It's the size of an average work desk, weighs more than 800 kilograms and is essential to the workings of one of Canberra's most recognisable landmarks.
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And on Thursday, it started its long journey to Sydney for much-needed repairs.
Work has begun on repairs to the Captain Cook jet, with its flow control valve lifted out of the jet's pump station by a delicate crane operation.
The valve, which controls water flow from the lake to the jet, started having difficulties in December, before a decision was made in March to shut the jet down.
National Capital Authority chief operating officer Lachlan Wood said the valve would be repaired by specialists in Sydney, with new parts being flown in from England.
"Like many things in Canberra, it's a bespoke part, and there's not that many like it anywhere in the world," Mr Wood said.
"It all depends on what [the repairers] find when they open the valve up, but we're expecting it to be back next month for a testing and commissioning phase.
"We aim to have the jet operational by July."
The repair bill for the valve is expected to cost $250,000.
While Thursday's efforts saw the valve removed from jet's control room, work had already been under way for two days beforehand in order to disconnect and move it into position to be lifted out by crane.
"The valve sits three floors below the ground, but because of the configuration, we have to lift it up one level at a time and move it sideways," Mr Wood said.
"It's quite a constricted space, although we don't use people to lift the valve itself because we have a number of hoists in place."
The valve will have to undergo another delicate operation to put it back in place next month after it returns from repairs in Sydney.
"It's much the same as this time, but in reverse," Mr Wood said.
The jet was commissioned in 1970, commemorating the 200th anniversary of Captain Cook's voyage of the east cost of Australia.
With the jet's 50th anniversary approaching next year, Mr Wood said it was important to restore the jet to its former glory, and many Canberrans saw it as an important site on the Canberra landscape.
"We're very much looking forward to its return," Mr Wood said.
"It's a feature that many Canberrans love and we're doing our level best to get it back going."