Groco Sea Strainer Plastic Basket

[Uisce Beo]

I'm just not sure if I'm seeing a problem where none exists, or . . .
When replacing the plastic basket in my Groco sea strainer I see a round indentation with 4 slots on the bottom of the basket. I can seat the basket firmly in the Groco but it quickly floats up. There is no twist to lock that I can see.
So, when I screw the cap back on I can see the handle is compressing. The question is will that seat the basket properly or not? I'm thinking it must be seating or I couldn't screw the cap on but just don't see a way to be sure.
Hope that makes sense and any advice very welcome.

 

[Bmarler]

Doesn’t seem right, unless it depends on the handle to ensure it’s all the way down in the housing. I’d try draining the housing and see if it makes a difference on how it seats. Suck the water out with a turkey baster or something. Then see if rotating the basket let’s it sit down further.
Mine are stainless mesh so don’t float. But I do suck the water out so I can clean the glass.

 

[Uisce Beo]

Rotating the basket doesn’t do anything. There are no tabs or slots so it just rotates on the “peg”. Certainly seems a curious design.

 

[ranger58sb]

Our stainless baskets do -- eventually -- fit far enough down inside the housing so the handle isn't compressed.

The "eventually" part is abut rotation until magic happens...

Haven't seen basket floating; usually we don't have enough water in the housing (before closing it all up) for that to happen.

-Chris

 

[Uisce Beo]

I'll fiddle with it a bit more today and see if I can get it to seat and stay there. Twisting doesn't seem to do anything and I can't see on the basket anyway twisting would actually do anything.

 

[O C Diver]

I had a Groco 2" strainer with a plastic basket.

Yes, the handle holds the basket in place. Also, the water flow is designed to push the basket down, not up.

The the handle is fragile and will break over time, from removal and cleaning, not from the lid pressing on it. Develop a technique where your lifting the basket without touching the handle. I used a hook tool. Hold the basket by the mesh side when cleaning. If you break the handle, you can temporarily fix it with heat shrink tubing (electrical). I also tie wrapped two fishing sinkers ( inside the basket) to hold the basket down when the handle broke. Probably should have just dropped them in the basket and dumped the basket when cleaning, in a bucket.

Ted

 

[Uisce Beo]

Thanks. That's very helpful. I did read that copper or weights in the plastic basket might not be a good idea. The turbulent water flow can cause the weight to break the basket sending plastic bits into your pump.

 

[O C Diver]

Thanks. That's very helpful. I did read that copper or weights in the plastic basket might not be a good idea. The turbulent water flow can cause the weight to break the basket sending plastic bits into your pump.

The bottom of the basket is solid and probably sees next to no flow. I wouldn't use sharp objects.

Another thought, if a few ounces of lead makes a big difference, wrap the bottom half inch of the outside mesh with electrical tape. Insert the sinkers and pour in a 1/4" of epoxy to hold everything in place. Remove the electrical tape when cured.

Ted

 

[Bmarler]

Or maybe make up a stainless mesh basket to replace it?

 

[O C Diver]

Or maybe make up a stainless mesh basket to replace it?

They make stainless mesh baskets for Groco strainers, but on applications where water flow can be 1,000 hours a year (air conditioning), electrolysis eats the basket (no anode). Nylon baskets hold up better in those applications.

Ted

 

[smipancho]

I'm just not sure if I'm seeing a problem where none exists, or . . .
When replacing the plastic basket in my Groco sea strainer I see a round indentation with 4 slots on the bottom of the basket. I can seat the basket firmly in the Groco but it quickly floats up. There is no twist to lock that I can see.
So, when I screw the cap back on I can see the handle is compressing. The question is will that seat the basket properly or not? I'm thinking it must be seating or I couldn't screw the cap on but just don't see a way to be sure.
Hope that makes sense and any advice very welcome.

I had/have the same issue. I drain the basket about halfway down, seat the strainer...which a Groco tech told me to do...center post and the 4 insets. Then screw the cap on, no compression, all works as it should.

Pancho on Bobcat
Nordic Tug 42