I have a bolt loose - Jabsco Compact

jac

jac

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And SWMBO thinks I have a screw loose but that's a separate thread.

I needed to replace the hinges on the seat on my Jabsco Compact but on trying to undo the nuts they were jammed and no room to get at the them.

Then had the bright idea of removing the bowl which would let me get a spanner to the jammed bolts, bowl seemed to be held on with 4 bolts (which I assumed might be captive) with the nuts on the top and the bolts hidden away deep inside. First nut undone followe by a thud as the non captive bolt fell.

I decided to not undo anymore and removed the jammed lid hinge bolts with the help of a hacksaw but am still left with the problem of a bowl only attached by 3 bolts. I could easily undo the other 3 and lose the remaining bolts but is there a way of then getting them out and back through the holes ( may epoxy into place to prevent this in future)

The whole assembly is held on to the moulding by 4 bolts so i could remove the entire toilet , not just the bowlbut I can't get to the underside of the moulding so if those bolts are not captive then I'm in an even worse position.

Anyone had this problem and fixed it??

Toilet is like this one http://www.elyboatchandlers.com/com.../product/637cf30f42b9dc05c736f6ad19db5dce.jpg and the loose bolt is one of the ones with the white cap on.
 
jac,

Have a close look at the base on my toilet and you will see a round access panel to the area under. If your arrangement is similar I suggest cutting a gole in the base supporting the toilet and fitting an access panel. This will solve your current problem and give acees to the bolts if needed in the future.

picture coming soon

View attachment 39103

Sorry for the delay, I had to reduce picture file size but then found my upload quoted was exceeded. Seems OK now.

Hope this helps
 
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Cantata said:
Are you absolutely certain there is no access beneath? If the nuts aren't captive, then somehow someone installed the toilet.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't be surprised if the base was installed into the moulding and then the entire moulding installed.

Their is technically access, next to the heads is a sink/ vanity unit and that is open to underneath the moulding where the heads sits. However, you would need to be an anorexic 7 footer with arms like an orang-utan to hold a bolt in place their!
 
Can you get to look at a base unit in the chandlery? will tell you how the bolt is meant to be restrained, probably a hex hole relying on friction to hold it. The bolt is probably still in the base unit not below the moulding.
 
Stork_III said:
Can you get to look at a base unit in the chandlery? will tell you how the bolt is meant to be restrained, probably a hex hole relying on friction to hold it. The bolt is probably still in the base unit not below the moulding.
Click to expand...

Might have a look. Also trying to get some exploded diagrams online.

I'm 99% certain that the bolt is in the base unit, not the moulding. My fear is that In order to get at it, I think I will need to remove the 3 other bolts but then what? Probably epoxy them in place and then reattach the bowl, however If the only access to the bowl is via removing it from the base unit then I almost certainly will have bits floating around under the moulding.

Fairly sure I bought the boat for the sailing, not the bog maintenance - how silly of me!
 
jac said:
Might have a look. Also trying to get some exploded diagrams online.

I'm 99% certain that the bolt is in the base unit, not the moulding. My fear is that In order to get at it, I think I will need to remove the 3 other bolts but then what? Probably epoxy them in place and then reattach the bowl, however If the only access to the bowl is via removing it from the base unit then I almost certainly will have bits floating around under the moulding.

Fairly sure I bought the boat for the sailing, not the bog maintenance - how silly of me!
Click to expand...

Exploded diagrams are on the Jabsco shop website. http://www.jabscoshop.com/marine/marine-toilets/toilets/manual-toilets/
 
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The base to bowl bolts are just ordinary bulk standard S/S bolts with a washer and nut in the base, no captive means to hold the nut in the base at all - but a good idea if they were. It may be worth suggesting it to Jabsco as a future improvement!!

However, that does not solve your problem. Some how you will need to remove the base from the interior moulding to access the bowl mounting nuts, or even to remove the one that has dropped off! Three bolts should be sufficient strength wise but could cause problems with leakage from the base to bowl O ring due to uneven pressure. I would be very careful with any adhesive solutions, as these can cause problems with the plastic that the toilet is made from (depending on age), it has been known for even silicone mastic to cause issues with the older toilets!

Jon
 
jon711 said:
The base to bowl bolts are just ordinary bulk standard S/S bolts with a washer and nut in the base, no captive means to hold the nut in the base at all - but a good idea if they were. It may be worth suggesting it to Jabsco as a future improvement!!

