I installed a Raritan Cricket last year and it has worked fine until last weekend. The toilet would not flush, the handle was very stiff, moved a little, but not full stroke,and I didn't want to force it, and the water filled the bowl. The pump out boat came alongside and removed a small quantity from the holding tank. I felt the vent hole in the stanchion during the pump out and felt suction. The bowl remained full and the handle would bearly move. I stuck my hand/arm/fingers down into the bowl and felt nothing (something I don't wish to confess). I tried the wet and dry lever on the side and that didn't help. With no other options I removed the overflowing water from the bowl until there was only a small quantity left at the bottom and it started to work. Nothing except waste, water and "marine" toilet paper is used. I don't believe there was/is an obstruction. The toilet has only seen minor use. Any thoughts would be appreciated as I prefer not sticking my hands down an overflowing toilet again.
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Me too, sort of
I've had a Cricket on board for about four years myself. I haven't experienced the problems you have (at least not to that degree), but I have noticed that in the last year there is more and more resistance to flushing. I'll be watching this thread for possible causes and remedies.
I've had a Cricket on board for about four years myself. I haven't experienced the problems you have (at least not to that degree), but I have noticed that in the last year there is more and more resistance to flushing. I'll be watching this thread for possible causes and remedies.
I think I know the problem...
Raritan discontinued production of the Cricket because it has a design problem that couldn't be overcome: solids and TP buildup in the diaphragm pump. 90% of boat owners stop pumping ANY marine toilet the instant the bowl is empty, which leaves the bowl contents sitting in the head discharge. That usually won't clog a piston-cylinder pump toilet, because the pump sits next to the bowl and waste only has to go through the bottom of the pump. But the Cricket has a diaphragm pump located directly under the bowl...so the waste has go through it AND make a 90% turn to move through the plumbing. If you don't pump it enough times, EVERY time, to push the bowl contents all the way through the pump and rinse out the pump, it build ups in the pump and clogs it...eventually resulting in the symptoms that both of you describe--and sometimes enough backpressure to make the toilet erupt. Very light use without rinsing out the toilet pretty thoroughly before the boat is to sit compounds the problem, 'cuz the "stuff" dries and hardens in the pump. After 6 years of trying figure out how to make the Cricket "operator proof," Raritan finally gave up and discontinued it. However, John, I suspect you may have TWO problems: a pump that's "packed" (which is gonna require removing the bowl to clean it out)...AND a partially blocked tank vent. Yes, I know you said you felt suction at the vent That tiny little slit in the rail stanchion barely allows enough air flow to keep up with a strong pumpout anyway...so ANY buildup in the vent--either in that slit or in the fitting on the tank--can reduce the air flow enough to cause a pumpout to pull enough of a vacuum to interfere with its ability to pull much out of the tank. You said the pumpout boat only removed a small amount of waste...are you just assuming that's all there was in the tank? Or have you checked the tank to see how much is in it Catalina specifies black poly holding tanks that aren't transluscent, I realize that's not easy...but just assuming a tank is empty because the pumpout couldn't remove much can result in any of a number of disasters if it's not empty. So (you're not gonna like this), there are two things that both of y'all have to do: Remove the bowl and clean out the pump and check both ends of your tank vent lines and clean 'em out if you find anything. There is a third thing that has nothing to do with which toilet you have: federal law requires that all holding tanks have some means of determining when the tank is 3/4 full...this is to prevent tanks from overflowing out the vent (which is a moot point on most sailboats because heeling spills tank contents out the vent). If the tank is in a readily accessible location and made of a material that allows the level in it to be checked visually, no guage is required. But if the level cannot readily be checked visually, a gauge that at least lets you know when the tank is 3/4 full is required. Granted, this a law that isn't enforced much...but a means of knowing how much is in the tank--and especially whether pumping out or dumping it has actually emptied it or just couldn't remove more than a gallon or two because the vent is blocked--is in YOUR best interest and prevent major problems. However, a gauge that only lets you know when the tank is 3/4 full isn't very useful...a pumpout could get enough to make the light go out, even if the vent is blocked. For not much more $$ than one of those, the online store here has a gauge--the Snake River AcuGage "mini"--that provides a true 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, full reading for a single tank...and for not much more than that, other models that that can monitor up to 4 tanks. Check it out.
