HOW TO FIX GROCO HF SERIES MARINE HEAD PUMP ON MY CATALINA 30 SAILBOAT + SECRET TIP!

There is never a good time for your marine head (toilet) to break on your boat, but don’t worry! After a quick mental breakdown, I’ll show you how to fix your Groco HF Series manual head pump on your boat or RV in this video. I have had to take apart and put together this hand pump apart more times than I like to think about, so leave a comment below if you have any questions about the Groco HF series pump or about anything at all and I will help you out. If I don’t know the answer, I know someone that does! It really isn’t that hard if you are somewhat mechanically inclined and enjoy working with your own feces.
TOOLS NEEDED
Long flathead screwdriver
16mm socket with a 3” extension
Gloves
Cleaning supplies
(Optional) Mineral Oil lube
MINERAL OIL
www.amazon.com/Swan-Mineral-O...
GROCO HF SERIES PARTS (if you break something)
www.defender.com/search.html?...
Seriously, if you have any questions let me know. My name is Jack and I’ll see you next time ON THE DOCKS! Have fun!

[@garester94501]

Damn! I wish you were working on my Catalina 30! 😉⚒️ Dish soap is a great lubricant for that type of work.

[@Catalinaobregon]

Gosh that is exactly how I feel😢 I have to fix mine 😢😢😢😢

[@ronacampana4035]

great job jack on the docks you fixed it woop woop.

[@packratmatt]

We called ours "El Grono". it finally got the deep six!

[@demetrioramirez3725]

How do you cook on your boat? Would love to see a review of the kitchen space!!!

[@OnTheDocks]

Ohh boy are you in luck! I’ve got 3 videos on the burner about cooking on the boat. Part of my new series call SUPER CHEAP AND EASY BOAT MEALS. Stay tuned!

[@brentjacobsen1757]

Actually, I just started a Grocco HF repair. Unfortunately, I am doing a rebuild. Mineral Oil works well, try adding peppermint oil seems to work and help with the head smell.

[@OnTheDocks]

I’ve rebuilt the whole thing a couple times too if you have any questions. Key things are to not over tighten plastic pieces and to get that spring lined up on the inside and to make sure the duck valve is clean or new so liquid doesn’t leak back in. Thanks for watching!

[@quintonbugiera207]

@@OnTheDocks I just did a rebuilt of my Groco HF head as well and all went well, except I've got water leaking out of the cam assembly now. Any tips or tricks? I used the master rebuild kit, so I did replace the cam assembly gaskets. Thank you, Q.

[@OnTheDocks]

@@quintonbugiera207 there is probably a hairline crack in the plastic. Happened to me. The plastic gets old and breaks. I had to buy the whole new body. You could probably get some 4200 or something like that and seal the crack.

[@JoshPostVlogs]

Good video, my friend. I bought a boat with the same exact toilet. When I went to try to flush the toilet, it’s completely seized in the down position. I can’t pull the plunger handle up at all. Any idea what this might be? Maybe the internals in the white part at the plunger area are completely gunked up? Not sure. Curious if you’ve heard of this problem and how to fix. Thanks!

[@OnTheDocks]

Your just going to have to take it apart. If it was use with salt water and sat for awhile, the will be tons of salt and growth build up. Or the rubber ring might just be degraded. Order the rebuild kit and clean it up!

[@cowboy6591]

Ya should have put some thread lock on it so it doesn't happen again.

[@alex93110]

hot tip with the mineral oil!

[@OnTheDocks]

It really works Alexander! 😉

[@christinep6400]

is there a video out there addressing poor/no water intake on this model of groco head? i have been manually pouring water from a jug to flush as pumping is not pulling sea water up. also, some water is escaping the top of the cylinder where the flange goes in & out/up & down whilst pumping. any pointed advice would be helpful as i'm about to take this apart for the first and last time!

[@OnTheDocks]

Make sure the seacock that lets water in is open all the way. Probably it has growth in the tubes blocking water flow. And if you have leaks, sadly that mean you need to rebuild it with new rubber seals. You can buy the whole rebuild kit.

[@christinep6400]

@@OnTheDocksha! yeah if i've gotten this far of course, i'd hope, i know to check the seacock first, lol! as for preliminary investigation- every time i've asked a diver to check it and run something up from below they do and insist it's clear. i've asked multiple different divers to check this so i don't think it's growth. finally, i've been doing this thing where i fill the bowl to above the max and let a vinegar/water mix *hopefully* drain BACK through the intake line as the bowl is higher than the hoses and it seems to be back flowing, so that i could flush/clean the line in reverse and water seems to be moving back (i fill above the area where the water is discharged into the bowl and it slowly drains down to below that area and stops draining. then, i top it off and do this repeatedly until i think i've done sufficient to run fresh water through the line) i am hoping this is helping to clean it from the muck built up from intake of sea water/algae and indicate it is patent. i'm curious if anyone sees any flaws in my reverse flushing concept? anyhow, my initial message was to address that at this point i realize i likely have to replace the joker valve and gasket(s) but i was wondering mostly why water is back flowing and leaking out from the top of the cylinder? i have looked at the repair kits and there are 2 levels, 'regular' and 'master' and the regular has only the joker valve/gaskets whilst the 'master' includes also the flange, part #18 on the diagram, called a 'piston assay.' so, i was wondering if anyone had experience with this water leak from the cylinder and which part was causing it, a bad joker valve/gasket or the flange letting water escape? it pumps out fine, albeit slow, so i think the flange may be OK. anyone have thoughts on which of these bits would most likely decrease water intake? and, finally, i'm debating on working on this before my upcoming haul-out for anti-fouling, or after, so the thing is drained and dry before i disconnect it. that sounds ideal, unless there is any worse scenario which would entail it better i address this before haul out (which is only for a bottom job/new anti-fouling, so i have not hired crew to do repairs and do not have access to work on the boat while in the yard) sorry if this is so long, but i appreciate the video, and thoughts anyone may have, thanks!

[@OnTheDocks]

@@christinep6400 I’d say if none of that is working you probably just need to buy the rebuild Kit and take it apart. Turn the seacock off, diconnect hose and open it and see if water comes through. Is that is good then you know it’s the pump. Maybe the seals are old and cracked and not providing any suction when you pump so no water is coming in.

[@garester94501]

Often times pouring fresh water into the bowl and pumping will help to prime the raw water intake.

[@natasharae4440]

Hey Jack, I've messaged you on FB asking a few questions regarding your Catalina 30 mark 11, hope thats ok, cheers Neil