Hydrant operating rod and grease in each model B-84-B, B-62-B, B-50-B, and MK-73 hydrant bearing cast dates from 1999 through 2003 must be replaced. American Flow Control will hire an authorized contractor to do the repairs at no expense to the owner, or it will provide a free replacement kit and a labor allowance for each hydrant repaired.

For Customer Questions, please call 800-326-7082 Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CST, e-mail afcquestions@american-usa.com or click on the links to the left for additional information.

To view instructions for rod replacements, please select from the links below:

PDF Instructions by Specific Model:

• MK73-1, MK73-2, B-84-B models
• B-50-B models
• B-50-B Monitor Spool models
• B-62-B models
• B-62-B Monitor Spool models
• B-84-B 1-Piece Rod models
• B-84-B Monitor Spool models

Replacement rod kits repair either 2 or 10 hydrants. To view the contents of each kit, select from the options below. Documents are in PDF format.

• American Valve Hydrant B-50-B models (repairs 2 hydrants)
• American Valve Hydrant B-50-B models (repairs 10 hydrants)
• American Valve Hydrant B-50-B Monitor Spool models (repairs 2hydrants)
• American Valve Hydrant B-50-B Monitor Spool models (repairs 10 hydrants)
• American Valve Hydrant B-62-B models (repairs 2 hydrants)
• American Valve Hydrant B-62-B models (repairs 10 hydrants)
• American Valve Hydrant B-62-B Monitor Spool models (repairs 2 hydrants)
• American Valve Hydrant B-62-B Monitor Spool models (repairs 10 hydrants)
• American Valve Hydrant B-84-B models (repairs 2 hydrants)
• American Valve Hydrant B-84-B models (repairs 10 hydrants)
• American Valve Hydrant B-84-B 1-Piece Rod models (repairs 2 hydrants)
• American Valve Hydrant B-84-B 1-Piece Rod models (repairs 10 hydrants)
• American Valve Hydrant B-84-B Monitor Spool models (repairs 2 hydrants)
• American Valve Hydrant B-84-B Monitor Spool models (repairs 10 hydrants)
• American-Darling Hydrant MK-73-1 models (repairs 2 hydrants)
• American-Darling Hydrant MK-73-1 models (repairs 10 hydrants)
• American-Darling Hydrant MK-73-2 models (repairs 2 hydrants)
• American-Darling Hydrant MK-73-2 models (repairs 10 hydrants)

American is providing to customers a $40 labor allowance to cover labor costs for each hydrant upper rod replaced under AFC's hydrant upper rod replacement program. To receive the labor allowance, you must complete and return to AFC a Hydrant Upper Rod Replacement Log Sheet. The Log Sheet requests your contact name, phone number, and mailing address, and information regarding the physical address or location of each hydrant rod replaced under the program. Check boxes are also included to identify the hydrant model type and the year manufactured. Each form has room to record the location of ten hydrants.

Please send the completed forms to American Flow Control Customer Service at:

AMERICAN FLOW CONTROL  CUSTOMER SERVICE ATTN: BOB PATTON P.O. BOX 2727 BIRMINGHAM, AL 35202

Please contact American Flow Control Customer Service at 800-326-7082 Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM CST if you have any questions, or if you need any additional forms.

AFC is a division of American, whose goal for 100 years has been to provide the public safe, dependable, high-quality products. In order to keep the high standards for which our company is known, we have undertaken to replace all hydrant operating rods in hydrants manufactured with cast dates from 1999 through 2003. We proudly stand behind our products, and will continue to deliver the reliable products and customer service that are the foundation of our company. We appreciate your business.

Download claim form (PDF)

