So, thanks to the descriptions you all gave me of having to remount a
new toilet and thanks to the chance of saving money, I'm enquiring on if
I can repair the toilet I have. It's a Groco Type K, I can't find any
other numbers or model name other parts numbers on the handle and such.
Anyway, I took off the little backing plate on the back of the toilet
near the bottom with the water intake nipple. Under it is a flat piece
of rubber about 2"X3." It has a flap cut into the middle it with square
piece of flat metal attached to it. Is this the joker valve? The metal
piece contacts the internal portion of the foot pedal.

Just above the metal piece attached to the flat rubber is a tear in the
rubber. Should I fix this? How do I do so? Can I get a replacement part?
Does this make enough sense for anyone to have any ideas about what I
should do?

Thanks,

Stephen

The Groco K is a superb toilet. Groco will rebuild them to as new for
about $200 - all new parts, shafts, rings, etc - cylinder honed, sand
blasted and repainted - I just had my 2 - 15 yr old K's rebuilt - call
them for details.

The joker valve is in the exit elbow. What you're looking at is the
inlet flapper valve. Get a new one and get a new joker valve - it
looks like a puffed out vagina.



On Mon, 17 May 2004 20:19:01 -0700, Stephen Trapani
wrote:

So, thanks to the descriptions you all gave me of having to remount a
new toilet and thanks to the chance of saving money, I'm enquiring on if
I can repair the toilet I have. It's a Groco Type K, I can't find any
other numbers or model name other parts numbers on the handle and such.
Anyway, I took off the little backing plate on the back of the toilet
near the bottom with the water intake nipple. Under it is a flat piece
of rubber about 2"X3." It has a flap cut into the middle it with square
piece of flat metal attached to it. Is this the joker valve? The metal
piece contacts the internal portion of the foot pedal.

Just above the metal piece attached to the flat rubber is a tear in the
rubber. Should I fix this? How do I do so? Can I get a replacement part?
Does this make enough sense for anyone to have any ideas about what I
should do?

Thanks,

Stephen

Stephen Trapani wrote:

I'm enquiring on if
I can repair the toilet I have. It's a Groco Type K...

Aha! That changes everything. All previous advice was based on the
assumption that you had a "budget" model toilet. The Groco model K is a
top of the line manual toilet, toilet, built to last at least 100 years
with reasonable maintenance. I recommend you order a rebuild kit for it.
It'll cost you about $100, but when you consider that the toilet sells
for $600, and that a rebuild kit for a $100 toilet costs $50, well worth it.

Anyway, I took off the little backing plate on the back of the toilet
near the bottom with the water intake nipple. Under it is a flat piece
of rubber about 2"X3." It has a flap cut into the middle it with square
piece of flat metal attached to it. Is this the joker valve? The metal
piece contacts the internal portion of the foot pedal.

No...that's a flapper valve...it's a backflow preventer in the flush
water intake. The joker valve is in the discharge fitting. I couldn't
get the exploded drawing and parts list for it to come up online...but
if you call Groco 410-712-4242, they'll send you one.


Just above the metal piece attached to the flat rubber is a tear in the
rubber. Should I fix this?

It cannot be fixed. It has to be replaced.

How do I do so? Can I get a replacement part?

Yes...call Groco. But unless you want to keep taking the pump apart to
replace every part in the rebuild kit one part at a time as each one
fails, don't get just that part...get the whole kit.

Does this make enough sense for anyone to have any ideas about what I
should do?

Yep. Just don't even THINK of replacing it with a $100 toilet instead of
spending $100 on the one you have. That would tantamount to replacing a
Mercedes with a Yugo because it costs as much to repairthe Mercedes as
whole new Yugo.

And do follow the instructions when you rebuild it. It's not a job
that's particularly intuitive unless you know a good bit more about how
marine toilets work and the functions of the various parts than you know
yet...and it's so much cheaper and easier to do it right the first time
than it is to do it over.

--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://69.20.93.241/store/customer/p...40&cat=&page=1

They quoted me an "average" of $250-$300 to rebuild my K, firm estimate
after receipt of the pump assembly.

Everett

"Going Cruising" wrote in message
...
The Groco K is a superb toilet. Groco will rebuild them to as new for
about $200 - all new parts, shafts, rings, etc - cylinder honed, sand
blasted and repainted - I just had my 2 - 15 yr old K's rebuilt - call
them for details.

snip

The indespensible Peggie Hall wrote:


And do follow the instructions when you rebuild it. It's not a job
that's particularly intuitive unless you know a good bit more about how
marine toilets work and the functions of the various parts than you know
yet...and it's so much cheaper and easier to do it right the first time
than it is to do it over.

