Groco K Head Taking a Lot of Strokes to Empty Bowl

[Ocean Girl]

Well we are back in port and even with a handle that allows the pump to fully engage the darn thing is weak and wimpy!
So we are returning the blankidy blank head and researching on an alternative that will work in our small footprint.
If I ever hear the name groco k again...
Erika

[Ocean Girl]

The base is 11 inches deep and 16 inches wide at it's narrowest flaring out to about 19 inches wide at the front
Thanks
Erika

[Blue Stocking]

Originally Posted by Ocean Girl

The base is 11 inches deep and 16 inches wide at it's narrowest flaring out to about 19 inches wide at the front
Thanks
Erika

The advantage of those Grocos was the small base requirement footprint.
Can think why you should be having this problem, normally they will flush a pheasant out of the bush.

[svcambria]

Check these out for absolute simplicity and reliability:

Lavac Popular

Used one on a 31' boat from Tahiti to Washington, worked "just fine"...

Michael

[Ocean Girl]

Originally Posted by Blue Stocking

The advantage of those Grocos was the small base requirement footprint.
Can think why you should be having this problem, normally they will flush a pheasant out of the bush.

It does ok with just liquid (we never flush the paper) but it cannot handle the uh er solid stuff. It seems like the flapper at the bottom of the bowl wont fully open. Calling groco, decided to give a rebuld a go one last time before completely giving up (what can I say, I am a glutton for punishment).
If the raritan PH II fit in our space I would use it, but the only heads that might fit are the really cheapy ones. So gonna give this groco another try.

Any groco folks that may of had this problem please feel free to post a solution.
Erika

[peghall]

If any of the "really cheapy" toilets will fit, the Raritan PHC will fit. The PHC is a PHII pump, but mounted on their Compact II (discontinued at the end of 2010) base and has a shorter handle, to fit in the same space as other compacts. Check it out on the Raritan website here: Raritan PHC It's also available as a "conversion" (everything but the bowl) from the online store at sailboatowners.com sbo.com PHII PHC LBA

The Blake Lavac is also an excellent choice and will definitely fit your space because the pump is a Henderson manual diaphragm pump that's mounted remotely. Check it out here: Lavac Marine Toilets Available from Defender and other marine retailers.

[Ocean Girl]

So the PHC is the same quality as the PHII?
Erika

[peghall]

Originally Posted by Ocean Girl

So the PHC is the same quality as the PHII?
Erika

Yes...the PHC pump IS the PHII Pump. In fact, if you notice on the PHC page on the Raritan site, the link to the owners manual for the PHC says "same as PHII." They just put it on a smaller base and cut 4" off the pump handle to make it fit in the same space as a compact toilet.

[Ocean Girl]

FYI
Groco thinks our problem is the joker valve, Patrick said to reseat the joker and see if that helps. Will try latter today, let you know.
Erika

[HopCar]

Ocean Girl, did you ever resolve this problem?
I have a Groco K toilet on my boat, I like it. Only two rebuilds in twenty two years. I have to admit it doesn't get a lot of use.

[graysailor]

Groco K toilet is the worst toilet I have ever had. Little use and already needs a rebuild. The rebuild is almost impossible. Very over priced toilet. Went back to a Quiet Flush. They are simple and work.

[wsmurdoch]

Hi there.

As you know, we have a 1988 PSC 34 with a Groco Type K. We have owned the boat since 2004. We are on board 150 to 170 nights a year. Over the years I have replaced the joker valve maybe once per two years and the flapper valve or one of its parts maybe once a year. (I just replaced the flapper valve rubber and its permantly attached parts the day before yesterday while we were at Warderick Wells.) We find the head to be completely reliable; no leaks, flushes paper, flushes - well you know what I mean - , and is usually something we can just forget.

The joker valve needs to come out once a year. It gets bits of mineral junk in it that stops it from sealing completely. It can be cleaned, but what the heck, put in a new one if you have one in hand.

The flapper valve can mess up several ways. It can slip off to one side or the other failing to completely cover the hole. The bronze spring that holds it up can corrode away or slip out of its loop in the white plastic part. The harness rivet can corrode away.

The gasket between the bowl and the bronze body can leak. I've replaced it once. I tighten the four bolts that hold the bowl to the bronze body round and round back and forth until they are tight with one finger pulling hard on the wrench 4" from its end.

I replaced all the hoses in 2005 or 6.

Little sea creatures build their homes in the inlet thru hull and need to be encouraged to move away with a large screwdriver from time to time.

I keep a short length of bent up stainless wire in the head to poke out the holes around the lip of the bowl when grass or whatever plugs them up.

The head gets a bit of HCl once a month while we are using it.

I have never been into the bronze body for any reason. Never needed to.

Bill Murdoch
Irish Eyes
www.irish-eyes-to-the-bahamas.blogspot.com

[Ocean Girl]

Hi Bill! Thanks for adding to this, I know it will help some poor soul that has the same issue. We ended up installing the PHII. We love it, though for full disclosure we ar not living aboard so it doesn't get the daily use the groco did.

HopCar, sorry I didn't reply to your question, I missed the post. We ended up returning the second groco and as stated above installed the PHII. We had to mod the head floor a bit to make it work on a Pacific Seacraft, but are very happy with the quality of the head.

I bought peggie's book, and even though I've lived aboard for almost 20years, I learned a lot from it. ( you can teach an old salt new tricks )

Cheers,
Erika

[davashcow]

Took apart my K head today. I love the simple design and robust construction. The directions off the Groco website are essential, but very disorganized. By the way, I never had to pry anything with a screwdriver.

[wsmurdoch]

There is some more information about rebuilding a Groco K in a newer thread:
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...-k-145772.html