Servicing seacocks

I'm going to service the bronze tapered seacocks while PLII is on the hard for a bottom job. I'm following suggestions on the Compass Marine How To website and he suggests using Spartan Seacock Grease for assembly and I have had no luck locating. Can anyone provide a source??
Also, the seacocks have a grease fitting installed. The CM site mentions a screw provided for "winter draining". No screw on mine, but this is where the grease fitting is located. Does anyone have the grease fitting on their seacocks??
Sorry for the fuzzy picture.


1983 Present 42 Sundeck
Twin Lehman 135's

Have you looked online???
a google search turns up Robinhood Marine Center
and I've contacted RC @ Compass and he can supply many more products than he lists on his "store" He's a good guy providing a great info service w/ his How To's so I've turned to him when I have a purchase. He's pretty good about responding in the off season - tougher when he's busy.

It looks like the drain plug was swapped for a grease fitting.

Larry M said:

It looks like the drain plug was swapped for a grease fitting.

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Some folks do that to grease them while in the open position from time to time. When the cock is closed remove the grease zerk to drain water for the winter freeze. Same thread pattern thus dual purpose.

Just don't try greasing in the closed position

Twice per year I spray all sections on all of mine with good quality penetrating/lubricating fluid.

Bacchus said:

Have you looked online???
a google search turns up Robinhood Marine Center
and I've contacted RC @ Compass and he can supply many more products than he lists on his "store" He's a good guy providing a great info service w/ his How To's so I've turned to him when I have a purchase. He's pretty good about responding in the off season - tougher when he's busy.

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I did- and will give these guys a call Monday to see if it is available. Thanks for all the responses.


1983 Present 42 Sundeck
Twin Lehman 135's

Based on the apparent condition of the seacock in the photo, I'd consider replacing it. But it's hard to tell from a picture. I'd sure as heck **** can that cheesy looking SS 90 deg. fitting coming out of it.

If you can't find the Spartan grease, Ive been using Super Lube grease for years with good results.

Trawler Bling??


1983 Present 42 Sundeck
Twin Lehman 135's

It's a thing of beauty Forklift.

I see no scratches or groves from operating it with no grease ,

I would lap it in (or just check with a thin layer of grease) and enjoy the next 50 years , of service if maintained.

Just be sure its not installed with SS bolts.

I used plumbers grease that is formulated for use on hot and cold water valves. Most plumbing suppliers have it in a small round tin. I sailed Cape Dry sloops and never used the Spartan seacock grease doing maintenance over a twenty five years of sailing and the plumbers grease worked very well between haulouts.
Your seacock looks like it may be bronze and if it is it should clean up nicely, I agree the zerk fittings look like a add on.

Any water proof grease will work fine. Auto stores usually have it.

Only see one hose clamp on that.

I do not like the perforated type clamps.

Forklift, who made that seacock? It looks like a Wilcox Crittenden to me.
It's not a Sparton, the handle is wrong.

Parks, I was hoping to find a brand name on the cleaned parts but no luck. Heading to the boat now to pull the remaining tapered plugs to clean. Gonna scower the housing and look for any clues. Interesting enough- the cotter pin that keeps the handle on is also bronze. Only dissimilar metal was the grease fitting. I'm also addressing hoses/ bronze fittings/ clamps as needed?


1983 Present 42 Sundeck
Twin Lehman 135's

If you look on the body of the seacock you will see a letter W with a letter C imposed over it. That's the Wilcox-Crittenden logo.
Following is a page from the 1955 Hopkins-Carter Catalog showing what I believe is your seacock. No you can't buy them at those prices!

Too bad. I paid more than that today for one bronze fitting?️


1983 Present 42 Sundeck
Twin Lehman 135's

I had the Wilcox Crittendon in my previous boat. I wish I had them in my current boat. They were heavy duty pieces orf good quality materials.

WC was orig in Middletown CT, (where our cottage is since 1950) .

They were driven out by the paper pushers that did not want any noisy smelly industry in their bedroom community.

Now much of the sire is housing in the old bldgs.

Left folks think business moves to get cheap labor , with out looking at reality.

Should some one need 2 inch thru hulls from WC , let me know, and I will post then in the for sale stuff.

I have a tub of the Spartan grease from when we owned our sailboat (bought at RC's suggestion - the guy behind Compass). I either got it from Hamilton Marine or direct from Spartan, I just can't recall.

Carolena said:

I have a tub of the Spartan grease from when we owned our sailboat (bought at RC's suggestion - the guy behind Compass). I either got it from Hamilton Marine or direct from Spartan, I just can't recall.

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Thanks- will look into it.


1983 Present 42 Sundeck
Twin Lehman 135's

Ounce the seacocks and other brass fittings are all cleaned and polished, is there anything we can put on them to help keep them that way. I am currently removing and servicing all my seacocks and strainers.

Greetings,
Mr. L. "...cleaned and polished..."? You guys have WAY too much time on your hands...A light coating of oil/grease on the outside should keep that "shine" but might I suggest you leave the outside clean and grease free? Any eventual leakage will probably cause visible verdigris (that green coating) and will be an indication of need for servicing.

Do you want to keep them shiny, or green free? I use CorrosionX on my bronze thru hulls and it eliminates the green stuff. Shiny? not so much. I assume that any of the anticorrosion sprays would work as well.

In engine compartment, twice per year I liberally spray working and mechanical portions having moving features and/or bolts/threads with:

B’Laster – lube and penetrating liquids: http://blastercorp.com/Blaster-All-Purpose-Lubricant.html / http://www.blastercorporation.com/

That includes sea cocks, engine mounts and other working or bolted items.

Thanks guys...It is not that I have too much time on my hands, but I just purchased a 79 Prairie 36 and have it sitting in my back yard. I plan to completely repaint the exterior as someone pained it with a bucket of s#@T and a pine top...It is all peeling off...The good part is, it sand off pretty easy. All the old cork gaskets in the raw water strainers were history, and some of the seacock would not move. I want to get all these in good shape before painting the bottom. (some repaired some replaced) New hoses to follow, I believe some have been there since 79. Getting it ready to cruise for a few years.

I would be careful just spraying just anything liberally in my bilge....some penetrating fluids could possibly cause the early demise of some non metallic seals, etc....

psneeld said:

I would be careful just spraying just anything liberally in my bilge....some penetrating fluids could possibly cause the early demise of some non metallic seals, etc....

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ps

I've kept my eye on that factor. "So far"... never noticed deterioration from lubrication on material portions where I spray. Think the materials are probably pretty high quality.