Raritan discontinued production of the Cricket because it has a design problem that couldn't be overcome: solids and TP buildup in the diaphragm pump. 90% of boat owners stop pumping ANY marine toilet the instant the bowl is empty, which leaves the bowl contents sitting in the head discharge. That usually won't clog a piston-cylinder pump toilet, because the pump sits next to the bowl and waste only has to go through the bottom of the pump. But the Cricket has a diaphragm pump located directly under the bowl...so the waste has go through it AND make a 90% turn to move through the plumbing. If you don't pump it enough times, EVERY time, to push the bowl contents all the way through the pump and rinse out the pump, it build ups in the pump and clogs it...eventually resulting in the symptoms that both of you describe--and sometimes enough backpressure to make the toilet erupt. Very light use without rinsing out the toilet pretty thoroughly before the boat is to sit compounds the problem, 'cuz the "stuff" dries and hardens in the pump. After 6 years of trying figure out how to make the Cricket "operator proof," Raritan finally gave up and discontinued it. However, John, I suspect you may have TWO problems: a pump that's "packed" (which is gonna require removing the bowl to clean it out)...AND a partially blocked tank vent. Yes, I know you said you felt suction at the vent That tiny little slit in the rail stanchion barely allows enough air flow to keep up with a strong pumpout anyway...so ANY buildup in the vent--either in that slit or in the fitting on the tank--can reduce the air flow enough to cause a pumpout to pull enough of a vacuum to interfere with its ability to pull much out of the tank. You said the pumpout boat only removed a small amount of waste...are you just assuming that's all there was in the tank? Or have you checked the tank to see how much is in it Catalina specifies black poly holding tanks that aren't transluscent, I realize that's not easy...but just assuming a tank is empty because the pumpout couldn't remove much can result in any of a number of disasters if it's not empty. So (you're not gonna like this), there are two things that both of y'all have to do: Remove the bowl and clean out the pump and check both ends of your tank vent lines and clean 'em out if you find anything. There is a third thing that has nothing to do with which toilet you have: federal law requires that all holding tanks have some means of determining when the tank is 3/4 full...this is to prevent tanks from overflowing out the vent (which is a moot point on most sailboats because heeling spills tank contents out the vent). If the tank is in a readily accessible location and made of a material that allows the level in it to be checked visually, no guage is required. But if the level cannot readily be checked visually, a gauge that at least lets you know when the tank is 3/4 full is required. Granted, this a law that isn't enforced much...but a means of knowing how much is in the tank--and especially whether pumping out or dumping it has actually emptied it or just couldn't remove more than a gallon or two because the vent is blocked--is in YOUR best interest and prevent major problems. However, a gauge that only lets you know when the tank is 3/4 full isn't very useful...a pumpout could get enough to make the light go out, even if the vent is blocked. For not much more $$ than one of those, the online store here has a gauge--the Snake River AcuGage "mini"--that provides a true 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, full reading for a single tank...and for not much more than that, other models that that can monitor up to 4 tanks. Check it out.
Peggy
I appreciate the response and the detail. I will take apart the toilet bowl and examine. I don't have the gauge you recommend, but did install in the holding tank the look through gauge (which has to be kept clean)which gives a very rough idea of the level. I will also attempt to clean the vent line. Once again thank you for taking all the time and your expertise.
I appreciate the response and the detail. I will take apart the toilet bowl and examine. I don't have the gauge you recommend, but did install in the holding tank the look through gauge (which has to be kept clean)which gives a very rough idea of the level. I will also attempt to clean the vent line. Once again thank you for taking all the time and your expertise.
You might want to talk to Raritan too...
Give Vic Willman a call at 800-352-5630 x 6...he may know a trick for flushing out the diaphragm he hasn't told me about yet.
Give Vic Willman a call at 800-352-5630 x 6...he may know a trick for flushing out the diaphragm he hasn't told me about yet.
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