Super cool! Thanks so much for all the help. I'm happy to discover I
landed the Rolls Royce of toilets! ;-) The way I see it I've gotten
pretty lucky buying this boat, and, um, well, um not counting needing
the new shaft, prop, um cutlass bearing, um, four broken motor mounts,
running rigging and um, nevermind all that!

Anyway...

I ordered the Groco Type K refurbish kit as suggested ($110) and plan to
fix the toilet myself, but one quick question. The two guys here who
mentioned sending in their Type K's to have Groco do the refurbish made
me a little nervous. Groco said they include an exploded diagram and
instructions. Is there anything about this job I need special tools for
or that is way difficult? I'm pretty handy on everything from cuckoo
clocks to house foundations, not to mention spines (I'm a
chiropractor!). So... no big deal?

Stephen

In article ,
says...

Super cool! Thanks so much for all the help. I'm happy to discover I
landed the Rolls Royce of toilets! ;-) The way I see it I've gotten
pretty lucky buying this boat, and, um, well, um not counting needing
the new shaft, prop, um cutlass bearing, um, four broken motor mounts,
running rigging and um, nevermind all that!

Tee hee. Been there, done that. There is no such thing as a bargain boat.

Stephen Trapani wrote:


I ordered the Groco Type K refurbish kit as suggested ($110) and plan to
fix the toilet myself, but one quick question. The two guys here who
mentioned sending in their Type K's to have Groco do the refurbish made
me a little nervous. Groco said they include an exploded diagram and
instructions. Is there anything about this job I need special tools for
or that is way difficult? I'm pretty handy on everything from cuckoo
clocks to house foundations, not to mention spines (I'm a
chiropractor!). So... no big deal?


Unless the toilet needs parts that aren't in the kit, you should be able
to put it back into good working order yourself with the basic tools
anyone should own. Just pay close attention to how each part is oriented
on the drawing, and use 'em all.
--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://69.20.93.241/store/customer/p...40&cat=&page=1

The shaft and shaft seals - they recommend a new shafts after 7 years.

Kit costs 110 - even if their rebuild is 250 - from my point of view -
for 140 it's worth it - with a guarantee. If if doesn't work and it's
fulla crap - who you gonna blame - beside Bush.



On Wed, 19 May 2004 08:00:06 -0700, Stephen Trapani
wrote:

The indespensible Peggie Hall wrote:


And do follow the instructions when you rebuild it. It's not a job
that's particularly intuitive unless you know a good bit more about how
marine toilets work and the functions of the various parts than you know
yet...and it's so much cheaper and easier to do it right the first time
than it is to do it over.

Super cool! Thanks so much for all the help. I'm happy to discover I
landed the Rolls Royce of toilets! ;-) The way I see it I've gotten
pretty lucky buying this boat, and, um, well, um not counting needing
the new shaft, prop, um cutlass bearing, um, four broken motor mounts,
running rigging and um, nevermind all that!

Anyway...

I ordered the Groco Type K refurbish kit as suggested ($110) and plan to
fix the toilet myself, but one quick question. The two guys here who
mentioned sending in their Type K's to have Groco do the refurbish made
me a little nervous. Groco said they include an exploded diagram and
instructions. Is there anything about this job I need special tools for
or that is way difficult? I'm pretty handy on everything from cuckoo
clocks to house foundations, not to mention spines (I'm a
chiropractor!). So... no big deal?

Stephen

I have 2 Groco Type K heads. One has worked very well, the
other has become the bain of my existence. I have gone through
3 rebuild kits and it still has problems. I flush and after a short time
water bubbles back up into the bowl. Funny thing is that it worked
perfectly for 2 years then all of a sudden this problem popped
up.

Doug
s/v Callista

"Stephen Trapani" wrote in message
...
So, thanks to the descriptions you all gave me of having to remount a
new toilet and thanks to the chance of saving money, I'm enquiring on if
I can repair the toilet I have. It's a Groco Type K, I can't find any
other numbers or model name other parts numbers on the handle and such.
Anyway, I took off the little backing plate on the back of the toilet
near the bottom with the water intake nipple. Under it is a flat piece
of rubber about 2"X3." It has a flap cut into the middle it with square
piece of flat metal attached to it. Is this the joker valve? The metal
piece contacts the internal portion of the foot pedal.

Just above the metal piece attached to the flat rubber is a tear in the
rubber. Should I fix this? How do I do so? Can I get a replacement part?
Does this make enough sense for anyone to have any ideas about what I
should do?

Thanks,

Stephen

In article ,
"Doug Dotson" wrote:

I have 2 Groco Type K heads. One has worked very well, the
other has become the bain of my existence. I have gone through
3 rebuild kits and it still has problems. I flush and after a short time
water bubbles back up into the bowl. Funny thing is that it worked
perfectly for 2 years then all of a sudden this problem popped
up.

Sounds like it's time for a new choker valve.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/