we have a 97, Carver 355 ACMY with two electric flush toilets. We are on a trip and the aft toilet jammed while flushing human waste with very little toilet paper. The Jabsco Quiet Flush eletric marine toilet mascerator (model 37045-0092) still runs, but nothing is being mascerated and sent to the holding tank. Is there a simple fix (I doubt it), or is this going to be a crappy job? I am mechanically inclined and have tools aboard, but I have never taken one apart. I assume I have to get as much water out of the bowl as possible or it will be on the floor once I pull the mascerator? Is there anyway to run the mascerator backwards in case it just needs a little more speed to get through the mess? If I had a plunger (I don't), could I use that to help? I noticed that the discharge hose is 1 1/4 inch OD, then goes into a larger discharge hose that runs to the holding tank. Thanks for the help in advance, and I am laughing, becuase I have read similar post and have said to myself, "poor guy". Now I am that guy. FYI, we have owned the boat for 7 years and have had no problems with the toilets. We know to minimize the TP.
plugged toilet,need help
- Thread starter tim f
- Start date
You can't run the macerator backwards. A plunger might indeed help; if there's an obstruction, the vacuum you create might at least pull (whatever) back into the macerator feed zone so it can take another whack at it.
Yes, if all else fails and you have to begin dismantling, you should get as much water out of the bowl as possible, including the slight bit that usually remains after flushing without water fill. Disposable towels, rags, etc. if necessary.
Assuming you have decent access, dismantling is relatively easy and straight-forward.
You can get instructions and parts illustrations at the Jabsco/Xylem website; go here and use your model number to search: http://www.xylemflowcontrol.com/marine-and-rv/
It doesn't hurt to lube the system with a little cooking oil from time to time...
We have that system, and it's been reasonably reliable, 11 years old and only recently needed some rehabbing...
-Chris
Yes, if all else fails and you have to begin dismantling, you should get as much water out of the bowl as possible, including the slight bit that usually remains after flushing without water fill. Disposable towels, rags, etc. if necessary.
Assuming you have decent access, dismantling is relatively easy and straight-forward.
You can get instructions and parts illustrations at the Jabsco/Xylem website; go here and use your model number to search: http://www.xylemflowcontrol.com/marine-and-rv/
It doesn't hurt to lube the system with a little cooking oil from time to time...
We have that system, and it's been reasonably reliable, 11 years old and only recently needed some rehabbing...
-Chris
Chris,
Thanks for the help. My wife yelled that someone replied just as I was getting to the bottom of the bowl. Fortunitely I keep a turkey baster on board for getting water out of my bilge (I keep the bilge dry) in those hard to reach areas. It worked perfect to get every drop out of the bowl. I flushed some water in the bowl to see if it would work, and it does, but seems weak. I assume that at some time they need to be replaced even if they don't fail? I guess for all the hard work they do, and being 16 years old, it is time to replace, or at least inspect the impeller for build up. How much, and how frequently do you pour cooking oil down the toilet? Again, thanks for the help.
Thanks for the help. My wife yelled that someone replied just as I was getting to the bottom of the bowl. Fortunitely I keep a turkey baster on board for getting water out of my bilge (I keep the bilge dry) in those hard to reach areas. It worked perfect to get every drop out of the bowl. I flushed some water in the bowl to see if it would work, and it does, but seems weak. I assume that at some time they need to be replaced even if they don't fail? I guess for all the hard work they do, and being 16 years old, it is time to replace, or at least inspect the impeller for build up. How much, and how frequently do you pour cooking oil down the toilet? Again, thanks for the help.
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Same toliets and have had a foreign object in one of ours that I could see with a dental mirror. I used a pair of needle nose pliers, that I had bent at 90 deg. for impellers, to retrieve. Worked fine after that, and since WM does not carry that rebuild kit, I ordered 2 spares that I now carry. That cooking oil would be about once a month,,if you get pumped out on a regular basis. We put a cup on white vinegar down each head when we leave for a period of time.. Helps dissolve anything remaining in hoses.
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16 yr old impellor??????? Seriously...you have been living on borrowed time. Consider yourself lucky!!!
