Paging Caber

[Davey Boy]

Caber do you know of anyone who has some real old watersoftner parts?
No name on this one but it is anywhere from 21 to 42 years old.
Still works great, six day cycle, analog timer.
Small leak in a plastic fitting that screws into the side . About a 50 cent part.

Anybody have any idea.

Don't want to have to buy a new one, but that might be my only option. Can leak a lot of water for $900.

[Dean2]

I would take the fitting and do down to a big plumbing supply like Amre and look through their plastic fittings. Ten to one you will find a fitting that will work.

[Benelli1]

You could also try Plumbateria 4203 Brandon St SE. 403 243-9300

[CaberTosser]

Post a pic of the part if you can.

There used to be a water softener specialist in Calgary called Mr Softee (or similar) that we referred for softener repairs years back when I worked at my Dad's company but Google turned up a blank for me, he's likely retired by now anyways.

Older units such as that on timers use a lot more salt than modern sensor types. For instance at my own place we might use 2.5-3 bags a year. It would take a long time to pay for the cost difference of a new softener simply based on salt usage, but also factor in the amount of carrying it in, trips to buy it, etc.

[Davey Boy]

Caber who has the best water softners?
And can a person just put a new control on the tank?

[CaberTosser]

Originally Posted by Davey Boy

Caber who has the best water softners?
And can a person just put a new control on the tank?

Personally I install the Aquamaster Pro line, the one in my own house has been great and problem free in the 9-ish years since we built, of the dozens I've installed I only had to repair one with a mechanical flaw in the control, although another had a very slow leak in the seam of the brine tank where I had to swap that out on warranty.

There are some really expensive water softeners that are flogged by a large household appliance sales company that will prematurely dissolve your water heater anode rods (one Calgary location is in the old south Costco). When noting the issue the water heater manufacturers rep mentioned the brand by name, asking "Do your clients have 'such and such' a brand softener" right off the bat when I described the problem. I'd note the brand name, but that outfit will afford way better lawyers than I can. Anyways, paying way more does not always get you more, sometimes it even gets you a bit too much.

As for the question about putting a new control on the tank, that's never been anything I ever looked into, from my angle I can only warranty a whole new unit so that's what clients usually request.

[Davey Boy]

https://www.lowes.ca/product/water-s...oftener-416876

Lowes has this one for sale right now. Also do you install them.
New one is a different height than old one. 3/4 inch copper would have to be cut and resoldered. I'm not good in that department.

[Davey Boy]

$1900 Aquamaster installed.

[neznam]

If you don't like to add salt look in to NuvoH2O Manor Softener System.

[Davey Boy]

Here are the controls of the softener. Any one recognize the make?
Red arrow on the third pic is the part I need. Not just a plug but has 1/2" projection into the timer.

[flyrodfisher]

The softener was manufactured by Marlo Inc out of Racine Wisconsin.

They were sold and serviced by a company called SUMCO, Summit Engineering Sales out of Calgary and Edmonton....probably 30 or 40 years ago.

Don't know if either of these companies are still around though....but it is a place to start.


BTW, your analog controller is an Autotrol...yours doesn't have the label on it anymore

[Dean2]

Originally Posted by flyrodfisher

The softener was manufactured by Marlo Inc out of Racine Wisconsin.

They were sold and serviced by a company called SUMCO, Summit Engineering Sales out of Calgary and Edmonton....probably 30 or 40 years ago.

Don't know if either of these companies are still around though....but it is a place to start.

Never ceases to amaze me the depth and breadth of knowledge that exists on this Forum. Truly outstanding.

[Davey Boy]

Thank you Fly rod. That gives me a place to start my search. Doubt that there will be any parts for something that old, but stranger things have happened.

[tri777]

Originally Posted by CaberTosser

Post a pic of the part if you can.

Originally Posted by Davey Boy

Red arrow on the third pic is the part I need. Not just a plug but has 1/2" projection into the timer.

Still waiting for you to post a full pic of the part removed in it's entirety..upload it, I may have it..

