Hi,
I have a Groco HC toilet on my CD33, which lets water in even when the water inlet lever is in the closed position. Consequently, I have to use the seacock to control water flow, and then the water comes in pretty fast. I took the pump apart and it sure looks like it is operating as it is designed to. All I can figure is that the valve parts have to be replaced. Sure enough, the original documentation on the toilet shows a rebuild kit. It does not however give a phone number or address for Groco. I've looked at marine suppliers on the web, and searched for Groco, but can't find them or the kit anywhere. Worst case, I'll have to replace the toilet...
So here's the question: does anyone know where to get the rebuild kit? If not, what is the best fit toilet to replace the original?
Thanks,
Ron Flannery
CD33 Annie Laurie
ron.flannery@home.com
Groco HC toilet repair kit
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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D. Stump, Hanalei
Re: Nothin' like a brandy new Head!!!
Ron,
I just replaced the head on Hanalei with a brand new Grocco. I had rebuilt it before, and a re-build kit can be obtained from West Marine, but I felt it was just time after 16+ years to put in a new one. It cost about $150.00, went in easy and fit the same or almost the same as the old one.
As far as water entering when flush valve is closed (dry bowl setting), don't ever rely on that wimpy little valve to keep your vessel from sinking. ALWAYS close the tru-hull when the task at hand is completed. Hanalei was almost sunk by an inexperienced guest and a Captain that didn't check about a year ago. Last thing we check when we leave the boat is THAT thru-hull!
Oh, I haven't purchased one in a long time, but I think the re-build kit will nip ya about $30-$45! Sometimes it's cheaper in the long run to just start over....
Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30
I just replaced the head on Hanalei with a brand new Grocco. I had rebuilt it before, and a re-build kit can be obtained from West Marine, but I felt it was just time after 16+ years to put in a new one. It cost about $150.00, went in easy and fit the same or almost the same as the old one.
As far as water entering when flush valve is closed (dry bowl setting), don't ever rely on that wimpy little valve to keep your vessel from sinking. ALWAYS close the tru-hull when the task at hand is completed. Hanalei was almost sunk by an inexperienced guest and a Captain that didn't check about a year ago. Last thing we check when we leave the boat is THAT thru-hull!
Oh, I haven't purchased one in a long time, but I think the re-build kit will nip ya about $30-$45! Sometimes it's cheaper in the long run to just start over....
Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30
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Larry DeMers
Re: Nothin' like a brandy new Head!!!
Ron,
You will not find a rebuild kit for the HC version directly I believe, but rather they will have you upgrade to an HF model, which is even higher than the $35 that Dave told you about. He's right..spring for a new Groco..who are carried by all of the catalogs by the way. Get a rebuild kit at the same time as you order the new unit.
Lastly..absolutely..do not depend on the dry bowl switch to stop water from coming in..or you will chance loosing that boat. We also had a bad experience with leaving the seacock open while sailing one time..wow..did that bilge ever fill up quick! We now have a new rug in the salon due to this screwup too.
Have fun!
Larry DeMers
s/v DeLaMer
Cape Dory 30
demers@sgi.com
You will not find a rebuild kit for the HC version directly I believe, but rather they will have you upgrade to an HF model, which is even higher than the $35 that Dave told you about. He's right..spring for a new Groco..who are carried by all of the catalogs by the way. Get a rebuild kit at the same time as you order the new unit.
Lastly..absolutely..do not depend on the dry bowl switch to stop water from coming in..or you will chance loosing that boat. We also had a bad experience with leaving the seacock open while sailing one time..wow..did that bilge ever fill up quick! We now have a new rug in the salon due to this screwup too.
Have fun!
Larry DeMers
s/v DeLaMer
Cape Dory 30
D. Stump, Hanalei wrote: Ron,
I just replaced the head on Hanalei with a brand new Grocco. I had rebuilt it before, and a re-build kit can be obtained from West Marine, but I felt it was just time after 16+ years to put in a new one. It cost about $150.00, went in easy and fit the same or almost the same as the old one.
As far as water entering when flush valve is closed (dry bowl setting), don't ever rely on that wimpy little valve to keep your vessel from sinking. ALWAYS close the tru-hull when the task at hand is completed. Hanalei was almost sunk by an inexperienced guest and a Captain that didn't check about a year ago. Last thing we check when we leave the boat is THAT thru-hull!
Oh, I haven't purchased one in a long time, but I think the re-build kit will nip ya about $30-$45! Sometimes it's cheaper in the long run to just start over....
Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30
demers@sgi.com
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Brian Hickson
Re: Groco HC toilet repair kit
I also needed Groco parts, and thanks to Mitchell Bober, I was able to track down Groco at 410 712-4242. Ask for June who is very knowledgeable and helpful.
Brian
Brian
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Bob Luby
Re: Nothin' like a brandy new Head!!!
Ron: I think I had a similar problem. My Groco (hc or he ) had a plastic base for the pump/and bowl assemblies. After 12 years it might be prone to cracking as mine did when I landed on it heavily one day.
No problem, but I did get comments from passers-by as I dissassembled the head in my cockpit. I guess they thought I was conscientiously seeking to ensure that I kept a proper lookout at *ALL* times.
The HF has a cast bronze base which is a bolt-in replacement. If your's is plastic, replace it. Otherwise, if you look at the rebuild kit, you may find that you are replacing all the parts that *can* wear out. In that case, do the rebuild and save the $$
Rluby@aol.com
No problem, but I did get comments from passers-by as I dissassembled the head in my cockpit. I guess they thought I was conscientiously seeking to ensure that I kept a proper lookout at *ALL* times.
