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