Blocked heads!

Thanks for that ... the videos might be handy ... I'm not on the boat now but I need to see if there's a diaphragm pump next to or near the seacock ... wherever the pump is it's sounding healthy but just not delivering any water! It must be a seawater flush - can't be anything else with an inlet seacock ... funny how it doesn't get the 'dead creatures' pong though.
 
That round item by the pump that looks like it may be a strainer on the inlet pump may be blocks. The pump has a label on it in one of the pics and it may help to get a better pic of that label.

I have a jabsco head that had a combined flush pump out pump that I modified to have separate inlet and original out pump and my inlet pump looks simular to yours.
 
Kingfisher 3 said:
Thanks for that ... the videos might be handy ... I'm not on the boat now but I need to see if there's a diaphragm pump next to or near the seacock ... wherever the pump is it's sounding healthy but just not delivering any water! It must be a seawater flush - can't be anything else with an inlet seacock ... funny how it doesn't get the 'dead creatures' pong though.
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It looks like you have the "Quiet Flush" version. This has a macerator pump mounted behind the toilet, to pump out, but it uses any sort of separate pressure pump to pump the flush water in. The pump you've photographed is presumably the flush water pump. If you take a picture of the label on it, you should be able to identify it, and then a quick Google should give you instructions for checking it.

Edit: It looks like a Jabsco pump with a 90 degree pump guard filter plugged in to it. This is a filter to protect the pump from weed, etc, in the intake water. You can unscrew the clear plastic dome to clean the filter. See https://www.jabscoshop.com/marine/p...ump-inlet-strainer-hose-for-par-max-pumps.htm
 
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That "sight glass" is definitely a filter and it needs cleaning. the clear bit should unscrew and that I suspect will solve your problems. it will just have seaweed or something in it. there shouldn't be too much coming in from it so just turn off the inlet seacock and remove the clear lid(unscrew anti clockwise) and clean the stainless steel mesh strainer. put it back and thats it.
 
PVB and owen-cox ...... that's the gizmo I've got ... I did try unscrewing it but didn't use much grunt as I didn't know if it was supposed to unscrew or not! If I can get that off and clean it out it should solve the problem ... well found and many thanks! I might just buy a new one anyway!
 
Kingfisher 3 said:
PVB and owen-cox ...... that's the gizmo I've got ... I did try unscrewing it but didn't use much grunt as I didn't know if it was supposed to unscrew or not! If I can get that off and clean it out it should solve the problem ... well found and many thanks! I might just buy a new one anyway!
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If pumping out ok sounds could be either

Sea water inlet blocked by weed or say bit of plastic bag
Sea water inlet valve failed. Some ball valves get stuck in closed position but handle still moves.

Before doing anything drastic I would close inlet seacock then remove inlet pipe from loo
Take a dinghy blow up pump and connect to inlet water pipe.
Open inlet seacock
Pump hard
Hope fully you will here a big burp under the boat and blockage will be gone.

I have had to do this a couple of times in the last ten years.

Good luck
 
Go to your local camping shop and buy dissolvable toilet paper. Works brilliantly and haven't had a blocked loo in last 20 years.
 
+1 for that clear plastic cover needing to be removed to get to a strainer. Unblock the strainer and it should work OK. If you are afraid of breaking the plastic cap it looks very similar to the cap used on the Jabsco inline water filter.
Phil
 
Thanks to everybody for their replies and help. I've asked Jabsco if that plastic cover does actually unscrew ... it looks as though it does and if so should solve the problem. Don't want to force it if it doesn't! I'm going to order a spare anyway!
Just found out from Jabsco that it does unscrew ... not looking forward to the next bit!
 
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Originally Posted by l'escargot: Nothing down the toilet unless it has passed through the digestive tract first and everything else bagged and binned is the rule to prevent this..

ghostlymoron said:
I think such restrictions are unsavoury and unnecessary. Provided you flush well, I've not had any problems.
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I think such squeamishness is fairly unnecessary. You'd be well advised not to take it to most countries bordering the Med.
 
Kingfisher 3 said:
Quite! ... can you imagine bagging up a load of used bog-roll and taking it ashore? Bloke must be off his head! :disgust::D
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+1. It also wont stop anything blocking the sea water inlet which is what happened in your case I believe. Ive never blocked a sea toilet in my life and I always use paper and flush it away.
 
Kingfisher 3 said:
PVB and owen-cox ...... that's the gizmo I've got ... I did try unscrewing it but didn't use much grunt as I didn't know if it was supposed to unscrew or not! If I can get that off and clean it out it should solve the problem ... well found and many thanks! I might just buy a new one anyway!
Click to expand...

Some of the filters don't unscrew, as I found out when application of force destroyed one. Back flushing with a hose clears them.
 
ghostlymoron said:
I think such restrictions are unsavoury and unnecessary. Provided you flush well, I've not had any problems.
Click to expand...

My Father on his boat had this restriction. It was to avoid any risk of blocking the discharge. I hated it, but I admit that we never once had a blockage.

On my boat we have electric macerating toilets, and I don't think a reasonable quantity of TP is any problem at all. And the good thing about macerating toilets is that if something does block it, it will in 90% of cases be right at the macerator, which is far easier, and far less disgusting to clear, than a blockage further downstream.
 
Kingfisher 3 said:
Thanks to everybody for their replies and help. I've asked Jabsco if that plastic cover does actually unscrew ... it looks as though it does and if so should solve the problem. Don't want to force it if it doesn't! I'm going to order a spare anyway!
Just found out from Jabsco that it does unscrew ... not looking forward to the next bit!
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Yes - that's a Jabsco filter like mine and the transparent top does unscrew. It certainly looks well blocked but you just need to remove the wire mesh inside and clean it and it will be as good as new. However, make sure that you take a strap wrench to the boat with you as it probably will not come off by hand unless it has been removed regularly. Also have some silicone grease or similar with you, apply plenty to the threads and rubber seal, and do not do it up too tightly ..... just tight enough by hand such that it doesn't leak. You will then be able to get it off by hand next time.

I have 4 of these filters on my boat so am well-versed in their idiosyncrasies! :(

Richard
 
I've been to a lot of Mediterranean countries and particularly Greece provide waste bins for used toilet paper, ugh. I never use them as I can see no point. If the waste pipework is capable of transporting a sizeable turd, it will have no trouble with a moderate a mount of toilet paper unless it is in the form of a wad. This is a custom left over from when the paper was of the 'Bronco' variety which could cause a blockage and is unnecessary nowadays.
macd said:
Originally Posted by l'escargot: Nothing down the toilet unless it has passed through the digestive tract first and everything else bagged and binned is the rule to prevent this..



I think such squeamishness is fairly unnecessary. You'd be well advised not to take it to most countries bordering the Med.
Click to expand...
 
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