Have a 2-year old Groco HF that I installed as a replacement (yes, your consistent advice about the Raritan as a better replacement is ringing in my ears!) in my ODay 302. It has performed well -- until yesterday. After winterizing, I used the head yesterday for the first time this spring and, while it pumps out the bowl on the dry flush setting, it won't work on the wet flush setting. I checked the vents -- no problem. Even tried it with the waste tank deck cap off. Those diagnostics came up zip. I wondered if I was getting water from the thru hull. So I checked the thru hull and when I backed off the hose clamp with the thru hull open, I got water around the clamp/hose -- so I assume I'm getting water thru the thru hull. But there just isn't enough suction to get it to the bowl. Do I need to prime this action? i.e. pull off the fresh water hose from the side of the pump, fill that with water and then see if it works? Surely I should get more than 2 years from the Groco? Or do I bite the bullet and get the Raritan? Thanks.
Groco Won't Go
- Thread starter Steve L22188
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Do you mean that it won't work at all in the wet mode...
...iow, won't bring water in OR pump bowl contents out? Or only that it doesn't bring in any flush water? If it just won't bring in any flush water, the possibilities are: Closed or blocked intake thru-hull. You've checked that already, but a little water around the hose connection doesn't rule out a clog in the thru-hull. a stuck or failed wet/dry cam (the little "gate" that the lever moves to block or allow the flush water into the pump)...try jiggling the lever a bit to see if it frees up. If the lever moves too easily, it's no longer connected to the cam. A blockage in the intake line. First check for a kink. If there is none, disconnect it from the toilet AND the thru-hull ('twould be a very good idea to close the seacock first), look into one end to see if you can see daylight at the other end. Sand or grit in the pump...can happen if you anchored in shallow water. A failed flapper valve at the top of the pump. A common problem in most compact manual toilets if the boat was stored for the winter in the dry mode. Or...you used the wrong kind of antifreeze--automotive ethylene glycol, which is petroleum based--instead of the non-toxic "pink stuff." If you did, you'll need to rebuild the toilet to replace ALL the rubber parts in it. I don't think you need a new toilet...yet. But
...iow, won't bring water in OR pump bowl contents out? Or only that it doesn't bring in any flush water? If it just won't bring in any flush water, the possibilities are: Closed or blocked intake thru-hull. You've checked that already, but a little water around the hose connection doesn't rule out a clog in the thru-hull. a stuck or failed wet/dry cam (the little "gate" that the lever moves to block or allow the flush water into the pump)...try jiggling the lever a bit to see if it frees up. If the lever moves too easily, it's no longer connected to the cam. A blockage in the intake line. First check for a kink. If there is none, disconnect it from the toilet AND the thru-hull ('twould be a very good idea to close the seacock first), look into one end to see if you can see daylight at the other end. Sand or grit in the pump...can happen if you anchored in shallow water. A failed flapper valve at the top of the pump. A common problem in most compact manual toilets if the boat was stored for the winter in the dry mode. Or...you used the wrong kind of antifreeze--automotive ethylene glycol, which is petroleum based--instead of the non-toxic "pink stuff." If you did, you'll need to rebuild the toilet to replace ALL the rubber parts in it. I don't think you need a new toilet...yet. But
Yes, won't work at all
Peggie: Thanks for all the great advice. No, can't get any water at all into the bowl in the wet position. I'll try the lever first -- did notice that it was a little loosy-goosy. I'll check the other ideas, too. I appreciate your help and expertise. Do believe I put the pink stuff in when it came to winterizing...but you've got me thinking. And now I'm not sure. Dang, hate to think I put in the automotive stuff and ate up all the rubber! If so...I'll order a new Raritan rather than try to retread a cheaper toilet. Thanks again. We'll see what happens next weekend.
Peggie: Thanks for all the great advice. No, can't get any water at all into the bowl in the wet position. I'll try the lever first -- did notice that it was a little loosy-goosy. I'll check the other ideas, too. I appreciate your help and expertise. Do believe I put the pink stuff in when it came to winterizing...but you've got me thinking. And now I'm not sure. Dang, hate to think I put in the automotive stuff and ate up all the rubber! If so...I'll order a new Raritan rather than try to retread a cheaper toilet. Thanks again. We'll see what happens next weekend.
sucking air
Sounds to me that you can't get suction. Try tightening all the circlips from through hull to bowl.
Sounds to me that you can't get suction. Try tightening all the circlips from through hull to bowl.
Not necessarily a good idea, Nick
Cheaper compact toilets are a bit flimsy these days...Over-tightening circlips (UK English for "hose clamps") can crack the fitting and will also cut the hose. So unless there are obvious signs of leaking at a connection, the clamps are tight enough. All sanitation fittings connections--and any others connected to a below waterline thru-hull should have two, btw...with screws on opposite sides of the hose.
Cheaper compact toilets are a bit flimsy these days...Over-tightening circlips (UK English for "hose clamps") can crack the fitting and will also cut the hose. So unless there are obvious signs of leaking at a connection, the clamps are tight enough. All sanitation fittings connections--and any others connected to a below waterline thru-hull should have two, btw...with screws on opposite sides of the hose.
It is possible your intake is blocked
I mentioned in another thread about a friend who sucked in a small fish. and although some water got buy there just wasn't enough. Did you try blowing out your intake hose? Joe S
I mentioned in another thread about a friend who sucked in a small fish. and although some water got buy there just wasn't enough. Did you try blowing out your intake hose? Joe S
Groco Now Goes!
Peggy and all who responded: Just wanted to report back: the toilet is now working in the wet pump mode! Took the toilet apart yesterday -- cleaned up the flapper valve, but couldn't find any apparent issues. The lever was indeed engaging the way it was supposed to engage. No issues with the toilet itself -- but I did manage to drop a screw through an opening around the hoses into the unreachable area below the toilet -- luckily had another screw the same size on board. You can never have enough extra screws, nuts and bolts! Checked the thru hull by completely slipping the hose off the barb -- plenty of water coming thru. But, it appears there was some blockage of the intake hose between the thru hull and the toilet. My buddy said that a good bit of "gunk" came out as he pumped the toilet and we finally established some suction. Slipped the hose back on the thru hull and it's working great. Thanks for the advice. Seems like sometimes we never hear of an outcome and I wanted to report success. Steve
Peggy and all who responded: Just wanted to report back: the toilet is now working in the wet pump mode! Took the toilet apart yesterday -- cleaned up the flapper valve, but couldn't find any apparent issues. The lever was indeed engaging the way it was supposed to engage. No issues with the toilet itself -- but I did manage to drop a screw through an opening around the hoses into the unreachable area below the toilet -- luckily had another screw the same size on board. You can never have enough extra screws, nuts and bolts! Checked the thru hull by completely slipping the hose off the barb -- plenty of water coming thru. But, it appears there was some blockage of the intake hose between the thru hull and the toilet. My buddy said that a good bit of "gunk" came out as he pumped the toilet and we finally established some suction. Slipped the hose back on the thru hull and it's working great. Thanks for the advice. Seems like sometimes we never hear of an outcome and I wanted to report success. Steve
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