Head backing up

[YVRguy]

Lately I'm noticing that the toilet bowl on my Hunter 34 is half full with smelly water every time I look in the head, even tough it has been thoughly pumped (flushed) after the last use. I'm leaving it in the dry position as the instructions indicate.

I would have assumed that the tank is full but the guage reads only 1/4 full. You can see that there is back pressure pushing water into the bowl yet it doesn't resist flushing. I can completely empty the bowl - it just fills up again a few moments later. Anyone have any thoughts?

PS the seacock is open.

 

[kloudie1]

sounds like a bad "joker" valve.. use a garden hose to add a bunch of fresh water while pumping the head to clear it.. then you can disassemble the outlet elbow and replace the joker. There will be some water that will come out when you open the bottom of the pump .. ya want to make sure that the water is the fresh that you just put in ! After you go to the "dry" position, give it about 6-8 vigorous pumps to try to push everything into the holding tank.. Then remove the elbow and change the joker with the correct one for your head.

Here is a good article by ThinWater on this site:
http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/2012/11/its-always-joker.html

 

[Stretch]

Kloudie is right the valve needs replacing. Also, your tank gauge could be stuck, if the boat was sitting for some time before you bought it. The vent line could also be plugged at either end, too, which could cause back pressure. Take a flashlight and light one side of your tank, you can confirm the gauge. Otherwise you will have a mess on your floor when you heel over sailing, yuck.
This book will answer all your questions, I read it as well. http://shop.hunterowners.com/prod.php?53615/Get Rid of Boat Odors

 

[onecoolair]

sounds like a bad "joker" valve.. use a garden hose to add a bunch of fresh water while pumping the head to clear it.. then you can disassemble the outlet elbow and replace the joker. There will be some water that will come out when you open the bottom of the pump .. ya want to make sure that the water is the fresh that you just put in ! After you go to the "dry" position, give it about 6-8 vigorous pumps to try to push everything into the holding tank.. Then remove the elbow and change the joker with the correct one for your head.

Here is a good article by ThinWater on this site:
http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/2012/11/its-always-joker.html

This is also a good time to add some Teflon water proof grease to the pump.

 

[robertsapp]

I'd bet a beer that your tank vent line is plugged. When you pump, you're able to move the bowl contents into the tank, but because it can't vent, it builds up pressure. This causes whatever may be left in the line to be slowly pushed back into the bowl, along with odor. Another symptom would be if the bowl gurgles when you're having the tank pumped. It should get its air from the vent line, but if it's plugged, it will suck it through the toilet. The vent line gets plugged if you've ever overfilled the tank, allowing some crap to enter the vent, dry out and plug it. It can also get plugged if a wasp or mud daubber builds a nest in the line.

 

[YVRguy]

I'd bet a beer that your tank vent line is plugged. When you pump, you're able to move the bowl contents into the tank, but because it can't vent, it builds up pressure. This causes whatever may be left in the line to be slowly pushed back into the bowl, along with odor. Another symptom would be if the bowl gurgles when you're having the tank pumped. It should get its air from the vent line, but if it's plugged, it will suck it through the toilet. The vent line gets plugged if you've ever overfilled the tank, allowing some crap to enter the vent, dry out and plug it. It can also get plugged if a wasp or mud daubber builds a nest in the line.

Interesting thought - thanks!

 

[Claude L.-Auger]

All good ideas and easy to do. I would just add my 2 cents by saying that besides pushing clear water in the tank, if you have the opportunity to do a pump out before tackling the job, you put all chances on your side not to have a mess on your hands (pun intended) ! Good luck.

 

[YVRguy]

All good ideas and easy to do. I would just add my 2 cents by saying that besides pushing clear water in the tank, if you have the opportunity to do a pump out before tackling the job, you put all chances on your side not to have a mess on your hands (pun intended) ! Good luck.

Oh yeah... First thing I did!