I just purchased a 1981 Catalina 30 with the compact Jabsco manual head. On the very first use/test of the head a trickle of raw water entered the bowl when the pump was used. Since then, the manual pump pumps the bowl dry (and presumably is sending the waste to the holding tank!), but does not raw water into the bowl. The raw water intake is "t'd" off the sink drain, which drains, so I don't think the through-hull is plugged. I have yet to check to see if the intake line from the "t" is plugged. Absent that, I'll assume it's something in the pump, and here's my question: will the standard rebuild kit from Jabsco include the parts to refurbish the pump, or will I need to purchase additional parts/new pump. Any other suggestions? Thanks! Mike Turner/MTurner318@aol.com S/V "Amity"
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Tim Schaaf
Get rid of the T!
Apart from your current problem, I would re-think the T. For one thing, you might ingest what goes down the sink into the head pump. Not everything that goes down the drain is good for the pump. Plus, you may have times (probably will) when you want to close one but not the other. A dramatic "for instance": you have to take the head apart, so you close the thru-hull, then you want to wash your hands.....you get the point!
Apart from your current problem, I would re-think the T. For one thing, you might ingest what goes down the sink into the head pump. Not everything that goes down the drain is good for the pump. Plus, you may have times (probably will) when you want to close one but not the other. A dramatic "for instance": you have to take the head apart, so you close the thru-hull, then you want to wash your hands.....you get the point!
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Walt
Inlet Tee
The Tee form the sink is the standard design for the Catalina 30, I have a '85 30 but my drain from the sink has a shutoff valve between the sink and the Tee. When I use the Head I close the valve between the Tee and the sink to eliminate sucking air from the sink. This also gives you a method of flushing your head with Fresh water at the end of your weekend on the boat.
The Tee form the sink is the standard design for the Catalina 30, I have a '85 30 but my drain from the sink has a shutoff valve between the sink and the Tee. When I use the Head I close the valve between the Tee and the sink to eliminate sucking air from the sink. This also gives you a method of flushing your head with Fresh water at the end of your weekend on the boat.
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
Don't get rid of the tee!
Although I'm fairly certain it's what's causing your problem--unless the sink is plugged or there's a shut-off valve in the sink drain, the head pulls air from the sink. Put a plug in the sink, and I think it will solve your problem. Why not just get rid of it? For the answer to that question, read the article in the Head Mistress forum Reference Library (on the forum home page) called "Intake Odor Cure."
Although I'm fairly certain it's what's causing your problem--unless the sink is plugged or there's a shut-off valve in the sink drain, the head pulls air from the sink. Put a plug in the sink, and I think it will solve your problem. Why not just get rid of it? For the answer to that question, read the article in the Head Mistress forum Reference Library (on the forum home page) called "Intake Odor Cure."
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Mike Turner
Pump Problem Part 2
I tried Peggy's suggestion re: sink -- first filled the sink with water and tried to pump it into the bowl, with through hull closed and then open -- no dice. Then stopped the sink drain and tried again -- no dice. So I removed the hose from the pump to the bowl and tried pumping -- it pumps air, so I begin to suspect it's not the pump but that the lines might be clogged. Did this over lunch hour so had to stop; will next disconnect lines to see if they are plugged, or maybe if the "T" or the vented loop is plugged -- no telling when the former owner may have worked on this. Any other suggestions? I'll keep you posted (I'll probably still buy the rebuild kit just for preventive maintenance) Mike Turner/MV Amity
I tried Peggy's suggestion re: sink -- first filled the sink with water and tried to pump it into the bowl, with through hull closed and then open -- no dice. Then stopped the sink drain and tried again -- no dice. So I removed the hose from the pump to the bowl and tried pumping -- it pumps air, so I begin to suspect it's not the pump but that the lines might be clogged. Did this over lunch hour so had to stop; will next disconnect lines to see if they are plugged, or maybe if the "T" or the vented loop is plugged -- no telling when the former owner may have worked on this. Any other suggestions? I'll keep you posted (I'll probably still buy the rebuild kit just for preventive maintenance) Mike Turner/MV Amity
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
Seveeral possibilities:
First the most obvious: Are you sure the head intake seacock is open? (hey, you wouldn't be the first person to overlook that little detail!) Are you certain that nothing is blocking the thru-hull--maybe a barnacle, or something that's been sucked into it? Does the toilet act as if it's just sucking air but no water...or do you feel as if you're pulling a vacuum or pushing against a blockage? If it feels as if it's the former, it has to be one of two things: the flapper valve in the pump (it's at the top of the pump), or sea water calcium carbonates have built up in the channel in the rim of the bowl to the point where it's plugged the holes, and MAY have even blocked the channel. So check the holes, and if they're plugged, try to open 'em up with an icepick. If the holes are all open, it has to be the flapper valve. However, if acts as if it's trying to pull a vacuum, either something is plugged, or the dry/flush valve has failed. How old is the toilet? Jabsco toilets aren't known for durability...and they cost so little that it usually makes more sense to replace one that's more than 5 years old than it does to put any money--or even very much elbow grease--into it. So if it's not a blockage at the thru-hull or in the intake hose, my choice would be a new toilet.
