SCUTTLE INSPECTION

SCUTTLES, AND PARTICULARLY HANDWHEEL OPERATED SCUTTLES, HAVE UNIQUE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL QUALITIES.  THE INSPECTION PROCEDURES, WHILE SIMILAR IN MANY WAYS TO THOSE FOR OTHER TYPES OF CLOSURES, INCLUDE PROCEDURES PECULIAR TO SCUTTLE DOGGING MECHANISMS.

1. EXAMINE THE KNIFE EDGE AND GASKET FOR DISTORTION AND WEAR.
   
   
2. PERFORM A BASIC CHALK TEST TO DETERMINE IF THE CLOSURE IS WATERTIGHT.
   
   
3. FLUSH SCUTTLES INCLUDE A T-WRENCH.  MAKE SURE IT IS IN PLACE
   
   
4. FOR HANDWHEEL SCUTTLES, CHECK THAT THE WHEEL IS SECURELY MOUNTED ON ITS SPINDLE.  WITH THE SCUTTLE COMPLETELY DOGGED, TRY TO ROTATE THE WHEEL TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY PLAY, WHICH WOULD INDICATE THAT THE WHEEL IS LOOSE.  IF THE WHEEL IS LOOSE, THE SQUARE HOLE IN THE WHEEL HUB HAS PROBABLY WORN ROUND.  TRY TIGHTENING THE WHEEL NUT.  IF THAT DOES NOT SECURE THE WHEEL TO THE SPINDLE, THE WHEEL SHOULD BE REPLACED.  IF THE WHEEL MOVES UP AND DOWN ON THE SPINDLE AND THE WHEEL NUT IS TIGHT, CHECK THE FLANGE ON THE SPINDLE, WHICH CAN BE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED IF THE SCUTTLE IS DOGGED TOO TIGHTLY.  A SPINDLE WITH A BROKEN FLANGE SHOULD BE REPLACED.
   
   
5. HANDWHEELS ON SCUTTLES SHOULD HAVE NOTCHES IN THE TRAILING EDGES OF THEIR SPOKES TO GUIDE USAGE UNDER CONDITIONS OF SMOKE OR DARKNESS.  NOTE THAT THE NOTCHES ARE A KEY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN UPPER AND LOWER HANDWHEELS ON RAISED SCUTTLES.  IF YOU MUST REPLACE A HANDWHEEL, BE SURE TO USE ONE WITH THE NOTCHES IN THE CORRECT POSITION.
   
   
6. CHECK THE DOGGING ARMS FROM BENEATH A SCUTTLE THAT HAS BEEN COMPLETELY DOGGED DOWN.  TRY TO WIGGLE EACH ARM.  IF THERE IS PLAY IN ANY ARM, TIGHTEN ITS DOG ADJUSTING SCREW AND MAKE SURE THE NYLON PLUG THAT HOLDS THE BOLT IN PLACE IS PROPERLY POSITIONED.  ALSO CHECK TO SEE IF THE BOLT IS SO LOOSE THAT IT CAN BE SCREWED IN COMPLETELY BY HAND.  IF THIS IS THE CASE, THE BOLT IS WORN AND PROBABLY SHOULD BE REPLACED.
   
   
7. PUSH EACH DOGGING ARM TOWARD THE CENTER OF THE SCUTTLE AND SEE IF THE SPRINGS IN THE DOG HOUSING ARE STRONG ENOUGH TO RETURN IT TO ITS FORMER POSITION.
   
   
8. HANDWHEEL SPINDLES ARE SUBJECT TO THREE BASIC KINDS OF WEAR.  IF THE HANDWHEEL CAN BE MOVED FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHEN THE SCUTTLE IS OPEN, THE SPINDLE BUSHINGS ARE EITHER WORN OR LACK ADEQUATE LUBRICATION AND APPROPRIATE MEASURES SHOULD BE UNDERTAKEN.  HANDWHEELS SHOULD TURN FREELY.  IF ONE BINDS, THE SPINDLE BUSHING MAY NEED LUBRICATION OR POSSIBLY REPLACEMENT.  IF THE HANDWHEEL SEEMS TO WOBBLE WHEN TURNED, THE SPINDLE MAY BE BENT AND THUS REQUIRE REPLACEMENT.
   
   
9. THE SPIDER SHOULD HAVE NO MORE THAN 1/16" PLAY.  TO CHECK THIS, GRASP THE SPIDER WITH BOTH HANDS AND TRY TO MOVE IT FROM SIDE TO SIDE.  IF IT SEEMS LOOSE, CHECK BOTH THE SPIDER AND SPINDLE THREADS FOR WEAR, REPLACING SEVERELY WORN COMPONENTS AS NECESSARY.  ALSO CHECK THE GUIDE CAM FOR INTEGRITY AND A PROPER WELD.
   
   
10. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CHECK THE HINGE PINS ON SCUTTLES WITHOUT DISMANTLING THEM.  IF THE SCUTTLE'S MOVEMENT WHEN OPENED AND CLOSED SUGGESTS A POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH THE HINGE PINS, DO A COMPLETE INSPECTION:  MAKE SURE THE LOCK COLLARS ARE IN PLACE AND ANY SPACER WASHERS ARE IN GOOD SHAPE.
    
    
11. THE SCUTTLE COVER BRACE, WHICH HOLDS THE COVER UPRIGHT WHEN THE HATCH IS OPEN, MUST BE CHECKED FOR INTEGRITY.  BE SURE ALL COMPONENTS ARE IN PLACE, INTACT AND FREE FROM DIRT OR CORROSION.
    
    
12. IN THE CASE OF FLUSH SCUTTLES, REMOVE ANY DIRT FROM THE RECESSED AREA AROUND THE KNIFE EDGE.  MAKE SURE THE DRAIN CHANNELS ARE CLEAR.
    
    
13. IN THE CASE OF FLUSH SCUTTLES, MAKE SURE THE T-WRENCH WORKS PROPERLY.  IF IT SLIPS, CHECK THE COLLAR SLOT AND THE WRENCH FOR WEAR AND REPLACE ANY PARTS THAT SHOW SIGNIFICANT EROSION OR DISTORTION.