Jabsco Head rebuild or replace...?

Les · Jan 3, 2012

You'll get quite a bit of advice on this subject on this forum. First off, if you're new to boating (and heads) get Peggie Hall's book on heads and holding tanks, etc. on this web site. It is the best on the market. Not expensive and not long but very valuable.

My last five NEW boats all had Jabsco heads on them. At first I would use the repair kits but I kept repairing them it seemed like every year. So I replace the Jabsco with Raritan PHII and other then maintenance like lube and joker valves never had a problem. There is another aspect of having Raritan heads is the peace of mind. I know it won't let go on me while I'm not there.

You might look into getting the Raritan Bottom Replacement kit where you keep the present bowl and put in a number bottom and pump assembly. Also available on this web site.

I've now installed five Raritan heads over the years. It's an upgrade to your boat--along with a Max Prop, roller furling, etc. You'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner. I, too, own a day sailor and overnighter and it still makes sense to me to change heads

Steve Dion · Jan 3, 2012

Squidd: Those others that "reamed" you were really doing it for your own good. We have one well know sailor (that shall be kept nameless) on this site that has spent over $600 (and it may be growing) on Jabsco repair kits. He has told me that he would be biting the bullet and going to a different toilet in the future. LOL

Benny17441 · Jan 3, 2012

Well if you have already ordered the kit this may be a non issue. The inexpensive Jabasco models are usually replaced rather than rebuild. The repair kit is almost as expensive as a new unit and if you factor in the work and hassle it is not worth the trouble. Think of it as doing a full classic car restoration on a Ford Pinto.

Kings Gambit · Jan 3, 2012

In my experience a Jabsco is fine. I actually have two of them on the Bavaria 38. Both are working, and have been for 12 yr. Just replace the joker valve once a year. You might need to replace the diaphragm in the pump housing once in 10 yr. I use 3 in 1 oil to lube the pump handle (shaft) when it starts to squeak sometimes.

windward54 · Jan 3, 2012

Nothing wrong with a Jabsco, as long as you recognize what it is. It is a lower end unit, but on a day sailer, they can do what they are required to do. I've had a few on other boats, and with a little preventive maintenance, they did fine. At a certain point, they give up the ghost and you start over with a new unit. I was always lucky as that usually happened around the time the head went on sale.

Kings Gambit · Jan 3, 2012

Benny17441 said:
Well if you have already ordered the kit this may be a non issue. The inexpensive Jabasco models are usually replaced rather than rebuild. The repair kit is almost as expensive as a new unit and if you factor in the work and hassle it is not worth the trouble. Think of it as doing a full classic car restoration on a Ford Pinto.

Repairing or servicing a Jabsco is not that much of a hassle unless it's in a place where you cannot easily open the housing to the joker valve. The pump diaphragm housing can easily be taken apart--just 4 screws on the top (where you can access them). Even if the pump cylinder cracks and needs to be replaced, that's also an easy job. Got to ebay for parts--sometimes they're available there. I can service one in less than 10 min.

Don12364 · Jan 3, 2012

My Jabsco is now 17 years old and gives no trouble at all.
I needed to change the pump after the first 5 years because the pipes in and out cracked at the point they joined to the pump.
I have never needed to replace the joker valve and only re grease the piston twice a year - but then I am not working into a holding tank so a leaking valve might not show up.
Also, in the UK, though we have no discharge overboard legislation (yet), most people use marina facilities whenever possible.

Ralph Johnstone · Jan 3, 2012

As Already Mentioned ...............................

.................. as long as you realize it's not a top end unit and just accept it as such you'll be alright.

I had to rebuild mine about six years ago but altered it a bit during the rebuild and it's been great ever since.

The cause for the rebuild was due to the fact I had been removing the cover cap every year in order to lubricate the piston ring. This had gone rather well for several years until the $%#^&* plastic threads in the pump body stripped and I could no longer seal against the cover gasket. Looked like someone pissed themself every time the pump was operated.

A failed pump just because the screw threads in the plastic finally stripped. :cussing:

It was early summer and I was in a rush to repair the head so I just purchased a new pump unit minus the bowl. I think it was about $5.00 cheaper than a whole new head ! ! !

I vowed then and there that I would never entertain Jabsco again. :cussing:

The one way I could see to avoid ruining the threads in the pump body again was to never (or almost never) have to open the pump again to lube the piston ring. At the end of the season, I took the pump apart once again to see if there was some way of "almost" permanently lubricating the O ring piston ring. What I eventually settled on was to install two pistons on the shaft (one from the failed pump along with the new one). I did this by running the thread a little further up the shaft so that I could now fit the two pistons on the one SS shaft. When it came time to re-assemble the pump, I packed the space between the two piston rings with Super Lube grease as well as coating the interior of the cylinder with the grease. Now there was a place for the grease to collect and hide rather than being wiped away after a period of time.

After a season of heavy use, I noticed a small amount of resistance appearing in the the pump which indicated that the two piston rings were headed towards a shortage of lubrication. Rather than removing the pump cover to lubricate the piston (and eventually destroying the body threads) I heated the pump cylinder (with a hair dryer) in the location of where the pistons were sitting. Once this was good and hot, and with a little rotation and pump action, the Super Lube between the rings found its way on to the cylinder wall and the pistons were as free as when first installed.

