The Steamboating Forum

All,

My system has the trycocks that have the "rotating assembly" held against the valve body with a spring and screw set up. Hopefully that makes sense to someone. They are so snug that I have to use a pair of pliers to turn them. Should I be lubricating them with something , or perhaps decreasing the pressure on the spring ?

thanks

jon

My cylinder cocks have the same problem. I'm going to put some oil on them and see what happens. Just the same old chain saw bar oil I use for external lube.

The forces lifting them off of their tapered seats are relatively small and the worst that I can see happening if you weaken the spring is that they will leak. I believe that they cannot escape altogether.

Mike

Use "NeverSeeze" lubricant, most automotive supply houses sell the stuff. Also for bolts or studs that can get rusted in place over time, the stuff keeps the threads from becoming unworkable. It comes in a 4 OZ can with a small brush. There are a couple of temperature ranges available, the high temp stuff will lubricate engine exhaust manifold bolts, fire door hinges, etc. Ground tapered plug cocks are always troublesome, and the "NeverSeeze" is the only thing that I have found that makes them work OK.

Thanks Fred !

I will give the never seize a try

jon

Molybdenum grease is the stuff for high temp taper cocks.

Seat them properly first using a cream metal polish, doing so gives a really good contact seta and requires far less contact pressure to seal properly.

Greg