Frozen Deck Fitting

SUNDANCE2653 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007

I'm looking for advice on how to empty my holding tank. I can't remove the top to the deck fitting on my 1981 Catalina 25. I've tried 3 days of penetrating oil, and a ex navy seal diver's brawn.

CapnHand · #2 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007

Have you tried percussive maintenance? That deck fitting has to come off, one way or another. Mine was stuck as well, I twisted one of those multi tools like a pretzyl. Big screwdriver, rubber mallet, several counterclockwise taps ....viola! Rewarded myself with another big screwdriver, over ice.

Sounds like yours is more stuck than mine was, but the suggestion is hammering on it tangentially to break the oxidization.

camaraderie · #3 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007

Impact DriverL
http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/000723.php

sailingfool · #4 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007

If you try an impact driver and it doesn't work, you might just look at removing the entire fitting and installing a replacement, if you have reasonable access to the underside.

Gary M · #5 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007

The impact drivers are great. I just stripped my mast last week for painting. It was built in 84 and has been mostly in salt water. There were about 12 SS screws that I could not get out. I borrowed a Snapon set and a 2 lbs hammer and every one of them came out. Without it I would have been drilling quite a few of them.
Looking to buy a set now.

gary

sailortjk1 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailingfool

If you try an impact driver and it doesn't work, you might just look at removing the entire fitting and installing a replacement, if you have reasonable access to the underside.

Good advice.
If you can't get it open, replace the whole thing.

We cross threaded ours a couple of years ago.

Had a hell of a time getting it open.
We replaced the entire fitting.

TrueBlue · #7 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007

Until replacing with a proper SS plate, we had that problem with our portside fuel fill - PO inserted a non-metric plate into a metric deck fitting. As the tank's contents are drawn out, vacuum pressure increases.

Similarly to an impact driver (which I didn't have at the time), I used a steel punch and 4 lb hammer to rotate the plate . . . did the trick with just a little nicking of the plate's slot. Fortunately I did this at the slip before going to the fuel dock.