Are factory ball valves epoxied to the through hulls and barbs?

[TRDon]

I cant seem to get my barb out of the ball valve threads. I want to screw my ballast pumps to the through hull because one doesnt seem to want to prime 50% of the time when I drop the boat in and I have to suck start it. It is connected to a hose and in the factory locations but one will prime all the time and the port one will not so I figued I can kill this problem by screwing it directly in but I cant get the barb out.

Any ideas?

[steve-o]

Mine wasn't, but I had to use big pipe wrenches to get them going. They had used joint compound on a couple of fittings.

[TRDon]

I really cant take the through hulls off unless I get the ball valve off, I guess I need to try harder. I didnt really think of the pipe wrench idea, I will try to use that. That is, if I can get them in there, which will be difficult at best.

[steve-o]

Oh yeah, its a tight fit. Don't expect more than an inch of turning before you have to reposition it.

[intrlaz]

You should not be removing factory ball valves unless they need to be replaced. Thats an easy way to sink the boat in the even of a component failure.

Also, I removed mine (to replace them) with a large crescent wrench. You may need a breaker bar for some more leverage. They are extremely tight.