Won't "flush"

[BruceK]

New boat, and inspected and verified the Jabsco( your basic manual model) pumped in water and evacuated fine predelivery....mystery...first use after delivery...cannot draw water into the bowl, but can evacuate ok in either valve position....the pump handle has the same feel in either valve position e.g. no pressure as if thru hull closed, thru hull is open...what's up??

 

[Deadline]

Is the thru-hull open?

 

[BruceK]

Yup...thru hull wide open

 

[sailingdog]

Did you check to see if the through-hull is clogged. Barnacles and such can do that on a smaller through hull pretty easily.

 

[BruceK]

Boat new and launched mid April..also their is no "back pressure" felt when pumping as happens if the thru hull is closed...

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

My guess:

Unless some sea life has set up housekeeping in the intake thru-hull, the most likely scenario is a failed wet/dry cam in the pump--a VERY common problem in Jabsco toilets. The cam gets hung up in the dry mode. The only cure: a new cam assembly. Call Jabsco customer service...they'll send you one.

Unless you want make the deale swap out the toilet for one that's better quality?

 

[BruceK]

Re: My guess:

Thanks, Peggy....sounds like a plan(s)! I kinda thought something was amiss with the wet/dry control when they both did the same thing and felt the same...FYI I agree this is not the top o the line toilet, but strangely I have had good luck on my previous three boats...I changed the toilet completely on each at the 3 year mark...

 

[chuckwayne]

Re: My guess:

Hey, Bruce-are you up at MYC?? Sailed sunday and didn't see her...

BTW, Thanks, Peggy for coaxing Raritan to offer the "upgrade" kit. I installed mine last week-really simple to do, and what a difference! wish I'd switched to the PHC years ago! Thanks, too, to SBO for filling my order quickly-let me do the swap with a clean head before we took Escape out.

 

[Scott B]

I had the spring on the wet/dry lever, pop off on mine and wouldn't draw water.

 

[Skipper]

Free fix

I got basted for posting this remedy before. Others will tell you that you have a crappy (pun?) head. But, there may be a simple and free remedy to get it going again. Emphasis on "free" and "simple" IE: no money(try $300 for "good" head), time, expertise, banged knuckles, cussing, driving, carrying, connecting, bolting, cutting, modifying, damaging, not fitting correctly...to do.

I do this about once every couple of months, usually when I've accidentally pumped all the water out of the intake line:
Open the thru hole. Place 3-4 small sheets of TP over the bottom of the head to prevent splashing up. Switch the wet\dry to wet. Now pump that handle like it's a Ferrari piston. I'm talking fast. The suction will draw the seawater back into the head, and the siphon will stay until you let the line go dry over time or if you pump it completely out.
Try it. If it fails, call me a moron. But, again, it's free and harmless to try.