Capt. Bill1
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If it's just poop clogging the head, let it sit for day. In many cases it just breaks down and then the head can pump it out.
Putting cooking oil in your head may make you feel good but that is about all it's going to do. It's really a waste of good oil.
Now the vinegar trick has merit. But you need to put more like a gallon and pump it into the lines to do much good. It can help break down the mineral deposits that coat the insides of the head hoses which restrict the flow of effluent and increase the likely hood of clogs.
Putting cooking oil in your head may make you feel good but that is about all it's going to do. It's really a waste of good oil.
Now the vinegar trick has merit. But you need to put more like a gallon and pump it into the lines to do much good. It can help break down the mineral deposits that coat the insides of the head hoses which restrict the flow of effluent and increase the likely hood of clogs.
When I tried a rebuild -- to stop a growing shaft seal leak -- it didn't work particularly well. The unit had been getting noisier, too, and the rebuild attempt didn't fix that.
I talked to Jabsco, and they suggested I'd gotten my money's worth out the original pump/motor assembly (easy to believe, given the caustic environment it lives in) and replacing the whole pump/motor assembly was relatively easy, relatively cost-effective.
It's not just an impeller; it's also a chopper... but that didn't seem to be our issue; that seemed to be all about seals, eventual shaft run-out, etc.
I only add some oil when I remember, so "very occasionally" -- and it seems to help lube the rotating bits...
-Chris
Tim:
Variations of that system have been around for eons. Shaft from the motor has a chopper in front and an impeller behind it which brings clean water into the unit. Due to seals, the impeller never touches the waste which is why when the chopper/discharge fails to empty the bowl, clean water continues to enter. Most discharge problem occur because there is a flapper or in some models, a duck-bill valve after the chopper which further reduces the size of the discharge line. Does not take much to block that line. Two alternatives: small plunger which has never failed to work or as previously noted, let it sit and the waste or object may break down.
Never used any type of lubricating oil as the only thing to lubricate is the flapper valve and the discharge hose. Salt water will pretty much wipe out the lubrication. Vinegar, yes but it has to sit in the discharge line for a while to be effective.
Rebuild kits are readily available, however I have two units over 15 years old (salt water use)and only had to replace the base on one due to the ears that hold the discharge nozzle screws breaking. Other than that, no issues at all.
Gene
Variations of that system have been around for eons. Shaft from the motor has a chopper in front and an impeller behind it which brings clean water into the unit. Due to seals, the impeller never touches the waste which is why when the chopper/discharge fails to empty the bowl, clean water continues to enter. Most discharge problem occur because there is a flapper or in some models, a duck-bill valve after the chopper which further reduces the size of the discharge line. Does not take much to block that line. Two alternatives: small plunger which has never failed to work or as previously noted, let it sit and the waste or object may break down.
Never used any type of lubricating oil as the only thing to lubricate is the flapper valve and the discharge hose. Salt water will pretty much wipe out the lubrication. Vinegar, yes but it has to sit in the discharge line for a while to be effective.
Rebuild kits are readily available, however I have two units over 15 years old (salt water use)and only had to replace the base on one due to the ears that hold the discharge nozzle screws breaking. Other than that, no issues at all.
Gene
In this unit, the chopper/impeller assembly doesn't bring in fresh water; that's controlled by a separate solenoid, and can work independently from flushing. But yes, that still means fresh water can enter whether the pump action worked or not.
Good point about the duckbill; there is indeed a joker valve, and I think it is possible the discharge hose (and/or that valve) can be clogged without regard to whether the pump/motor is working normally or not. We've not yet "enjoyed" that experience yet.
-Chris
Good point about the duckbill; there is indeed a joker valve, and I think it is possible the discharge hose (and/or that valve) can be clogged without regard to whether the pump/motor is working normally or not. We've not yet "enjoyed" that experience yet.
-Chris
thanks for all the help. It is working at this time, but does not appear to be as strong as the forward head. We are underway, so saving the aft head for liquids only. I think I will replace vs rebuild when I get back, and purchase a second one in case the forward head fails. My system is all fresh water, we only boat about 5 months a year, and for the number of times its been used in 16 years, I would expect another 16 years out this pump. Thanks again.