Apollo seacock

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Rob Jackson

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Apr 19, 2021, 3:11:31 PM4/19/21
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I have an older Apollo seacock that is pretty stiff. From what i've read they
are do not need lubricating although mine has a grease fitting and there is some grease inside. Are they able to be taken apart and lapped?
thx



IMG_E7ED797E0DD7-1.jpeg


Scott Rosenthal

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Apr 19, 2021, 5:56:31 PM4/19/21
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Rob,

 

Since you haven’t received any answers, I’ll tell you what I understand about the Apollo seacock. I’ve attached a datasheet I have for the Apollo valves on my boat. They will come apart, however I don’t know how you would lap it since the bronze ball mates with Teflon seals. Also, the plug in the datasheet is for winterizing the boat, not for grease—Apollo states that no grease is needed.

 

Regards,

 

Scott

1980 B40 Willow, #110

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Conbraco 78-116-01F Valve.pdf

Rob Jackson

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Apr 19, 2021, 6:15:00 PM4/19/21
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Thx Scott. 
I read the same that no grease is needed but it certainly feels like there’s grease in there. 

Are you Apollo’s stiff? Other than “exercising” them is there other maintenance?  I’m on my phone but I don’t see a data sheet attached. 

Scott Rosenthal

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Apr 19, 2021, 6:20:50 PM4/19/21
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The datasheet came through on my computer, but here it is in this email. I don’t do anything but just move them occasionally. On my previous boat, vegetable oil was the preferred valve lubricant.

 

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Matthew Thomson

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Apr 19, 2021, 7:12:56 PM4/19/21
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The ball valves have Teflon seats and require no lubrication. The balls can get coated with a layer of scale that makes them difficult to operate. Regular cycling helps prevent them from getting stiff and removes the layer while it’s wet and soft, before it dries, once it’s dry is hard to remove, try shutting the valve and pour in some CLR


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Rob Jackson

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Apr 19, 2021, 7:39:12 PM4/19/21
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Grazie

Rob Jackson

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Apr 19, 2021, 7:40:50 PM4/19/21
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Thanks Matt

crew4sophie

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Apr 20, 2021, 9:05:39 AM4/20/21
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Is the grease, with whatever it collects, making it stiff?  Pure question; I don't know.



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Rob Jackson

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Apr 20, 2021, 9:40:40 AM4/20/21
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Hard to say
I’m going with Matt’s advice - some CLR to break up any marine growth and then see that’s what. 

Scott Rosenthal

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Apr 20, 2021, 9:44:27 AM4/20/21
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Afterward, please let us know how it worked for you.

 

From: bristo...@googlegroups.com [mailto:bristo...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Rob Jackson
Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2021 9:40 AM
To: bristo...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [Bristol39-40] Apollo seacock

 

Hard to say

I’m going with Matt’s advice - some CLR to break up any marine growth and then see that’s what. 

On Tue, Apr 20, 2021 at 9:05 AM crew4sophie <crew4...@comcast.net> wrote:

Is the grease, with whatever it collects, making it stiff?  Pure question; I don't know.

 

 

 

Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone

 

 

-------- Original message --------

From: Scott Rosenthal <sc...@sltf.com>

Date: 4/19/21 2:56 PM (GMT-08:00)

Subject: RE: [Bristol39-40] Apollo seacock

 

Rob,

 

Since you haven’t received any answers, I’ll tell you what I understand about the Apollo seacock. I’ve attached a datasheet I have for the Apollo valves on my boat. They will come apart, however I don’t know how you would lap it since the bronze ball mates with Teflon seals. Also, the plug in the datasheet is for winterizing the boat, not for grease—Apollo states that no grease is needed.

 

Regards,

 

Scott

1980 B40 Willow, #110

 

From: bristo...@googlegroups.com [mailto:bristo...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Rob Jackson
Sent: Monday, April 19, 2021 3:12 PM
To: Bristol39-40
Subject: [Bristol39-40] Apollo seacock

 

I have an older Apollo seacock that is pretty stiff. From what i've read they

are do not need lubricating although mine has a grease fitting and there is some grease inside. Are they able to be taken apart and lapped?

thx

 

 

 

Error! Filename not specified.

 

 

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Rob Jackson

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Apr 20, 2021, 9:50:56 AM4/20/21
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Will do 

Rob Jackson

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Apr 22, 2021, 6:05:41 PM4/22/21
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I applied the CLR and worked the valve back and forth. 

It moves well, although the Wilcox Crittenden bronze Seacocks that I serviced rotate like butter. The Apollo looks like it could be original, hard to tell. None of them have backing blocks. I’m assuming the thickness of the fiberglass back in the day convinced them to go without. 

I’m amazed at some of the original engineering. This one is for the head, as you can see it is incredibly poorly located to do any sort of maintenance. 



Thanks for the advice. 

Matthew Thomson

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Apr 22, 2021, 8:10:07 PM4/22/21
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Glad it worked. My Navy days we used to have a maintenance requirement to cycle infrequently operated valves. I cycle all my valve closed when I’m not on the boat and open when I am, except I always leave the bilge overboard and cockpit drains open. When I winterize and prior to relaunch I cycle everything 12 full cycles along with greasing the tapered cone seacocks.
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