Baby Blake tools...anyone?

[Hambleton]

I'm on the borders of... Spain and Portugal, discharging but not flushing, buying a new used Levac toilet for the price of a set of Blakes spanners, but it's the not the spanners I need - I just want keys H and J, which come as part of a £300 kit. So...does any intelligent person still have the tools from a BB they dispensed with? Or want to loan/rent them? Or have a set they made? If you own this Rolls Royce of toilets, you'll appreciate the particular nature of highend 50s British engineering which makes this such a pain in the derriere. I'd love to keep my Blake, but this is a helluva project for a bog. Thanks.

 

[VicS]

I'm on the borders of... Spain and Portugal, discharging but not flushing, buying a new used Levac toilet for the price of a set of Blakes spanners, but it's the not the spanners I need - I just want keys H and J, which come as part of a £300 kit. So...does any intelligent person still have the tools from a BB they dispensed with? Or want to loan/rent them? Or have a set they made? If you own this Rolls Royce of toilets, you'll appreciate the particular nature of highend 50s British engineering which makes this such a pain in the derriere. I'd love to keep my Blake, but this is a helluva project for a bog. Thanks.

The two keys you require are available separately from Sparesmarine.co.uk ..... but pretty pricey. How much do you love your BB ?

 

[PCUK]

I'm sure I could make them or something similar for a lot less. Send me pics or drawings and I'll have a look.

 

[OrangeOily]

I'm told there's a blue steel ketch called "Castaway" on the Guadiana that was also looking for the Baby Blake tools. If you know the boat, perhaps ask them if they had any luck with finding the tools?

 

[Boater Sam]

I have never had those tools and find no problems dismantling or assembling Baby Blakes lavs without them.

 

[Refueler]

I too have the Rolls Royce of bogs .... and no special tools ....

No doubt if I had to really strip it down to its bits - then might be time to sort - but in the 25yrs I've had the boat - I have never had to do anything serious to it .... it just works !

Bloody Jabsco on the other boat though - completely different story - I hate it with a passion .... nearly as much as I hate Lavac's ......

 

[KompetentKrew]

My dream is to be in an industry where I can command margins like this: Spigot Key Safety Control Valve

A defence contractor would be jealous!

 

[Hambleton]

I have never had those tools and find no problems dismantling or assembling Baby Blakes lavs without them.

Oh. That's good news. From reading the manual I understood H(which I can make from 19mm steel rod) was essential for holding the pump so you don't destroy it, and the J tool similarly...? If that's not so, that's brillliant - I can do it just with spanners? Thanks so much for your help

 

[Hambleton]

I too have the Rolls Royce of bogs .... and no special tools ....

No doubt if I had to really strip it down to its bits - then might be time to sort - but in the 25yrs I've had the boat - I have never had to do anything serious to it .... it just works !

Bloody Jabsco on the other boat though - completely different story - I hate it with a passion .... nearly as much as I hate Lavac's ......

I always said that too about my Baby - 20 years and needed nothing. Then inrtake just stopped. Thruhull and hose is clear to the unit. Any ideas? I'd be so grateful because i love this loo.

 

[Boater Sam]

If you cannot pump water into the bowl, the foot valve on the pump rod has jumped out of its seat. If you rap the handle it may jump back but to fix it you need to take the top off and pull the rod out.
You may find that the wear has allowed too much space for the valve to become out on the side. If so put a nut on the bottom end of the thread on the pump rod to reduce the gap.
I have a BB which is 74 years old and it works fine.

 

[fredrussell]

My dream is to be in an industry where I can command margins like this: Spigot Key Safety Control Valve

A defence contractor would be jealous!

Yep, they’re the undisputed masters of Marine Pricing Startegy. When I had a Taylor’s stove one of my favourite entertainments was to browse through their website in sheer wonderment at the spare parts prices. If you were to buy every part to construct a drip feed heater you would need to remortgage your house. Genius’s.

 

[Hambleton]

If you cannot pump water into the bowl, the foot valve on the pump rod has jumped out of its seat. If you rap the handle it may jump back but to fix it you need to take the top off and pull the rod out.
You may find that the wear has allowed too much space for the valve to become out on the side. If so put a nut on the bottom end of the thread on the pump rod to reduce the gap.
I have a BB which is 74 years old and it works fine.

Unfortunately I can't get the top off. Contrary to advice, in desperation I used heat, which created quite a smell and probably ruined its innards. I'm now wondering if I can substitute the BB intake flush for another pump, like a Henderson for example. My next and last effort is to take it into a mechanic workshop at the spanish fishing harbour and see if they can undo the shallow top nut which is stuck fast.

 

[Cerebus]

My dream is to be in an industry where I can command margins like this: Spigot Key Safety Control Valve

A defence contractor would be jealous!

Those prices are mad.

I hope the op can find someone to weld up a set.

 

[Boater Sam]

Unfortunately I can't get the top off. Contrary to advice, in desperation I used heat, which created quite a smell and probably ruined its innards. I'm now wondering if I can substitute the BB intake flush for another pump, like a Henderson for example. My next and last effort is to take it into a mechanic workshop at the spanish fishing harbour and see if they can undo the shallow top nut which is stuck fast.

Take the inlet pump off the loo. Put the top nut in a vice. Wrap the barrel in emery cloth and use a Stilson wrench on it. They will come undone quite easily being all bronze.