Blakes Seacocks, Removing Seized Cones

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BlowingOldBoots
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Boat Type: Rub-a-dub-dub Tub

Blakes Seacocks, Removing Seized Cones

Post by BlowingOldBoots »

The reason I am doing this is because I sheared the handle spigot off the top of the cone. Quite glad I had a wooden bung which admirably stopped the inflow. The reason for giving it a lot of force was because the cone had seized.

Anyway, after tapping and then thumping the cone from outside with a wooden dowel, nothing. Tried all the usual YBW advice, boiling water, light tapping first, but nothing worked. I then swapped the wooden dowel for a 3/4” steel bar, thumbed it a few times out it popped. The right tool for the job. Don’t faff about with wooden dowels.

Also, lapping in the replacement second hand cone, I used a socket on the square boss, an extension bar and socket wrench. Lapped in, in no time at all.
What's that? Dunno! Should we be worried about that? Dunno! How? Ah dunno!
Gardenshed
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Re: Blakes Seacocks, Removing Seized Cones

Post by Gardenshed »

well done
Did you get any other jobs done while the boat was out?
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BlowingOldBoots
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Re: Blakes Seacocks, Removing Seized Cones

Post by BlowingOldBoots »

Anti fouling starts today, subject to rain. Rigging change is delayed as the crane is not working, it will be done afloat. Hull polishing will be at some future point.
What's that? Dunno! Should we be worried about that? Dunno! How? Ah dunno!
SteveN
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Re: Blakes Seacocks, Removing Seized Cones

Post by SteveN »

I had the same experience having taken over a new-to-me boat with 2x seized Blakes cockpit drain seacocks.
I tried for a long time with a wooden dowel (length of broom handle) and a lump hammer, hitting harder than I was happy with, but no progress at all.
Someone passing by said that it had to be a metal drift so I found a length of old aluminium bike seatpost that was a snug fit.
2 or 3 very light taps - not even resorting to the lump hammer - and out they both popped.
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