groco hf worth rebuilding?

[Richard19068]

Peggy,I have a Groco HF pump on an HE base. I assume this is original equipment on my 1985 boat. Is this worth rebuilding or do you think I should just spring for a new toilet?Can't get into the archives for some reason or I would have checked there first.Thanks.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

20 years old? Spring for a new one.

That is, if it IS that old. The HE was the 1985 version of that toilet...the HF has been around almost that long, but is still the current version. So if I were you, I'd give Groco a call to find out just how old it is...I'd do it on the boat from your cell so you can look for the identifiers that indicate how old it is while you're talking to 'em.410-712-4242 Ask for Pat...he knows everything.If it does turn out to be more than about 7-8 years old, replace it...And make it a Raritan PH II if you want it to last that long. None of "budget" models are made anywhere near as well as they were 20--even 10 years ago...you'll be lucky to get 5 trouble-free years out of anything cheaper than the PH II.

 

[Richard19068]

Toilets

I assume at some point somebody upgraded the pump portion to the HF but it looks pretty old. I've had it almost 4 years and it sure wasn't new then. I keep it super-lubed and it works OK but is probably more than 7 or 8 so I guess I'll go ahead and replace it with the PH II.Do you think a marine toilet is something you should buy locally in case of problems or is mail order ok?If mail order is ok do you have any thoughts about who has the best prices?Thanks again.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Mail order is fine...

It's the mfr who stands behind it, not the retailer...so shop for the best price you can find. You might want to start here:http://www.boatfix.com/elec/rarprod.asphttp://www.defender.comI suspect replacing it will turn out to be wise decision.

 

[shorty]

Replace

I had an HE on my 1985 boat. Bought the kit to re-build & started in on it making the suggested small modifications to turn it into an HF wannabe but was very unimpressed w/how it worked (real stiff, I forget the exact part but something to do w/the lever to allow dry pumping). It felt like it would fail at some key moment in some pretty little bay when I was full of, well you know. As is said so many times in the column, you don't want to have THAT problem. I scrapped the whole thing and put in a PHII and have been happy with it. Bought from Defender.