I just rebuilt our Wilcox-Crittendon(sp?) HeadMate using the factory rebuild kit. It solved the original problem of waste draining back into the head, but now in the "dry" mode, it takes an awful lot of pressure to push down on the pump. It seems to pump ok both wet and dry and I have tried loosening the packing nut on the pump shaft but it didn't help. The "wet" mode works normally. Any ideas as to where I should look for the problem? -Nancy
Help with Wilcox head
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I have the same problem
I recently rebuilt my Wilcox Crittenden Head Mate and have the same problem. However, I find that if I push the selection lever down firmly to dry bowl and hold it that it pumps normally. The reason for this is a little complicated. Internal to the pump, when you place it in dry bowl, there is a little nylon finger that extends and opens the internal water valve so that it breaks the vacuum created when you push down when dry bowl is selected. If you don't push the lever down far enough the finger does not break the vacuum and it is very difficult (in fact impossible) to pump. My theory as to why it does not stay down on its own is that the cam that is engaged as you select dry bowl is perhaps worn and not doing its job to hold it in place. However, sinceI can always get the toilet to work well by holding the lever down when pumping out in dry bowl l have not followed this up further. If anyone else has experienced the same problem and found a permanent fix please let us know.
I recently rebuilt my Wilcox Crittenden Head Mate and have the same problem. However, I find that if I push the selection lever down firmly to dry bowl and hold it that it pumps normally. The reason for this is a little complicated. Internal to the pump, when you place it in dry bowl, there is a little nylon finger that extends and opens the internal water valve so that it breaks the vacuum created when you push down when dry bowl is selected. If you don't push the lever down far enough the finger does not break the vacuum and it is very difficult (in fact impossible) to pump. My theory as to why it does not stay down on its own is that the cam that is engaged as you select dry bowl is perhaps worn and not doing its job to hold it in place. However, sinceI can always get the toilet to work well by holding the lever down when pumping out in dry bowl l have not followed this up further. If anyone else has experienced the same problem and found a permanent fix please let us know.
Same Thing
I have the same thing on my new H-36 but I think it worked better when new. It is only two months old with very little use and been afraid to push the lever harder. I will check it out next time at boat. Nick
I have the same thing on my new H-36 but I think it worked better when new. It is only two months old with very little use and been afraid to push the lever harder. I will check it out next time at boat. Nick
seaddler - Just to make sure
I don't push the pump handle harder - I fear that pushing the pump handle harder just might break something. I push and hold the drybowl/flush lever down below horizontal (as it tells you to on the sticker below the pump handle). The only difference is that it doesn't stay below horizontal so that I must hold the lever down with one hand for the whole time I am pumping in the dry bowl mode with the other hand. My toilet works just fine in the flush mode and in fact if you use the two handed approach in the dry bowl position it works fine there as well.
I don't push the pump handle harder - I fear that pushing the pump handle harder just might break something. I push and hold the drybowl/flush lever down below horizontal (as it tells you to on the sticker below the pump handle). The only difference is that it doesn't stay below horizontal so that I must hold the lever down with one hand for the whole time I am pumping in the dry bowl mode with the other hand. My toilet works just fine in the flush mode and in fact if you use the two handed approach in the dry bowl position it works fine there as well.
I can't add anything to Malcolm's comments
Except to suggest that it may be time to replace the toilet with one that doesn't have a flimsy "gate" and cam as a wet/dry valve. Search the archives for "Raritan PH II" to read why half the people on this site have switched out their toilets for one and how glad they are that they did.
Except to suggest that it may be time to replace the toilet with one that doesn't have a flimsy "gate" and cam as a wet/dry valve. Search the archives for "Raritan PH II" to read why half the people on this site have switched out their toilets for one and how glad they are that they did.
Predictable answer
Peggy, I KNEW before I saw your reply that your answer would be to replace the head when there's a problem! The W-C Headmate is perhaps one of the best values in the marine sanitation industry. Ours has worked fine for 23 years without being rebuilt, the original rebuild kit purchased as a contingency still on the boat. Admittedly it's not perfect - few things are. I, too, have had this same issue, and found that simply cycling the lever positively fixes the problem. The only other problem I recall I've had is weeping at the pump shaft packing nut, which was cured by hand tightening it. My approach is that the best way to keep these running is just to flush with a lot of water, to make sure it's all really flushed out. I may indeed dig into this wet/dry cam problem to see if there's a fix. Maybe I can machine a new part, or modify the existing one, and share the result. Can anyone confirm that this problem shows up after a rebuild? Maybe it's somehow related.
Peggy, I KNEW before I saw your reply that your answer would be to replace the head when there's a problem! The W-C Headmate is perhaps one of the best values in the marine sanitation industry. Ours has worked fine for 23 years without being rebuilt, the original rebuild kit purchased as a contingency still on the boat. Admittedly it's not perfect - few things are. I, too, have had this same issue, and found that simply cycling the lever positively fixes the problem. The only other problem I recall I've had is weeping at the pump shaft packing nut, which was cured by hand tightening it. My approach is that the best way to keep these running is just to flush with a lot of water, to make sure it's all really flushed out. I may indeed dig into this wet/dry cam problem to see if there's a fix. Maybe I can machine a new part, or modify the existing one, and share the result. Can anyone confirm that this problem shows up after a rebuild? Maybe it's somehow related.
One more thing I noticed
In the dry position, the pump handle pushes itself back up about 2 inches after you push it down. I will try holding the wet/dry lever down when pumping. This head has always worked very well, so I don't see any reason to replace the whole thing, especially in the middle of sailing season. Nancy
In the dry position, the pump handle pushes itself back up about 2 inches after you push it down. I will try holding the wet/dry lever down when pumping. This head has always worked very well, so I don't see any reason to replace the whole thing, especially in the middle of sailing season. Nancy
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