Leaky A/B valve?

[jonelli]

All of a sudden, i'm getting water seeping back up into the icebox.
I haven't had time to take anything apart yet, but based on the plumbing I'm assuming it has to be a bad valve, but how do these go bad?
It's a T junction with a selector valve. I don't know what those are called.

It selects what the foot pump gets, either salt water from engine intake, or drain from the icebox. See image.
If I leave it in the position that pumps icebox drainage into the sink, then salt water seeps in slowly somehow (takes a while).
I haven't tried leaving it in the other position now that I think of it.

I'll have to take a picture of the actual valve, but it has a metal handle similar to the one I used to make the image, and just selects A or B from one source.

 

[jonelli]

Stupid unrelated question... do you guys keep some kind of mini plunger on the boat?

 

[jonelli]

Here's a pic. I'm about to order a replacement. It leaks in both positions.
I hope this is the right one:
http://www.grainger.com/product/APOLLO-Bronze-Ball-Valve-1CKG2

 

[The Garbone]

Our icebox drains into the bilge. No matter as we use a 9 day Coleman with wheels instead. Less ice lugging.

Our foot pump feeds from our fresh tanks. Saves us a ton of fresh water metering it out instead of turning on the pressure tap.

 

[jonelli]

Your setup sounds more common based on the diagrams I've seen. I'm not sure if my setup (mkII) was changed or the PO did it. either way I like it. Salt water foot pump is great. Saves fresh water and battery. My bilge stays dry, so draining the icebox into the sink is a good thing to me.

The new three way valve works. No leaks. West Marine carried it for $6 more than Grainger ($30) but Grainger had $10 shipping, so with tax WM was a wash and I didn't put too much money down this drain.

 

[nlneilson]

A/B valve? What does A/B stand for ?? just the two positions one marked A and the other B?

My foot pump is hooked to the fresh water tank. I will get a two way valve and have one position teed into the sea water intake.

 

[Capt jgw]

Commonly called a Y valve. You can sometimes find them at regular hardware stores, but it's a pretty limited market for these so most stores don't stock them.

 

[jonelli]

Yep. Sorry for calling at an A/B valve, didn't know what to call it.