Peggy: Last year I bought a 1983 Nonsuch 26. It has a Wilcox-Crittenden Imperial 51 Type 3 head, which I assume is original. It worked fairly well last summer, but now the pump will not fill the bowl. If I add water to the bowl, pumping will empty it fine. With the intake hose disconnected from the valve, there is a steady (but not high-pressure) flow, so I assume the seacock and hose are clear. I removed the top cap from the inlet valve, and there was no water coming out whether the foot pedal was depressed or not. Since a rebuild kit costs more than the price of a new toilet, I was about to replace the whole unit. Then I found this forum and discovered that I am the proud owner of a pearl beyond price, the pinnacle of the nautical plumber's art. When the conversation turns to marine toilets, (as eventually all conversations must), I can hold my head high, so to speak. So I have decided to repair it. Thank you for correcting my ignorance before I hauled the thing to the dump. Before I start though, I have a few questions: 1) Am I right to think that replacing the parts supplied with the repair kit will solve the problem? Could there be other problems with a head of this age? 2) Is the problem that the intake valve is not opening, or that the pump is not drawing the water through it? As far as I can tell the head is above or just at the waterline. 3) In another post, you mentioned a vented loop between the pump and the bowl. My unit just has a straight hose, and the pamphlet that came with it makes no mention of such a loop, although it does show one in the discharge line. Is a loop necessary if the head is above the waterline?
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Your toilet is a $1000 head...the rebuild kit is $100
Name any other toilet for which the cost of the rebuild kit is only 10% of the price of the toilet. My psychic powers aren't good enough to be able to tell you whether a kit can cure your problem or not...but it prob'ly needs one by now anyway. And there is one person who CAN tell you exactly what your toilet needs: Jock Allpress ("jocko") at W-C. His direct phone number is 401 846-1679. Call him. And don't even THINK of tossing out a $1000 bronze "throne" because the rebuild kit is $100 and a new Jabsco is only a little more. That would be tantamount to taking a Rolls Royce to the dumpster and replacing it with a Yugo because you can buy the Yugo for close to the price of a tune-up for the Rolls.
Name any other toilet for which the cost of the rebuild kit is only 10% of the price of the toilet. My psychic powers aren't good enough to be able to tell you whether a kit can cure your problem or not...but it prob'ly needs one by now anyway. And there is one person who CAN tell you exactly what your toilet needs: Jock Allpress ("jocko") at W-C. His direct phone number is 401 846-1679. Call him. And don't even THINK of tossing out a $1000 bronze "throne" because the rebuild kit is $100 and a new Jabsco is only a little more. That would be tantamount to taking a Rolls Royce to the dumpster and replacing it with a Yugo because you can buy the Yugo for close to the price of a tune-up for the Rolls.
Imperial Head
Don't worry, Peggy. As I said, once I read some of your posts in other threads on this forum and found out what I had, I gave up any idea of replacing it. This site is an invaluable resource. Thanks for your advice, and the contact number for W-C. I'm still wondering about the vented loop, though. Should I be adding one when I do the rebuild? Thanks again, Martin
Don't worry, Peggy. As I said, once I read some of your posts in other threads on this forum and found out what I had, I gave up any idea of replacing it. This site is an invaluable resource. Thanks for your advice, and the contact number for W-C. I'm still wondering about the vented loop, though. Should I be adding one when I do the rebuild? Thanks again, Martin
Sorry, I missed that question last night...
You do NOT need a vented loop in the intake for that toilet. Unlike the typical dual action pump toilets, flush water is controlled by a foot pedal operated valve that's separate from the discharge pump, so there's no "wet/dry" valve on the pump, nothing to start a siphon, and no connecting line between the pump and the bowl. Just be sure to close the seacock when leaving the boat, 'cuz that valve CAN leak. I knew that YOU knew all that...just reiterated it for the benefit of those who don't. Btw...the original water and holding tanks on Nonsuch boats were aluminum. About 10 years ago, they all started failing on members of Nonsuch Assn's boats at the same time. Because they needed so many of the same shape/size tanks, the association was able to make a deal with Ronco Plastics to make the molds for identical replacement tanks and supply them to members at a very good price. The association supplied the drawings, so they ARE identical "plug and play" replacements for the original aluminum tanks. Contact the Nonsuch Assn for more info on ordering if you need one.
You do NOT need a vented loop in the intake for that toilet. Unlike the typical dual action pump toilets, flush water is controlled by a foot pedal operated valve that's separate from the discharge pump, so there's no "wet/dry" valve on the pump, nothing to start a siphon, and no connecting line between the pump and the bowl. Just be sure to close the seacock when leaving the boat, 'cuz that valve CAN leak. I knew that YOU knew all that...just reiterated it for the benefit of those who don't. Btw...the original water and holding tanks on Nonsuch boats were aluminum. About 10 years ago, they all started failing on members of Nonsuch Assn's boats at the same time. Because they needed so many of the same shape/size tanks, the association was able to make a deal with Ronco Plastics to make the molds for identical replacement tanks and supply them to members at a very good price. The association supplied the drawings, so they ARE identical "plug and play" replacements for the original aluminum tanks. Contact the Nonsuch Assn for more info on ordering if you need one.
Holding Tanks
My tanks are plastic - the previous owner must have replaced them - but it's good to know that I can get new ones if necessary. Thanks for explaining the vented loop issue.
My tanks are plastic - the previous owner must have replaced them - but it's good to know that I can get new ones if necessary. Thanks for explaining the vented loop issue.
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