Pump sticks

[Jerry Holloway]

Peggie, my Hunter '86, 40' has two heads. The aft head had to be replaced after I replaced the seals in the original only to have the pump body develop a 3" crack. Now the forward head (original)pump is sticking. I have used a West Marine pump lubricant which helped but the pump still sticks once it is left in the down position. It takes two hands to free it. When pulling up on the pump handle there is no fresh water entering the bowl (small lever handle is in the up position). I loosened the hose clamps, with the thru-hull open and there is intake water present up to the head. The only thing in the intake hose is a "T" fitting with a screw-on cap.The fitting is on both head intake hoses. I don't know what the fitting's purpose is. The fitting is open and does not appear to be causing the problem. Any suggestions?thanks very much for your help.Jerry

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

Try lubricating it properly

Buy a tube of Super-Lube (that's a TUBE--the same thick teflon grease that was in it when it left the factory--not the spray, not the liquid). Take the top off the pump and put a healthy squirt of it in the pump. Pump a few times to spread it all over the inside of the cylinder. Put the top back on the pump. Should take all of 15 minutes...should keep the head pumping smoothly till at least this time next year, when you should do it again whether the pump has started to stick again or not.I'd also suggest you check the intake line to see if you've pulled in anything that could be blocking it. It doesn't have anything to do with the reason the pump is sticking, but may be the reason the toilet won't bring in any flush water. That may be due to a failed dry/flush valve stuck in the dry position--a VERY common problem in Jabsco manual toilets. Once you get the pump freed up again, it'll be easier to trouble-shoot the flush water problem.I have no idea why there's a tee fitting in the intake either...it can't serve any useful purpose. Maybe a previously installed y-valve that's been removed?

 

[Vic Willman]

Tee fitting in intake line

The tee fitting in the intake line may have originally been connected to a deodorant system to meter a small amount of deodorant solution into the incoming flush water before it enters the bowl. Several Raritan electric heads offer this feature. Raritan also offers it as an aftermarket item, called the "Toilet Water Kit."If there's nothing connected to the side nozzle of the tee, I'd suggest removing the tee, as the toilet pump will likely suck air through the fitting, reducing your flow of water into the head.

 

[Jerry Holloway]

Pump sticks/Sealand

Peggie, I have a parts breakdown which shows a Sealand model 752 head (same as mine). You cannot "remove the top", it has a plastic hex nut and piston rod seal. I can remove the valve cover,dble.flap valve and intake seat to apply the Super-Lube. Since I'm new to this site, where can I buy the Super-Lube?my thanks for your help.Jerry

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

Don't even bother...

Your toilet is worn out. SeaLand discontinued the 752 more than 15 yearsago...and all parts support for it about 10 years ago. Jabsco makes a "universal" rebuild kit that fits the Mansfield/SeaLand 751 and 752, and the Bryden Boy (all obsolete), but no other parts are still available for any of 'em, and the average life of a manual marine toilet is less than 10 years, so it's been living on borrowed time for quite a while. Lubricating it may get it working smoothly again...otoh, it may not...if it needs any parts, you're not gonna find 'em. Even if it does get it pumping smoothly again, the seals and the inside of the pump cylinder are so worn that it can only work at about 50% efficiency, and rebuilding won't help much because the inside of the cylinder isn't worn evenly...it's out of round. My advice: replace the toilet before something breaks you can't fix.But if you don't want to take that advice, at least don't spend any money on a rebuild kit. You should be able to find Super-Lube at any West Marine or BOAT/US...if not, boatfix.com (link below) carries it.

 

[Jerry Holloway]

thank you

Peggie,I'll take your advice and get a new head.Any suggestions on which one?thanks again.Jerry Holloway