First the most obvious: Are you sure the head intake seacock is open? (hey, you wouldn't be the first person to overlook that little detail!) Are you certain that nothing is blocking the thru-hull--maybe a barnacle, or something that's been sucked into it? Does the toilet act as if it's just sucking air but no water...or do you feel as if you're pulling a vacuum or pushing against a blockage? If it feels as if it's the former, it has to be one of two things: the flapper valve in the pump (it's at the top of the pump), or sea water calcium carbonates have built up in the channel in the rim of the bowl to the point where it's plugged the holes, and MAY have even blocked the channel. So check the holes, and if they're plugged, try to open 'em up with an icepick. If the holes are all open, it has to be the flapper valve. However, if acts as if it's trying to pull a vacuum, either something is plugged, or the dry/flush valve has failed. How old is the toilet? Jabsco toilets aren't known for durability...and they cost so little that it usually makes more sense to replace one that's more than 5 years old than it does to put any money--or even very much elbow grease--into it. So if it's not a blockage at the thru-hull or in the intake hose, my choice would be a new toilet.
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Mike Turner
Thanks, Peggy
Peggy - Thanks for your input. It's pumping air; doesn't feel like any vacuum buildup. I'll check the rim and flapper as you suggest. The toilet has to be several years old so I agree, probably better to buy a new head at this point than do the rebuild -- new Jabsco toilet is only the cost of 2 or so fo the rebuild kits anyway! I'll keep you posted -- thanks again. Mike Turner/SV "Amity"
Peggy - Thanks for your input. It's pumping air; doesn't feel like any vacuum buildup. I'll check the rim and flapper as you suggest. The toilet has to be several years old so I agree, probably better to buy a new head at this point than do the rebuild -- new Jabsco toilet is only the cost of 2 or so fo the rebuild kits anyway! I'll keep you posted -- thanks again. Mike Turner/SV "Amity"
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
Mike, you; might consider replacing it with
A Raritan Cricket. A bit more expensive, but because it has a diaphragm pump under the bowl instead of the usual piston/cylinder pump beside the bowl, it fits in the same space as a compact model and has no moving parts to wear and require regular maintenance. In fact, the "repair kit" is the entire pump assembly except for the housing...and is only needed about as often as an entire pump replacement would necessary on any other good quality toilet. It's also available with the larger "highboy" bowl...closer to household size, while still fitting in the same space as a "compact." Practical Sailor recently rated the Cricket (along the Raritan PH II, which has always been top-rated) one of the two best toilets under $500. Check it out on the Raritan website at http://www.raritaneng.com
A Raritan Cricket. A bit more expensive, but because it has a diaphragm pump under the bowl instead of the usual piston/cylinder pump beside the bowl, it fits in the same space as a compact model and has no moving parts to wear and require regular maintenance. In fact, the "repair kit" is the entire pump assembly except for the housing...and is only needed about as often as an entire pump replacement would necessary on any other good quality toilet. It's also available with the larger "highboy" bowl...closer to household size, while still fitting in the same space as a "compact." Practical Sailor recently rated the Cricket (along the Raritan PH II, which has always been top-rated) one of the two best toilets under $500. Check it out on the Raritan website at http://www.raritaneng.com
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Mike Turner
Fixed!
Not sure exactly what the problem was but I disconnected all the intake lines to check for plugs -- found none, other than a sticking one-way valve just inside the "T" from the seacock -- and opened/closed the vented loop. When reassembled the system works just fine! Now one last quick question -- now that I can pump water into the bowl, I find it doesn't stay there too long -- slowly drains down (probably takes 3-4 minutes or more to drain out). Plus the bowl doesn't fill too up too far no matter how much water I pump in. Is this the way it's supposed to be or is there a slow leak down in the pump somewhere? A minor problem to say the least -- thanks, Peggy, for all your help!
Not sure exactly what the problem was but I disconnected all the intake lines to check for plugs -- found none, other than a sticking one-way valve just inside the "T" from the seacock -- and opened/closed the vented loop. When reassembled the system works just fine! Now one last quick question -- now that I can pump water into the bowl, I find it doesn't stay there too long -- slowly drains down (probably takes 3-4 minutes or more to drain out). Plus the bowl doesn't fill too up too far no matter how much water I pump in. Is this the way it's supposed to be or is there a slow leak down in the pump somewhere? A minor problem to say the least -- thanks, Peggy, for all your help!
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