Servicing Groco HF manual head advice

[Roy J.]

The least appealing task on this year's pre-launch list is fixing the little switch on the head flushing pump that chooses between bringing water into the bowl or flushing dry. I assume the little spring in there is not working and when I replace it, my female crew will be willing to be out on the water for extended periods of time. Having never atempted this before, any head servicing advice would be much appreciated.

There is hope, a friend saw a crocus in Beverly, MA and I only have about 8 inches of snow left in my backyard.

Think spring!!

[Al Levesque]

It's not a difficult, nor dirty, job. The six screws that hold the cover don't usually resist coming out. When you remove the cover, look at the orientation of the valve flap gasket and the position of the spring. Putting it back is just the reverse. Good luck.

We have the same snow as you in our yard in Salem but our boat is stored in Danvers behind a snowbank that was 6 feet high last time I looked.

Al

[s.v. LaVida]

Roy,

You are gona have to buy the whole refit kit to get the bits your looking for . I think it cost around $90.00 on my last one.

While your at it, it makes a lot of sense to rebuild the whole head, cause if the spring is gone, lots more parts are just waiting till its a hot, sunny day and someone had a big meal to dispose of.

Make sure you wear gloves and some eye protection.

When pulling it all apart, take your time, remembering the sequence of taking it all apart. The Groco repair kit has decent instructions and its a fairly simple refit.

Make sure you have the tension on the plunger wipers correct and properly align all surfaces.

I lubricate the new parts with cooking oil after installation.

Good luck.

Mike
s.v.LaVida

[beckydugan]

This project was on my spring list last year. I ended up rebuilding the entire head....if I can do it anyone can. Graco does provide a pretty detailed diagram with the rebuilding kit to make re-installation easy. After re-building we didn't have any problems.

[Roy J.]

Thank you for another display of the depth of knowledge around here. Advice for all things great and small. Here's the kicker -- if the rebuild kit costs $90, and a new head can be found for around $150, is it worth it to rebuild? Would it be much faster and cleaner to remove the hoses and install a new manual head than it would be to tear down and rebuild? I can do the math on dollar cost, but what do you all think of the expense comparison in hours and fecal exposure?

Thanks again. If it rains tonight we will get rid of some more snow. If it turns to snow, forget about it. According to the tide/sunrise chart, Boston's north shore experienced the vernal equinox earlier this week, so I'm already thinking spring.

[s.v. LaVida]

I'd shop around for the kit, I may have paid top dollar.

I think its easier to rebuild, but from my understanding, the newer Groco units use less water, hence your holding tank will last longer before the next pumpout.

6 of one, half a dozen of the other.

sea u,
Mike
s.v. LaVida

[cbrenton]

Three things have impressed me with this problem:

1. The head is relatively inexpensive.
2. The repair kit is pricey.
3. Working on the head on board is relatively difficult and unpleasant.

My solution: I bought a second head. At the first sign of malfunction, I immediately replace the unit. I take the old one home and rebuild in the back yard, at my leisure.

Charlie Brenton

[Bob L]

there are two types of rebuild kits available. The $45 one is the one you need to fix your problem and to replace several other parts. The more expensive kit replaces the plunger as well and a few other things as well.

Bob