The HF has a cast bronze base which is a bolt-in replacement. If your's is plastic, replace it. Otherwise, if you look at the rebuild kit, you may find that you are replacing all the parts that *can* wear out. In that case, do the rebuild and save the $$
Rluby@aol.com
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Dennis Truett
Re: Groco HC toilet repair kit
Had my HC go bad last summer on SUMMERWIND. Took it out and brought it home over the winter. I found the rebuild kit at Kellog Marine supply (catalog) I rebuilt it and returned it to the boat. While attempting to attach the discharge hose, the plastic flange broke. I tried everything to repair it without success. I ended up replacing and upgraging to the Groco HF with the bronze base. That was only $129 at post marine (1 800 yachter) Great prices! By the way... the mounting holes in the base wern't the same. really pissed me off!
(pardon the pun)
Good luck
Dennis truett CD26D
truettdc@frontiernet.net
(pardon the pun)
Good luck
Dennis truett CD26D
Ron Flannery wrote: Hi,
I have a Groco HC toilet on my CD33, which lets water in even when the water inlet lever is in the closed position. Consequently, I have to use the seacock to control water flow, and then the water comes in pretty fast. I took the pump apart and it sure looks like it is operating as it is designed to. All I can figure is that the valve parts have to be replaced. Sure enough, the original documentation on the toilet shows a rebuild kit. It does not however give a phone number or address for Groco. I've looked at marine suppliers on the web, and searched for Groco, but can't find them or the kit anywhere. Worst case, I'll have to replace the toilet...
So here's the question: does anyone know where to get the rebuild kit? If not, what is the best fit toilet to replace the original?
Thanks,
Ron Flannery
CD33 Annie Laurie
truettdc@frontiernet.net
-
Ron Flannery
Re: Groco HC toilet repair kit
OK. Here's what has happened so far...
I called Groco. They had nothing interesting to tell me other than I should order the kit from West Marine. I went on-line, and found the kit for about $70. It came in a BIG box, but there was very little in there. I opened up the "instruction" sheet, and saw that there were no instructions, just an exploded parts drawing. That's OK, I'm not stupid (!) and I can figure this stuff out.
I pumped a lot of water through the head, closed the seacock, and started removing hoses and screws. This job only seems disgusting. Well, it does. Maybe it is.
I had spread a large garbage bag on the salon table and placed a roll of paper towels within easy reach. I put the pump on the table and started to take it apart, taking care to put things down on the table, in order, right side up. As I removed parts, I would compare them to the parts in the kit, and if there was a replacement, I put that on the table instead and set the old part aside.
Amazingly, there were many more parts in the kit than in the pump!!! I don't know how the old pump worked at all; or maybe all these extras were unecessary. Who can say. Everything went very well, except for this spring that came in the kit (wasn't in the pump) which could have gone into at least two, maybe three different places according to the exploded view. I took a best guess and stuck the small end of the spring on the little nipple at the top of the flap piece. It looked good until I tried to put it all together, then I wasn't so sure. Still, it seemed like the only place that did anything useful...
I put the pump back in place in the head and tried it out. It worked, I guess. I mean, it pumped out the head and didn't let any water into the boat, but you know, I kind of liked the way it used to work better.
But I'm just going to wait. I'll bet in 20 years or so, it will be back to its old tricks.
Thanks for all your help and advice. You guys are great,
Ron Flannery
CD33 Annie Laurie
So I take the kit to the boat
ron.flannery@home.com
I called Groco. They had nothing interesting to tell me other than I should order the kit from West Marine. I went on-line, and found the kit for about $70. It came in a BIG box, but there was very little in there. I opened up the "instruction" sheet, and saw that there were no instructions, just an exploded parts drawing. That's OK, I'm not stupid (!) and I can figure this stuff out.
I pumped a lot of water through the head, closed the seacock, and started removing hoses and screws. This job only seems disgusting. Well, it does. Maybe it is.
I had spread a large garbage bag on the salon table and placed a roll of paper towels within easy reach. I put the pump on the table and started to take it apart, taking care to put things down on the table, in order, right side up. As I removed parts, I would compare them to the parts in the kit, and if there was a replacement, I put that on the table instead and set the old part aside.
Amazingly, there were many more parts in the kit than in the pump!!! I don't know how the old pump worked at all; or maybe all these extras were unecessary. Who can say. Everything went very well, except for this spring that came in the kit (wasn't in the pump) which could have gone into at least two, maybe three different places according to the exploded view. I took a best guess and stuck the small end of the spring on the little nipple at the top of the flap piece. It looked good until I tried to put it all together, then I wasn't so sure. Still, it seemed like the only place that did anything useful...
I put the pump back in place in the head and tried it out. It worked, I guess. I mean, it pumped out the head and didn't let any water into the boat, but you know, I kind of liked the way it used to work better.
But I'm just going to wait. I'll bet in 20 years or so, it will be back to its old tricks.
Thanks for all your help and advice. You guys are great,
Ron Flannery
CD33 Annie Laurie
So I take the kit to the boat
Ron Flannery wrote: Hi,
I have a Groco HC toilet on my CD33, which lets water in even when the water inlet lever is in the closed position. Consequently, I have to use the seacock to control water flow, and then the water comes in pretty fast. I took the pump apart and it sure looks like it is operating as it is designed to. All I can figure is that the valve parts have to be replaced. Sure enough, the original documentation on the toilet shows a rebuild kit. It does not however give a phone number or address for Groco. I've looked at marine suppliers on the web, and searched for Groco, but can't find them or the kit anywhere. Worst case, I'll have to replace the toilet...
So here's the question: does anyone know where to get the rebuild kit? If not, what is the best fit toilet to replace the original?
Thanks,
Ron Flannery
CD33 Annie Laurie
ron.flannery@home.com