Jabsco pump

[Peggie Hall/HeadMistress]

A few $$ here, a few $$ there...and before long

you've spent more money to keep what amounts to a Yugo running than the price of a new Porsche.

 

[Corky Trotter]

I have a Jabsco marine head. It has worked fine in the past. Last season near the end of the season it would not pump water from the lake into the bowl. It will empty the bowl fine. Over the winter I rebuilt it with a service kit. It still does not pump water in. Yes, the seacock is open and functional. Anyone else had similiar problems with Jabsco? Anyone have a preference on brands of marine heads. I have been the port-a-pottie route on my previous boat would rather not go there.ThanksCorky

 

[colin]

Replace the whole head.

My vote would be to replace the whole head, I replace mine every other year and never have a problem. There is nothing like having the knowledge that the head is in perfect condition, nothing!

 

[Peggie Hall/HeadMistress]

I wish you'd asked before spending money for

a rebuild kit, 'cuz the problem is most likely a defective wet/dry valve--a VERY common defect in Jabsco toilets made the last 5 years that Jabsco doesn't seem inclined to correct. The "valve" is just a little tab that the level swings to open or block off the flow of flush water...it hangs, or refuses to move at all. Sometimes it creates enough backpressure that attempting to pump with any force breaks it.If you hadn't already invested nearly half the price of the toilet in a rebuild kit, I'd recommend you forget fixing it and replace the whole toilet with a higher quality toilet. But since you have, call Jabsco for a replacement wet/dry valve...with any luck you can get a couple more years of use out of the toilet before something else breaks that isn't in the rebuild kit.Colin, you're spending way too much for marine toilets. For about the price of two Jabsco's, a Raritan PH II will give you at least 20 years of reliable service if you just keep it keep lubricated and rebuild it for a cost of about $35 every 5-6 years.

 

[Fred Ficarra]

Peggie, I too have promised myself to not spend

another penny on my Jabsco. But it just needs little stuff that doesn't cost too much so,,,, what the hell? It's like my wifes Porsche, both are toilets.

 

[Mike Webster]

Peggy, am I just lucky or . . .

what? I have the original Jabsco compact manual head in my 89 Hunter, and have had relatively few problems with it. I've replaced the flapper valve 4-5 times, and the joker valve about every other year. Of course the inner rod on the pump was replace early on. The original came with a 'C' clip, and it would work off at the most inopportune times. Otherwise its been a good head.I am going to replace it this year (I have a cracked foot on the pump assy that weeps a little water now and then) , and I've read all the good reviews about the Raritan PH II, but with my experience its hard to justify the additional expense. Have I just been lucky, or have they gotten that much worse?

 

[Peggie Hall/HeadMistress]

They've gotten that much worse

Many Jabsco and Brydon (Canadian version of Jabsco that hasn't been made for 20 years) manual toilets made 15-25 years ago are still in service, even with little or no maintenance. But especially in the last 10 years materials have gotten increasingling cheaper and "cheesier," as have mfr'g standards and quality control...to the point where it's unusual for anyone to get even 5 totally trouble-free years out of one any more. They cost so little to make now that it's actually become cheaper for Jabsco to replace a high percentage of 'em under warranty than it would be to build a higher quality toilet.PH II or PHC (same pump on a compact base, and costs a little less than the full size PH II) will cost you only $75-100 more. You can spend it once...or you can spend at least that much every couple of years--and hope you don't ever get one that'll have to be replaced or repaired while still under warranty.

 

[Bob F]

Raritan conversion

Is this an easy project? My bigest concern would be the mounting base and what type of modification would be required.Bob F.

 

[Peggie Hall/HeadMistress]

I wouldn't call it a "conversion"...

You'd be replacing one make/model toilet with another. The mounting bolt holes will not match up...so you'd fill those, then set the new toilet down, drill holes for its mounting bolts, bolt it down, connect the hoses, and you're done.Jabsco's "standard" head discharge is only 1"--while the industry standard and every other toilet has a 1.5"--although they do now offer a 1.5" discharge fittng as an alternative. If your head discharge hose isn't 1.5", you would need to replace the head discharge hose. If the fitting into the tank is also 1", the easiest way around that is a 1" x 1.5" reducing adapter in the hose close to the tank. So replacing a Jabsco with a better toilet isn't QUITE a no-brainer...but it's not even close to brain surgery either.

 

[Corky Trotter]

THANKS

Thanks for all your imput. I did not know I would generate some much comment. When I get back to my boat I will measure to see what room I have to do a replacement.For now, however, I am headed to the BVI's to bareboat charter for a week. Will get back to my head later.Thanks again.corky

 

[Fred Ficarra]

OK, come on,

Peggie, Brain surgery? You mean butt surgery, right?Corky, you write in with a head question and your last name in Trotter? A joke, right? I won't even go there (about the cork part)

 

[Peggie Hall/HeadMistress]

Fred, I suspected for a while...

That you have WAAAAY too much time on your hands. Now I'm sure of it.