Groco seacocks

[Croix du Sud]

Hi all
Need to replace weary SS filter elements in my two Groco SVS seacocks.
Complying with the boat’s documentation, I ordered parts for SVS-750 (screen SVS-754) but these are undersized. Bad luck.
Instead of engraving «*inspect and clean frequently*», it’d have been wiser to engrave the model reference
Who knows how to identify SVS-1000 and SVS-1250 ? Possibly all Ford Lehman SP-135 engined GB 36 have the same seacocks.
I surmise mine are SVS-1000 but one erroneous order is enough…
Thanks for your assistance
Jean

 

[Comodave]

I have had good success calling Groco and getting support from them.

 

[Frosty]

Can you figure out what size the basic seacock/hose is?

In my experience with Groco, they have a numbering convention related to size.

So for example, "750" is 3/4" (i.e. decimal .75 of an inch)

Then "1000" is 1" (1.0 ")

Then "1250" is 1-1/4" (1.25")

And "1500" is 1-1/2" (1.5")

Etc.

So they use the decimal number to correspond to the percentage of an inch. I know, this must seem crazy to you in France. Think how we feel with 17/32" and etc.


Note: I could be wrong since you have a strainer, but if the size of the strainer corresponds to the size of the hose, and of course the size of the hose corresponds to the size of the seacock, then there's a clue.

 

[HopCar]

Groco casts the model number on it somewhere. Probably down on the seacocks body where the strainer makes it hard to see.

 

[HopCar]

Be aware that that big rubber plug in the seacock is probably near the end of its service life. Unfortunately they quit making them many years ago.

 

[Frosty]

Be aware that that big rubber plug in the seacock is probably near the end of its service life. Unfortunately they quit making them many years ago.

That's a good point. I let the fact that they were "SV" models go right past me. Unless something has changed (doesn't sound like it by Hopcar's post), those rubber plugs are unobtanium (impossible to find). At least in the US and Central America.

Of course if they are still okay, then great (and plus you are working on the strainer right now anyway).

 

[catalinajack]

That's a good point. I let the fact that they were "SV" models go right past me. Unless something has changed (doesn't sound like it by Hopcar's post), those rubber plugs are unobtanium (impossible to find). At least in the US and Central America.

Of course if they are still okay, then great (and plus you are working on the strainer right now anyway).

I have several of those aboard. They are a bit stiff but still work. Expensive to replace with "modern through hulls so they will stay until they fail. I kinda like having one for my overboard black water discharge. Since they lock open or closed that valve passes Coast Guard muster as a lock-out device. Same for the one on one of our heads.

 

[Frosty]

I hear you. Thinking back on how they operated, I don't think they would fail catastrophically; but rather they would start to seep a little when closed giving one plenty of time to replace them when necessary. (Of course cycling them to see if they seep is a good idea, which I imagine you do.)

 

[firstbase]

Who knows how to identify SVS-1000 and SVS-1250 ? Possibly all Ford Lehman SP-135 engined GB 36 have the same seacocks.
I surmise mine are SVS-1000 but one erroneous order is enough…
Thanks for your assistance
Jean

Jean:
My 1987 SP130's had the SVS1000 on the raw water intakes. Westerbeke 8KW had the 750. On the strainers, I tried to replace them a year ago but the ones I was told would fit were too long. I ended up keeping the old ones but had to do some bending and hammering, etc. to get them back in usable condition.

Rebuild kits are available but, as stated, the rubber cones are not. I talked to Groco to see if they knew of a source but they didn't. I ended up replacing the strainers/seacock during a haul out a month or so ago. They didn't look terribly bad installed down in the engine room but when I got them out of the boat and in the sunshine...ouch. Glad I replaced them. That was a big eye-opener for me on things in the engine room.

 

[Croix du Sud]

Many thanks to all of you
I measured the bronze water outlet which is 1*» diameter so it’s an SVS-1000 and contemporary 36 footers are equipped with this seacock
All right now
Best regards
Jean

 

[catalinajack]

I hear you. Thinking back on how they operated, I don't think they would fail catastrophically; but rather they would start to seep a little when closed giving one plenty of time to replace them when necessary. (Of course cycling them to see if they seep is a good idea, which I imagine you do.)

Yes, I do cycle them. They are stiff but they work and do not yet seep. If and when any one of them do, I will consider replacement. That could be many, many years.

 

[Cigatoo]

I pulled one of my SV's apart last winter while on the hard. They are 1984 vintage. Found the rubber to be in good shape. Lightly sanded and cleaned the plug, lubed with Silicone grease and reinstalled. Good as new.

Attached is the Groco drawing of the seacock if you should want to take a look.

 

[JTN Grand Banks]

Groco

I have this from my GB 36 with 120 LEHMAN

 

[Croix du Sud]

Hi Cigatoo
As you worked on one seacock out of two, I surmise you faced the same problem as I did. To extract the rubber plug by sliding it out from the lever side is easy on port seacock but impossible on the starboard one through lack of space between the seacock and the hull stiffener.
Bad mark to GB yard !
Jean

 

[Cigatoo]

Hi Cigatoo
As you worked on one seacock out of two, I surmise you faced the same problem as I did. To extract the rubber plug by sliding it out from the lever side is easy on port seacock but impossible on the starboard one through lack of space between the seacock and the hull stiffener.
Bad mark to GB yard !
Jean

I assume that you are referring to port and stbd seacock/ engines. Ours is a single screw.

 

[DennisB1]

The groco sv series valves use the nominal pipe thread size. Example the sv1250 uses a 1 1/4 inch pipe size. Look up the US pipe diameter for 1 1/4 pipe to identify. The other sizes also related to the pipe size 1 inch, 3/4 inch.