However, that does not solve your problem. Some how you will need to remove the base from the interior moulding to access the bowl mounting nuts, or even to remove the one that has dropped off! Three bolts should be sufficient strength wise but could cause problems with leakage from the base to bowl O ring due to uneven pressure. I would be very careful with any adhesive solutions, as these can cause problems with the plastic that the toilet is made from (depending on age), it has been known for even silicone mastic to cause issues with the older toilets!

Jon
Click to expand...

Thanks Jon.

I can't find any exploded diagrams that help on this, but if I remove the remaining 3 bolts and then the bowl, is their any top access to the base? If so, that would be easier than removing from the moulding and going into the base from underneath.

Otherwise it is cut an access underneath the toilet do I can get to the bolts. Knowing my luck the fuel line will be making an entirely unnecessary deviation to the point where I cut!!
 
My boat has an access hole in the front of the plinth with a circular hatch cover over it. Even so I had to gaffer tape the nut on to the spanner in order to reach the back ones when replacing the loo.
 
jac said:
Thanks Jon.

I can't find any exploded diagrams that help on this, but if I remove the remaining 3 bolts and then the bowl, is their any top access to the base? If so, that would be easier than removing from the moulding and going into the base from underneath.

Otherwise it is cut an access underneath the toilet do I can get to the bolts. Knowing my luck the fuel line will be making an entirely unnecessary deviation to the point where I cut!!
Click to expand...

Picture of base here http://www.seamarknunn.com/acatalog...gclid=CL-1h_jzjLwCFSsCwwodQBYAVA#.Ut0q2ivFLf8 Looks like accessmight be possible.

However this one http://www.marinechandlery.com/medi...25d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/C/W/CW-29041-1000_1.jpg seems to show bolts fed in from below.
 
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Stork_III said:
Picture of base here http://www.seamarknunn.com/acatalog...gclid=CL-1h_jzjLwCFSsCwwodQBYAVA#.Ut0q2ivFLf8 Looks like accessmight be possible.
Click to expand...

If you were a girl, I'd kiss you!!!!!

I think you're right. Access to the bolts there looks a hell of a lot more attractive than unbolting the base. Let's see what happens.

If anyone is passing Deacons next weekend and sees someone dancing round the pontoons clutching the bowl of jabsco compact and grinning inanely you'll know access was possible!!!
 
jac said:
If you were a girl, I'd kiss you!!!!!

I think you're right. Access to the bolts there looks a hell of a lot more attractive than unbolting the base. Let's see what happens.

If anyone is passing Deacons next weekend and sees someone dancing round the pontoons clutching the bowl of jabsco compact and grinning inanely you'll know access was possible!!!
Click to expand...

A kiss would be nice, are you homophobic? But wait until you've read my edit.
 
Stork_III said:
Picture of base here http://www.seamarknunn.com/acatalog...gclid=CL-1h_jzjLwCFSsCwwodQBYAVA#.Ut0q2ivFLf8 Looks like accessmight be possible.

However this one http://www.marinechandlery.com/medi...25d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/C/W/CW-29041-1000_1.jpg seems to show bolts fed in from below.
Click to expand...

There is no access into the base from on top, the only way to those bolts is from underneath. There is a specific torque used in the factory when assembling, not sure what it is, and not totally convinced that more than hand tight is needed. Just be careful not to overtighten, it has been known for bowls to have been broken at that point by enthusiastic owners.

Jon
 
I have the same loo.

A couple of years ago it started leaking from the bowl and vase joint. I accused a fat lady of breaking the joint but that's another story.....

I think the cause of the leak was the severe frosts we had a couple of years ago.

However I played with those bolts between the bowl and base, they just turned and turned. I tried self annealing tape around the join to no avail.

The easiest solution was to replace the whole loo. The cost is only around £100.

Getting the loo off the base was not easy. I enlarged the hole under the fibre glass base to get at the four nuts that held the loo in place. A few nasty scratches and extensive vocabulary got the beast off the f/g base. The new loo was dead easy after that.

At the same time I was able to replace one non return valve in the connection to the outlet. That one keeps the loo empty after pumping it out.

And a virgin seat... I know now who has crapped there!!!

The bolts that I referred to earlier that just did not tighten, we're a result of a botched repair job in the previous boats 30 year history.

Thus renewal of the whole shooting match was money very well spent".......

Mj
 
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