1” Febco 765: How To Repair
I have a 1” Febco 765 that I think has been damaged from freezing over the winter. Is it worth trying to repair this assembly or should I just replace it with a new one? Can you give me some information on repairing this unit?
Mark:
It is that time of year again. As spring arrives, people are starting up those irrigation systems and getting them ready for the upcoming season. Usually, the first thing that needs repair in the system is the backflow preventer that was not drained or removed for the winter and was exposed to freezing temperatures. The question of whether to repair or replace is very common when you are watching the geyser coming from the backflow preventer. As a rule of thumb, unless there is a crack in the body of the assembly, you can normally repair without a lot of hassle or expense. Let’s take a look at how to repair this assembly and what components typically can get damaged from freezing.
Doug:
The bonnet and poppet in this assembly are made of plastic and will usually be the parts that break first when the unit freezes. To replace these components we will first have to remove the canopy. The canopy will be a metal, bell-shaped protective cover on top of the unit. It is secured to the bonnet with a lock nut. The bonnet assembly is threaded into the brass body and is sealed with an o-ring. The bonnet will unscrew counterclockwise. If you need a wrench to help loosen, be sure to place the wrench on the very outside diameter of the bonnet to avoid any further damage.
Mark:
Once you remove the bonnet assembly for the 1″ Febco 765, you can get to the poppet assembly. The poppet simply floats up and down within the body and is guided by a stem on the bonnet. The poppet is not attached to anything and comes right out. The next component you will need to inspect is the check assembly. The check assembly is spring-loaded. The check poppet and check spring are held into place by a retainer. The retainer is a flat metal bracket that locks into the brass body. To remove the retainer, simply push it down and turn it 90 degrees. Once that is removed, the spring and the check will come right out.
Doug:
The check assembly can be damaged from freezing, but normally it is intact and still works fine, but it is always a good idea to check it as well. Another thing to look out for when an assembly freezes are the inlet and outlet shutoff valves. Be sure to check those for leaks and replace as needed. Always keep in mind that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If the assembly is properly protected with some type of freeze protection or, if possible, removed from line and stored for the winter, then the spring repair and maintenance bill will be a little lower.
We also offer a specialty bonnet removal wrench.
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