Raritan PHii pump rebuild

Don Crowther · Nov 11, 2017

Thanks
I've got my pump at home for a winter project.

Tally Ho · Nov 11, 2017

Excellent video. Thanks for sharing. My wet/dry valve is hard to turn...now I have confidence to take it apart!

I am surprised your wife let you tear that apart on the kitchen counter....and use her toothbrush

Great video.

Greg

Peggie Hall HeadMistress · Nov 12, 2017

Tally Ho said:
My wet/dry valve is hard to turn...now I have confidence to take it apart!

The PHII should only need rebuilding about once every 5-6 years. However, both the pump and the dry/flush cam housing do need to be kept well lubricated. The best way to do that: Buy a tube of SuperLube thick teflon grease...Ace Hardware carries it. Remove the 4 screws that hold the pump on the base...lift the pump enough to be able to stick nozzle on the tube into it and give it healthy squirt--about a tablespoon. Replace the pump. Pump the toilet a few times to spread the grease all over the inside of the pump cylinder...you're good to go for at least a full season. Sure beats the socks off pouring oil down the bowl every few days.

If it is time for a rebuild, Raritan includes a single use tube in the rebuild kit. After you've replaced all the parts in the pump, use ALL of it as I described above.

And btw...be sure to kit the right kit for your toilet. PHII pumps made before June '92 need kit PHIIRK....pumps made after that date need PHIRKC. If you get the wrong kit a bunch of the parts won't fit.

jssailem · Nov 12, 2017

Peggie, Not knowing the age of my toilet, how do I identify the year so the correct kit can be purchased?

justsomeguy · Nov 12, 2017

I like it. Especially the audio.

Were you wearing a helmet cam?

Peggie Hall HeadMistress · Nov 12, 2017

jssailem said:
Peggie, Not knowing the age of my toilet, how do I identify the year so the correct kit can be purchased?

Your toilet would have to be at least 25 old by now to be a pre-June '92 version...unlikely but not impossible...The PHII can easily last that long if it's just kept well lubricated and rebuilt every 5-6 years (cost about $60). If your boat is newer than '92, the toilet has to be newer too. However, even if the boat is a '92 or older, the toilet could have been replaced any time since then. To be sure, go to the drawing in the owners manual PH II Owner’s Manual and check it against the PHII versions on this page on the Raritan site: http://raritaneng.com/tech-support/identify-your-head/#PHII Be sure you're looking at the *PHII* versions, not one above it that shows the differences beween the original PH and PHII.

jssailem · Nov 12, 2017

Not on boat but from what I remember is the PHII and based on the Raritan image it is post 1992. Thank you.
Now to service it on the next trip... I tried to follow your lube instructions but was greeted by a seepage of foul smelling water as I loosened the pump base. I thought I had cleaned the system out. Evidently not completely. There is a bit of distance from the toilet to the holding tank so my guess is not all of the effluent is resting in the holding tank.

Peggie Hall HeadMistress · Nov 12, 2017

jssailem said:
I tried to follow your lube instructions but was greeted by a seepage of foul smelling water as I loosened the pump base. I thought I had cleaned the system out. Evidently not completely.

Obviously not!! But at least you tried...that's more than 90% of people do. I think that may be because a toilet rebuild or hose replacement without any horror stories makes a boring story!

Tally Ho · Nov 16, 2017

Peggie Hall HeadMistress said:
The PHII should only need rebuilding about once every 5-6 years. However, both the pump and the dry/flush cam housing do need to be kept well lubricated. The best way to do that: Buy a tube of SuperLube thick teflon grease...Ace Hardware carries it. Remove the 4 screws that hold the pump on the base...lift the pump enough to be able to stick nozzle on the tube into it and give it healthy squirt--about a tablespoon. Replace the pump. Pump the toilet a few times to spread the grease all over the inside of the pump cylinder...you're good to go for at least a full season. Sure beats the socks off pouring oil down the bowl every few days.

If it is time for a rebuild, Raritan includes a single use tube in the rebuild kit. After you've replaced all the parts in the pump, use ALL of it as I described above.

And btw...be sure to kit the right kit for your toilet. PHII pumps made before June '92 need kit PHIIRK....pumps made after that date need PHIRKC. If you get the wrong kit a bunch of the parts won't fit.

Thanks Peggy. Pump seems to work fine other than turning the wet/dry valve is hard. I don’t know how ago it was rebuilt, but I have owned the boat for 3seasons. She is a 1988 O’Day, so not sure which model it is. Are they marked anywhere with a model #?

Greg

Peggie Hall HeadMistress · Nov 16, 2017

Tally Ho said:
I don’t know how ago it was rebuilt, but I have owned the boat for 3seasons. She is a 1988 O’Day, so not sure which model it is. Are they marked anywhere with a model #?

I just answered your question in post #8 to this thread. The serial number on your toilet should be enough for Raritan to tell you exactly how old it is...however they would not be able to tell you when, if ever, it was last rebuilt. So all you really need to know is whether it's pre- or post- June '92.

Tally Ho · Nov 18, 2017

Thanks Peggy.

Looking at the Raritan site you suggested, looks like it would be pretty easy to determine the model/built date.

Looks like a good winter layup project.

Greg

Peggie Hall HeadMistress · Nov 18, 2017

Not without some disassembly of the pump. Are you sure you aren't looking at the difference between the original PH and the PHII? 'Cuz both versions of the PHII look exactly alike...it's some of the parts in the pump that are different.

It's a good idea to take photos of everything BEFORE you take anything apart. That'll help you see how they need to be oriented.

Tally Ho · Nov 20, 2017

I was referring to looking at the piston seal. One uses a u-cup and the newer pump uses the hex nut cartridge. I assume I can see the top of the hex nut cartridge (but maybe not...not looking at the pump right now). Great tip on taking photos while taking it apart.

Thanks,

Greg

Tally Ho · Nov 25, 2017

Hey Peggy,
I stopped by the boat today to look at my Raritan head.

Am I wrong in believing that the 1214W seal cartridge is the correct way to identify a post-1992 Raritan PHII?

Mine has a hex nut visible that the piston passes through. The pre-1992 does not appear to have this hex nut visible.

Before I order a rebuild kit, would like to make sure I get the right one.

I was able to remove the wet/dry valve while at the boat, cleaned it up and lubricated it. Turns much easier now. But I noticed that the flat gaskets are pretty stretched out of shape or cracked.

Thanks for the identification link...very helpful....if I did it right!

Sefuller, great video. Thanks for the great DYI help.

Greg

gettinthere · Nov 25, 2017

My 3 year old PHII is leaking from the square valve on the front of the pump. I removed it and and cleaned with vinegar but no change. Slow leak. That isn't a part of the rebuild kit. Any way to fix that little valve in there?

Captain Larry-DH · Nov 26, 2017

One more thing Peggie didn’t mention IMPORTANT do not grease the rubber gaskets that seal the base or top of the pump housing- they MUST be clean and dry when you reassemble. If you do use grease the seals will push out to the sides from pumping pressure when the toilet is used. No need to ask how I know.

Edit- correction “baskets” changed to “gaskets”.