- Dec 31, 2006
- 2,824
- Boat Info
- H2O Therapy
2006 Sundancer 48
Novurania 430DL
HighField 340-FCT
Yamaha EX-R
Raymarine
PADI DM
- Engines
- Cummins QSC 540's
@ttmott what do you have for a source for a tube of metalube. doesn't look like they sell it direct anymoreThose are the water drain fittings for winterizing the valves. When the valve is open the cavity those plugs access is closed off and freezing water can crack the valve body. They can be changed to grease zirks but still water needs a path out of the valve ball cavity when winterizing. I changed mine to grease zirks which helped somewhat to free up the valve but I found that once the valve becomes very hard to cycle grease did little to really help. I actually disassembled one on my last boat to burnish the ball of buildup to get it to open and close. Then installed the grease zirks for maintenance. A couple of things I've learned about it -
Use only Metalube grease as that grease will not break down in a water environment.
Only lube the valve with it in the open position. If you lube it with the valve closed you will only fill up the valve port and end up messing up the raw water pump with grease as well as migrating grease up into the coolers / heat exchangers.
When winterizing with the boat and grease zirks installed ensure the valve is 50% closed/open so that cavity can drain.