Ballast Valve Stuck!

[Doug Nowell]

Recovering my 240 from the water last weekend the ballast tank valve was firmly stuck! Fortunately the water leaked out (there must be a little gap) Anyone else had this problem had even if you have not, any ideas how to fix it?

 

[Frank]

What?

I have never heard of such a thing happening. I usually pull out the air vent plug unscrew the big wing nut and push it down and the water comes out in a rush. Hope you can get it unstuck soon.

 

[Ray Bowles]

Our H26 drains faster than a toilet in express.

We also pull the vent plug, unscrew and push the valve plate down. Never had any problem.You can inspect the tank drain plate and gasket from the bottom of the trailer now that you have the boat out. Possibly something sticky got on the rubber gasket or something grew over that area. That's a big valve and it should drain real fast. There should be NO gaps or leaks at all. This must be a sealed, captured voluum of water and voids in this system can be a very dangerous condition.RayS/V Speedy

 

[Doug Nowell]

The problem is .....

I could not undo the wing nut - absolutely solid as a rock!

 

[Rick Webb]

I Had That Problem Once...

though maybe not as bad. I sprayed it with WD-40 then tapped it with the handle of a hammer and got it loose thencoated th threads with anti seize.

 

[Joe C.]

probably galling

SS nuts and bolts are prone to galling. We probably should be regularly putting anti-seize compound on the bolt and wingnut. It's too big of a deal to let it happen.Joe C. in NC'01 H260Windward Passage