[flyrodfisher]

It looks like your controller is a model 1550TC

Have a look here https://www.softenerparts.com/Autotr..._1996_s/36.htm

There is a pdf manual that you can download that has the parts for this model.

[CaberTosser]

Looks like the thread title needs to be edited to read flyrodfisher and tri777, obviously they've dug into more guts on softeners than I have.

[Davey Boy]

Originally Posted by tri777

Still waiting for you to post a full pic of the part removed in it's entirety..upload it, I may have it..

Okay here is the pic of the part.

Wow guys are helpful here. Appreciate it.

[tri777]

Originally Posted by Davey Boy

Okay here is the pic of the part.

Wow guys are helpful here. Appreciate it.

Give me till tomorrow evening to have a look,
(post any updates if you locate one, thx)

[flyrodfisher]

Probably something like this one;

https://www.softenerparts.com/Inject...B_p/ap8fbb.htm

[Davey Boy]

That one will work Fly Rod. I have another fella from Aquamagic in Calgary here who is out of town till Fri who says he might have one also.
I will hold off ordering that one till Ron Story and Tri777 get back to me.

Thanks guys you may have saved me hundreds of dollars.

[tri777]

These are all I got Davey Boy..
Pic 1- $4
Pic 2- $12
Pic 3- $8
Looks like flyrodfisher's link may be the way to go

[Dewey Cox]

I have a whole head unit you can have for parts.
No promises if it works, I just took it out of a house,and they haven't run it for years.
I can email you pictures of it if you'd like.
It's in castor though.
But it is hunting season, so there's bound to be someone travelling between here and calgary this weekend.
(Of course, my wife's cousin from calgary was hunting here last weekend...)

[Davey Boy]

Originally Posted by tri777

These are all I got Davey Boy..
Pic 1- $4
Pic 2- $12
Pic 3- $8
Looks like flyrodfisher's link may be the way to go

Thanks for taking the time to find those and post the pics.
Appreciated very much.

[Davey Boy]

Originally Posted by Dewey Cox

I have a whole head unit you can have for parts.
No promises if it works, I just took it out of a house,and they haven't run it for years.
I can email you pictures of it if you'd like.
It's in castor though.
But it is hunting season, so there's bound to be someone travelling between here and calgary this weekend.
(Of course, my wife's cousin from calgary was hunting here last weekend...)

Dewey I just sent you a PM.

[tri777]

Originally Posted by Davey Boy

Thanks for taking the time to find those and post the pics.
Appreciated very much.

Np at all.
I would inspect the part closely though, might just be a simple tear in the rubber O-ring causing the leak.

[Davey Boy]

Originally Posted by tri777

Np at all.
I would inspect the part closely though, might just be a simple tear in the rubber O-ring causing the leak.

O ring is good. Plastic cap has a minute crack in it. Tried to patch it with silicone, but it is under a lot of pressure so just leaked again.
Think Dewey Cox on here has one. He's going to check the part when he gets home. Apparently there is more than one injector cap for these. But I do really appreciate the help on AO it's amazing.

[tri777]

Originally Posted by Davey Boy

O ring is good. Plastic cap has a minute crack in it. Tried to patch it with silicone, but it is under a lot of pressure so just leaked again.
Think Dewey Cox on here has one. He's going to check the part when he gets home. Apparently there is more than one injector cap for these. But I do really appreciate the help on AO it's amazing.

Yes, silicon is a poor fix, this however is something I have had good success with
(for longer than temporary fixes) and strong pressure situations.

https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/j...3805p.html#srp

[Davey Boy]

Originally Posted by tri777

Yes, silicon is a poor fix, this however is something I have had good success with
(for longer than temporary fixes) and strong pressure situations.

https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/j...3805p.html#srp

I'll keep that in mind next time I need something for hard plastic.

And thanks to Flyrodfisher for the part in the US. I just ordered one from Florida so should be back in business in a week or so.
And thanks to Dewey Cox for all his info and help.