I bought my 1992 Hunter 42 in March of this year and one of the surveyor's recommendations was to replace the seawater intake hose for the head. It wasn't easy but I got the job done and the head worked fine. A couple weeks later I noticed a small saltwater leak at the base of the head and determined it was coming from the seal on the pump motor. Having read on here it's important to correct that problem right away, I dashed down to San Diego Marine Exchange for the rebuilt kit (37040-0000). Everything seemed to go back together without problems with the exception of the "O" ring that fits a groove in the wear plate. The "O" ring seems oversized for the groove, but I used pool gasket grease on it and was able to get it all reassembled.
Imagine my disappointment when I pushed the flush button and there was no seawater coming into the bowl. Water I added was flushing out, and with vigor, but none was being drawn in. So I took a short piece of hose and stuck it in a bucket with water. The head pump drew water out of the bucket into the bowl. Blockage in the seawater intake? I siphoned that hose until seawater was at the head. I even took the anti-siphon valve out to make sure that wasn't the problem. Still wouldn't draw water into the bowl. I put the bucket of water in the engine room where the anti-siphon valve is and the pump drew water to the head from there, so I replaced the hose from there to the thru hull. Still wouldn't work. I dove on the thru hull with a tooth brush to make sure nothing was clogging it and tried again. Still not drawing seawater.
I ran out of things to think of and grudgingly called a professional head expert. It was his suggestion to replace the 3 week old seawater intake hose, which I did and which did nothing. He also said to lower the anti-siphon-valve, but it worked before I "fixed" the pump leak, and it's only 20 inches above the waterline anyway.
So I am out of things to try (other than re-rebuilding the pump) and humbly ask you guys for suggestions.
Imagine my disappointment when I pushed the flush button and there was no seawater coming into the bowl. Water I added was flushing out, and with vigor, but none was being drawn in. So I took a short piece of hose and stuck it in a bucket with water. The head pump drew water out of the bucket into the bowl. Blockage in the seawater intake? I siphoned that hose until seawater was at the head. I even took the anti-siphon valve out to make sure that wasn't the problem. Still wouldn't draw water into the bowl. I put the bucket of water in the engine room where the anti-siphon valve is and the pump drew water to the head from there, so I replaced the hose from there to the thru hull. Still wouldn't work. I dove on the thru hull with a tooth brush to make sure nothing was clogging it and tried again. Still not drawing seawater.
I ran out of things to think of and grudgingly called a professional head expert. It was his suggestion to replace the 3 week old seawater intake hose, which I did and which did nothing. He also said to lower the anti-siphon-valve, but it worked before I "fixed" the pump leak, and it's only 20 inches above the waterline anyway.
So I am out of things to try (other than re-rebuilding the pump) and humbly ask you guys for suggestions.