1. What is the problem?
   AFC has found corrosion on some of the fire hydrant operating rods in hydrants with cast dates from 1999 through 2003. (Models B-84-B, B-62-B, B-50-B, and MK73).
2. What is the cause of the corrosion?
   AFC used a grease in hydrants with 1999-2003 cast dates which contained an acetate additive that makes corrosion of the hydrant operating rod possible.
3. What is the effect of the corrosion on the hydrant?
   As the corrosion progresses the hydrants will become increasingly harder to operate. In cases of extreme corrosion hydrants can become inoperable.
4. Are my hydrants safe?
   Hydrants which have been inspected and maintained pursuant to American Water Works Association and AFC maintenance and inspection procedures, and been found to be operating properly, should continue to operate until repairs are completed according to our notice.
5. What is AFC going to do to solve this situation?
   AFC is instituting a hydrant operating rod replacement program to replace operating rods in all hydrants with cast dates from 1999 through 2003. AFC is making free replacement kits available to all customers and is providing a labor allowance of $40 per hydrant to customers for each hydrant repaired.
6. How will the rod replacement program work?
   AFC is sending a notice to all customers of the rod replacement program. AFC will furnish customers at no charge operating rod replacement kits containing all parts, grease and instructions necessary for replacing hydrant rods. Customers may request rod replacement kits from AFC Customer Service, call 1-800-326-7082, or through our website. Along with the replacement kits are forms for customers to complete stating the location, model and cast year of each hydrant repaired. Upon return of the completed form to AFC, AFC will pay the customer a labor allowance of $40 for each hydrant repaired.
7. When should I perform the rod replacement?
   Rod replacement should be combined with inspection and maintenance of hydrants as outlined in American Water Works Association standards and AFC product catalogs. If your inspection and maintenance is not scheduled for this spring, then AFC recommends that you accelerate your schedule.
8. Is there a problem with using food grade greases in hydrants?
   No. The problem as it exists in this case is with grease that contains an acetate.
9. What if the end user has no way of tracking the hydrants by date in question?
   Customers can identify affected hydrants by looking at the date cast on the hydrant barrel, which is located opposite the nozzle.
10. How do I know that hydrants built after 2003 have corrosion free operating rods?
    We changed to a grease that does not contain an acetate in January 2004 and our field inspection confirmed that no corrosion was present in the hydrants with the new grease.
11. Will the repair eliminate this problem in our hydrants?
    Yes.
12. What will I do with the old operating rods that are taken out of hydrants?
    Please contact AFC to make arrangements for the return of old rods to AFC or its distributors.
13. What will I do about grease disposal?
    Grease should be disposed of in accordance with state and local regulations.
14. How do I order the rod replacement kits?
    The kits can be ordered by calling AFC at 1-800-326-7082.
15. How long will the kits be offered?
    Presently there is no deadline for ordering rod replacement kits.
16. What grease should I use in maintaining my hydrants?
    You should not use any food grade grease which contains acetate. AFC is presently using Fuchs FM Grease 387 food grade grease in hydrants, and recommends Fuchs grease for maintenance of AFC hydrants.

American Flow Control (AFC) is advising all customers that grease used in model B-84-B, B-62-B, B-50-B, and MK-73 hydrants with cast dates of 1999 through 2003 contains an acetate additive that makes corrosion of the hydrant operating rod possible. Once started, this condition worsens over time, making hydrants hard or, in extreme cases, impossible to operate. A hydrant which is difficult or impossible to operate poses a serious threat to life and property.

Therefore, the hydrant operating rod and grease in each model B-84-B, B-62-B, B-50-B, and MK-73 hydrant bearing cast dates from 1999 through 2003 must be replaced. The cast date is located on the barrel of each hydrant, opposite the nozzle.

Rod replacement should be combined with inspection and maintenance procedures as outlined in American Water Works Association standards and AFC product catalogs. If your inspection and maintenance program is not scheduled for this spring, then AFC recommends that you accelerate your schedule. AFC will provide, at no charge to you, operating rod replacement kits containing new operating rods, grease, installation instructions, and all other parts necessary to replace the operating rods, plus a labor allowance of $40 for each hydrant that you repair.

Please contact AFC Customer Service at 800-326-7082, Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. CST, or go to www.american-usa.com to order the operating rod replacement kits and to answer any questions you may have. Please have the model number (B-84-B, B-62-B, B-50-B, or MK-73) available when you call. You may also contact your AFC sales representative or distributor for further information.

AFC recommends that customers discontinue using any grease containing acetate in all AFC hydrants, including any grease previously supplied by AFC. AFC recommends using Fuchs FM Grease 387 food grade grease in its hydrants.

AFC is a division of ACIPCO, whose goal for 100 years has been to provide the public safe, dependable, high-quality products. In order to keep the high standards for which our company is known, we have undertaken to replace all hydrant operating rods in hydrants manufactured with cast dates from 1999 through 2003. We proudly stand behind our products, and will continue to deliver the reliable products and customer service that are the foundation of our company. We appreciate your business.

• Joy Carter (205) 325-4735
• Crystal Sorrelle (205) 307-2984