My 22’s 42-year old W-C head stopped pumping this year. Pump handle just moved up and down without resistance, nor moving any water in or out. Just prior to haul out I removed the old unit. Fun contortionist afternoon and only broke one part! Left the bowl aboard and took the massive lower unit home to rebuild. Thought I’d wire brush off the paint to reveal the bronze finish; got halfway through (the easy part) then realized I might end up with an absolutely beautiful, non-functioning head! So stopped and did the rebuild. Discovered, after removing what amounts to a really cool and super-complex piece of mechanicals, that the piston rod had fractured in half. Found a welding shop nearby that I’ll visit on Monday. Looks like a fix! For those contemplating a rebuild, it’s not anywhere as difficult as locating the needed parts!!!
John Gialanella; Tourmaline, NS 22, #8, Bolles Harbor, Lake Erie, Michigan
I also rebuilt our W-C. It is so substantial and beautiful, it is nearly sculpture! it is very hard to get parts now…. Raritan does sell a properly sized joker valve. I had mine sandblasted and powder coated. Looks good.
I have been gifted a W-C throne that is in desperate need of a rebuild. I hope to get this done this winter. Hopefully nothing is broken or made from unobtainium and I can get this done before next season.
After a failure on a passage that found me buying an entire toilet to get a joker valve in a random port I now make sure that a head rebuild kit is in my spares.
The rebuilt kits are no longer availble , there may be some NOS out there and Ebay is a good place to keep an eye out for that sourt of stuff.
Most of the other items could be fabricated from neoprene sheets (MacMaster Carr)
The leather can be replaced by a stailess puck with with an o ring on the outside, a machine shop could fab this item.. Or simply form some leather over the reatiner and trim it.
The impoerial joker valve, I have been told Japsco is a replacement, Don’t lose the spring LOL!
Thor is correct. They are no longer available by anyone. I’ve been collecting parts at marine consignment stores whenever I see them. I have at least 2 more rebuilds which should last me a while I hope.
CAKEWALKIII
(Peter Grabow CAKE WALK III 30U #430 SHYH - Stamford, CT)
9
I replaced my Wilcox/Crittended head with a Raritan PH II (manual) a few seasons ago. Works well and the bolt pattern, if I recall correctly, matched the old head with the exception of only one bolt.
Though the WC head was very good, Thetford bought them many years ago, and the replacement pump cost almost as much as the new Raritan. After the 2nd Thetford pump failed, I decided they weren’t getting anymore on my money and based on reviews/comments in the Nonsuch group I bought the Raritan.
Very satisfied.
it is very hard to get parts now…. Raritan does sell a properly sized joker valve. I had mine sandblasted and powder coated. Looks good.