HeadMate sucks?

[Hermit Scott]

I have been using the wilcox headmate for about a month now. It does not like to pump dry when the bowl is full. I have to pump really slow at first to get the water to start leaving the bowl. Do these just generally suck? Do other heads pump dry better?

I pour some olive oil in it every weekend we use it. I haven't tried a solid in it yet.

 

[Joe]

Try holding the red tipped lever down for a few seconds before you start pumping dry.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Problem may be downstream of the toilet

I've seen sea water minerals build up enough in the head discharge hose to reduce the diameter to less than 1/2"... Or maybe a buildup of minerals etc that's blocking the joker valve...Or maybe a partial clog in the tank vent.

To determine whether the problem is in the toilet or somewhere downstream, disconnect the head discharge line...put a pan or a plastic bag or whatever will catch and hold water under the discharge fitting...flush the toilet. First in the wet mode to bring in water, then in the dry mode. If it works ok with the discharge hose off, the problem isn't in the toilet.

 

[seadaddler]

Ditto

What Joe said about holding down the lever that changes from wet to dry did make it work better if I remember right and always had to pump a lot.
That's why I changed to PHII, I was the only one to get it working but some times it worked better than other times.
Nick

 

[Hermit Scott]

I've seen sea water minerals build up enough in the head discharge hose to reduce the diameter to less than 1/2"... Or maybe a buildup of minerals etc that's blocking the joker valve...Or maybe a partial clog in the tank vent.

To determine whether the problem is in the toilet or somewhere downstream, disconnect the head discharge line...put a pan or a plastic bag or whatever will catch and hold water under the discharge fitting...flush the toilet. First in the wet mode to bring in water, then in the dry mode. If it works ok with the discharge hose off, the problem isn't in the toilet.

this has a new through hull, flange adapter, ball valve, full flow elbow. The pump unit is pretty new. The joker valve is the only questional part.
After a few weeks of use and religiously applied olive oil it is working better. It pumps dry much better. I think I wasn't switching the wet/dry lever all the way down or something.

 

[Head Master18695]

On a manual toilet, the joker valve performs a dual function: 1) it acts as a check valve to stop backflow of waste into the toilet, and 2) it seals on the upstroke of the piston, allowing a portion of the bowl's contents to be drawn through the flapper valve and into the bottom of the pump. Then, on the down stroke of the piston, the flapper valve slams shut, and the flush matter is forced out of the toilet's pump through the joker valve.

If the joker valve doesn't seal on the upstroke of the piston, nothing will leave the toilet bowl. Replace the joker valve (also called a duckbill valve).