015 21:06:43
Easy job once you know how.

If seized, crack off the bolts holding the cone in position in the seacock body then from underneath the boat use a piece of wood and mallet to tap (or whack if necessary) the cone up into the boat – go gentle to start with and you must use a wood against the inside of the seacock – a short length of broom handle works on the larger seacocks.

Once free you will probably need to use some valve grinding paste (from a motor factor or Halfords) to ensure a good fit. Obviously, make sure the paste is all cleaned up before reassembly.

You can use regular marine grease (as used in stern glands) but I now use the “proper” Blakes seacock grease as it’s consistency is better suited to the task. The Blakes stuff can be a bit expensive but a tub will probably last 20 years!

Hope this helps.

Zoom 495 at 02/05/2015 22:36:49
Thank you again George for your help. I have tried to get the Blakes grease here in Canada, but no joy. Just something else I may have to try to import from Jolly Olde England for my Contessa.
Which is getting more dear with the direction the Canadian Peso is going…

moongirl at 03/05/2015 00:03:04
I go along with George. However I did have one instance where I had to take the whole seacock assembly out by undoing nuts that go onto s/s set screws bonded into the hull laminate – it took a gas torch & put log (short scaffold pole) to free the cone. I suggest an e-mail to Blake’s as there must be a Stockist in Canada.
The Blake’s grease works just fine as there is little head of water ie pressure on any of the seacocks.

doug at 11/05/2015 18:13:44
This is the grease the others mention:

http://www.force4.co.uk/blakes-lavac-taylors-seacock-grease.html#.VVDhj-l0xpM

It is very good as it seems extra sticky. If you can’t get it, any waterproof grease should be ok. In the UK we used to have Keenol (now called Ramonol)which I have used many times – it’s the white stuff.

I would not worry too much if you have pitting on the cones as long as there is a reasonable amount of clean material these seacocks go on and on.