Well I checked out the vent hose. Seems to be just fine. Now I bet I have a blockage to the tank. Here's my first question. Do I just snake it like a hose or is there another way to check for a blockage? Next, when I was getting ready to check for the blockage, the Y-valve was bad and wouldn't shut all the way on sea cock side. So I went and found a Marlon Y-valve from West Marine. It had the same configuration for the hoses. Once I got the old valve off am in the position to check for the blockage. I tried to put the valve on the first hose and there must me a magic way to get that valve on that hose. Should I lubricate it? Should I soak the hose ends in hot water? Both? Neither? Thanks so much for your help. The original post for this topic is at: http://www.sailboatowners.com/forums/pviewall.tpl?&fno=4&uid=73231475899&sku=2005040080542.3 Photos of the project are at the link. Once again, THANK's for all your help.
Head Project Continued...
- Thread starter Bro Paul
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Warm the hose with a blow dryer...
Use dish soap on both the out of the y-valve barbs and the inside of the hose. That should allow you to push the hose onto the y-valve. Double clamp (with screws on opposite sides of the hose) all three connections. Before you snake the head discharge hose, first try flushing it into a bucket before you connect the y-valve to anything...if it works ok, you can then rule out a problem with the toilet. Next, connect the head discharge hose to the y-valve and connect the hose to the side of the y-valve that goes to the tank...and try the toilet again (making sure the handle is turned toward the tank first). If you still get back pressure, then yes, you do have a clog. Btw...have you checked the inside of the head discharge hose to see how much buildup of sea water calcium carbonates is in it? I've seen it reduce the diameter of a 1.5" hose to less than a 1/2" in a year or less in warm waters...so that could be at least a part of your problem.
Use dish soap on both the out of the y-valve barbs and the inside of the hose. That should allow you to push the hose onto the y-valve. Double clamp (with screws on opposite sides of the hose) all three connections. Before you snake the head discharge hose, first try flushing it into a bucket before you connect the y-valve to anything...if it works ok, you can then rule out a problem with the toilet. Next, connect the head discharge hose to the y-valve and connect the hose to the side of the y-valve that goes to the tank...and try the toilet again (making sure the handle is turned toward the tank first). If you still get back pressure, then yes, you do have a clog. Btw...have you checked the inside of the head discharge hose to see how much buildup of sea water calcium carbonates is in it? I've seen it reduce the diameter of a 1.5" hose to less than a 1/2" in a year or less in warm waters...so that could be at least a part of your problem.
Thanks Peggy...
Thanks again Peggy. I'm going to get a good nights sleep and tackle it in the morning. It took 4 hours to get the old valve off. This was a good time to get into this project. Tomorrows another day.
Thanks again Peggy. I'm going to get a good nights sleep and tackle it in the morning. It took 4 hours to get the old valve off. This was a good time to get into this project. Tomorrows another day.
Fwiw...
Heating hose also makes it a lot easier to get it off fittings. That is, unless some misguided soul has used a sealant instead of only clamps--in which case it may not be possible to remove the hose without cutting it. NEVER use any sealant or "glue" on hose connections...double clamp only.
Heating hose also makes it a lot easier to get it off fittings. That is, unless some misguided soul has used a sealant instead of only clamps--in which case it may not be possible to remove the hose without cutting it. NEVER use any sealant or "glue" on hose connections...double clamp only.
Thank You Peggy...
Peggy, thanks! You held my hand through the whole mess. 3 days later. It's done. There wasn't a clog, but the old y-valve was stuck half open on each side. It was very old and had a rubber gasket around the cylinder that was kind of balled up so you couldn't tell if it was open on one side or the other. Since I could only get one arm in the cupboard, I took a vent cover off the V birth side of the wall and had a friend hold the hose for me. I spent one day heating and pushing, but it didn't happen. The next day I went and bought a hair dryer that had 1875 watts and it did the trick. It was the ol' "get a bigger hammer" trick. Once again thanks. I'm going out for a couple days. Leaving in a few minutes.
Peggy, thanks! You held my hand through the whole mess. 3 days later. It's done. There wasn't a clog, but the old y-valve was stuck half open on each side. It was very old and had a rubber gasket around the cylinder that was kind of balled up so you couldn't tell if it was open on one side or the other. Since I could only get one arm in the cupboard, I took a vent cover off the V birth side of the wall and had a friend hold the hose for me. I spent one day heating and pushing, but it didn't happen. The next day I went and bought a hair dryer that had 1875 watts and it did the trick. It was the ol' "get a bigger hammer" trick. Once again thanks. I'm going out for a couple days. Leaving in a few minutes.
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