It's No Cigar

[Terry Brady]

I spent almost a whole day of our summer vacation rebuilding and unclogging our Par/Jabsco manual head. It seems the brass/bronze retaining clips that held the piston assembly in place gave out. After replacing the piston assembly, I was really "bummed" out to find a new problem: a clog in the neck of the holding tank - which seems to be the narrowest point in the system on our 1993 Beneteau First 35S5. Searching for the clog, I found solid paper blockage in the neck and used a needle nose pliers to pull out a five inch "cigar" of marine toilet tissue. A month later, I boarded our boat only to find a fouled bowl and a pump that won't pump (it pushes back just as it did with the "cigar" problem). As I contemplate repeating the operation, I'd like to know if there's anything to be done about the tight filler neck. I really don't want to go through this again. Thanks in advance for your replies.

 

[Roy Mosteller]

Cured My Head Pump Problems

I have no solution for your "cigar" problem but it sounds like you have a Par Manual Model 29090 like mine (installed 1991). The U-Clips at bottom of my pump rod assembly consistently broke loose at least once a year and sometimes after less than a month. Very unpleasant to replace. In desperation I finally replaced the entire Pump Assembly with part #29040-2000 (replaces 29040-1000 - cost $80). It is an outstanding design improvement and eliminates the U-Clips. There are now nuts on the rod both below and above the O-Ring Assembly. Did this 18 months ago and not a single head problem since the replacement. To anyone with an older model 29090 who suddenly finds the pump is not working and suspects the O-Ring Assembly at the end of the rod is loose should seriously consider this replacement. Eliminates lots of messy work in the future.

 

[Bruce Grant]

Rebuild Kit

When I rebuilt my head, there was a note in the kit that Jabsco/Par was offerring a replacement rod assembly to get away from the clip type assembly.Just an FYI, no help for the cigar thing, but could save 20 bucks for a new rod assembly.Regards.Bruce. Neon Moon

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

Could be multiple causes...

Big wads of toilet paper (marine toilets can handle llimited amounts of paper, but you have to usee it sparingly)...the wrong kind of toilet paper (you cannot use "premium" brand toilet paper in a marine head...it's impregnated with extra fibers for strength and creams for softness--to a marine toilet it's like shoe leather)...you aren't flushing the head completely. (Most boat owners stop pumping as soon as the bowl is empty. And when you stop pumping, whatever's in the system stops moving. The next flush moves it--and the new "deposit" a little futher...and the next flush...till the whole mess runs into an elbow--usually at the tank. At which point all the paper starts piling up)...or--your head is in desperate need of rebuilding (the seals are so worn that the pump has lost up to 50% of its efficiency). Any ONE of the above can cause the problem you're having with clogs...a combination of any two just about guarantees that you'll spend more time unclogging your system than you'll spend sailing.

 

[stormjib]

Bleach and your cigar

I use to have the same problem a few years ago. Three things were changed, made sure never to use household toilet paper on board, took the facial tissues out of the bath room, and at the reccommendation of a plumber used about a 6-8 oz of bleach when flushing the toilet.Bleach helps purify the water but also will help dissolve at any solids. Reduced the odors also.