T&T: Fittings/AC System

[John Blackburn]

I added a Thoroflush head to my AC raw water sea strainer (Christmas 
Present), it replaced the original head.  It has a standard female 
garden hose fitting over a ball valve on the top.  When I winterize the 
AC system, I hook up a plastic bucket ($1.98) that I installed a male 
garden hose fitting into the bottom of the side wall ($2,50) and a piece 
of old garden hose with male and female ends (free) to the female 
fitting on the Thoroflush and the male fitting on the bucket then start 
up the AC system.  Fill up the bucket with enough pink stuff to do the 
job plus some more to be safe, close the seacock, open the ball valve on 
the thoroflush and when the pink stuff comes out the discharge, turn 
off. the AC.  Close the valve on the thoroflush, drop the bucket below 
the level of the strainer, unscrew the hose from the Thoroflush, drain 
the remaining pink stuff back into the bucket, put the hose end into a 
empty pink stuff gallon jug, pick up the bucket and drain the leftover 
pink stuff back into the jug.  Done

I can't take credit for this, saw and old AC mechanic do it. AND he only 
charged me $150 to winterize the system!  I had to call him when I lost 
suction on the raw water pump trying to pour the pink stuff into the 
strainer and couldn't keep up.  I could not reprime the system no matter 
what I did.  Cheap lesson.  :-)  The Thoroflush head is also great for 
flushing out the AC system with fresh water, just hook up a hose.

Not sure of the spelling of Thoroflush but you can see their ads in 
PassageMaker and other boating mag's.

John Blackburn
44 DeFever "Yak Rack"
Deale, MD