I have been doing this at the end of each season for four seasons now and so far there has been no need to open the pump to add lubrication.

Maybe this thing will last now because if it doesn't, I swear

it's over the side with it and install a respectable head.

kloudie1 · Jan 3, 2012

I bought a Jabsco four of years ago when the old WC broke and no parts were easily available.. Worked fine until this past summer when the shaft seal started leaking on the up-stroke. The other thing it did was not go to full pump consistently when the lever was switched. I did a little research and found a complete twist lock pump unit on E-bay for just a coupla dollars more than the rebuild kit. Bought one, lubed it with super lube and installed it with the new base gasket. Looking at the old one, the little lip seal on the shaft was failing and the "flapper" gasket was swollen and deformed. I bought a new flapper gasket and also bought several of the little lip seals from an industrial supplier and rebuilt the pump. Sealed it in a plastic bag so it is ready.. It can be changed by manipulating only 4 screws. The newer pumps can be opened for lubrication by turning the handle counterclockwise to unscrew the big boss which will then let ya remove the piston. I will eventually get a Raritan, but so far, the Jabsco has been fine. Squidd, since you are in fresh water, there should not be as many problems as normal for the little fella.

Benny17441 · Jan 3, 2012

No offense meant with the Pinto analogy. Preventive maintenance is necessary for any piece of equipment no matter what it may be. My first boat with a head had a Jabsco and I thought they were all the same until I stepped aboard other boats and seen units from other manufacturers. To me the Jabsco gets the job done but in a rather crude way. They are noisy, allow foul odors to come up and the pumps seem to leak within a year of being replaced. I like your comment about "elbows in poo...." but never get your face close to the bowl as you pump because they are known to regurgitate. It seems I have been in your shoes and did exactly what you are doing and I bet a dollar that one day you will likely do as I did and get rid of that POS. Believe it or not there are folks out there that will pay a couple of thousand dollars for a particular brand of head to showpiece as theyr latest improvement. Could never understand that.

thinwater · Jan 3, 2012

Folks get pretty hot on the subject.

I'm sure there are many variables, including one's ability to be gentle, not over tightening bolts. Still, eventually they strip. Many older Jabscos are seen with bolts drilled-through where the screws were. Mine is 14 years old and doing well. However, if I was a live-aboard I'd get some thing more robust. You'll need to teach everyone to watch what they flush and that flushing in 2 stages is OK.

Replacing the joker valve is an annual task on every head. That doesn't count. How difficult the job is depends more on the hose installation than the head (if the hose was forced on it's tough). That may be all it needs. Do that first. You'll also get to see if the lines have a lot of lime build-up.

An annual lube of the pump with heavy silicon grease is what the manufacturer calls for, not 3-in-one oil. Petroleum oil (3-in-one) is bad for the seals and shortens their lives.

Major rebuilds on Jabsco's are probably a waste. For just a few dollars more you can buy the whole pump, which is a 10-minute clean replacement. You might even return the rebuild kit and buy the pump.

Replace the joker valve only first, and then see where you stand. If you were moving aboard or had a huge budget, I'd suggest something different.

Ron20324 · Jan 3, 2012

Obvioulsy, some people have their experiences to complain about, as they do with almost all mechanical equipment. I have to think the the majority (but I could be wrong) heads in use are Jabsco. I do alot of overnight cruises with 3 different people each time and put the boat to test- especially the Jabsco head. All I've done in 6 years is replace the joker valve. Use what you have and develope your own opinion.

Patrick S/V Shangra-La · Jan 4, 2012

When my pump went bad I just purchased a new pump assembly and replaced the old on. I have had no troubles with the head since changing it. As I understand it this is a better choice than rebuilding the system.

Snotter · Jan 4, 2012

http://www.amazon.com/Jabsco-29040-3000-Marine-Manual-Assembly/dp/B001794BS0 is selling pump assemblies for 57.55$.

BillyK · Jan 4, 2012

Snotter said:
http://www.amazon.com/Jabsco-29040-3000-Marine-Manual-Assembly/dp/B001794BS0 is selling pump assemblies for 57.55$.

i just installed this exact assembly last month.. I've only ever owned Jabsco crappers, and they've always done a fine job of sucking down a solid "two stage" dump when i thought there would be no way this little head could eat a poo of this magnitude. Whats a better test of a head then after a night with a case of beer, some whiskey, bad Chinese food, a piece of old pizza and a cheesesteak? I filled that bowl up beyond any engineer's expectation of what max load would be along with significant wiping to erase last nights memory from my rear end. Then standing up, turning around, closing my mouth and squinting my eyes for fear of the wrath of Jabsco rejecting my deposit. And with a flip of the switch, a twist of the handle and a pump of the lever, inch by inch good ole Jabsco processed that load and moved it down the tube and two feet to the left into the hold without so much as a shudder. Why would i need anything else?

seadaddler · Jan 4, 2012

Amazon

I would get the new complete pump as mentioned at AMAZON and if not get the PBII upgrade replacement here on this forum,I did with my WC and used the same Bowl so you don't need to throw the whole thing out,the PHII is a much better head for sure and after I upgraded my wife and guest were so much happier and I love it never needs repairing just some lube.
Nick