Jabsco manual pump won't discharge

[Beneteau381]

Yuck.
Normal TP is fine usually, but kitchen roll, and then 2 big sheets of it at once, is not. Probably would have clogged a normal toilet, too.

Well, I had tp that breaks down well, never was an issue. But aparently the roll was finished, and she didn't find the new one under the sink and just used kitchen roll as mentioned above.

Too late

 

[johnalison]

Holding tank is not Jabsco loo. Your tale simple proves my point, the loo successfully pumped the paper into the holding tank as it is supposed to.

Being IP the loo had some fancy electric pump but the h/t pump clearly couldn’t cope. I’ll try kitchen towel in the loo next time I’m invited onto your boat.

 

[penfold]

A guest on board didn't listen to the million times I told them to not use excessive amounts of paper, well, now the toilet's clogged and won't pump out, and worst of all: the seacock won't budge to close it so I can take it apart.

Literally won't move, or is moving but not all the way? If it's moving a little, move it repeatedly until your arm drops off or the paper fatigues and gives way. I've cleared a few where it was moving a little, chewing up the mass of jobbie and paper with the seacock masticated it enough to allow the toilet pump discharge force to shift it. Strong words were spoken to the miscreant about their diet and toilet paper habits in all cases.

 

[lustyd]

Although sometimes they move a little and then you round out the handle attachment while convincing yourself you’re fixing it then you change to TruDesign

 

[DangerousPirate]

Literally won't move, or is moving but not all the way? If it's moving a little, move it repeatedly until your arm drops off or the paper fatigues and gives way. I've cleared a few where it was moving a little, chewing up the mass of jobbie and paper with the seacock masticated it enough to allow the toilet pump discharge force to shift it. Strong words were spoken to the miscreant about their diet and toilet paper habits in all cases.

Well, the seacock is freed and still doesn't move at all. Dunno, can live with it as it's above waterlevel. But if I get the chance, I might replace it one day.

 

[Stemar]

But aparently the roll was finished, and she didn't find the new one under the sink and just used kitchen roll as mentioned above.

A very strong argument for not having kitchen towel anywhere near the heads.

Regular crew should know better and, if they don't, just pass them the screwdriver (hide the gloves, they don't deserve them). Guests likely won't and will forget what they were told in a dire emergency like the end of the roll.

 

[wingcommander]

Have a spare joker ? Hang it on a string suspended inside heads . With a note saying this is what it's gotta go through, so go easy.

 

[DangerousPirate]

A very strong argument for not having kitchen towel anywhere near the heads.

Regular crew should know better and, if they don't, just pass them the screwdriver (hide the gloves, they don't deserve them). Guests likely won't and will forget what they were told in a dire emergency like the end of the roll.

Not regular crew, just a guest. But yeah, I am not sure when she grabbed the kitchen roll, but I know there isn't any in the heads. Maybe grabbed one from the forecabin. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I really, really wish I could have just given her a toolbox and say "You caused this, you fix it" but what do you do with people who have no handy skills at all, who can't even hold tools properly.
Anyway, I am captain on this here vessel, so I guess that's my job anyway. Can't be petty with guests, although I won't let her use the heads any more and made her walk to the marina main building. At least for now. Small, petty victories.

Told her like a million times....

Anyway. Story is done, it's fixed. Thanks for the advice.

 

[penfold]

Well, the seacock is freed and still doesn't move at all.

I've read this a few times and I still don't understand it. Aside from that what kind of seacock is it? Blakes? Generic ball valve?

 

[vyv_cox]

I've read this a few times and I still don't understand it. Aside from that what kind of seacock is it? Blakes? Generic ball valve?

Me too. I cannot understand how anything substantial can pass through the toilet valves and stick in the seacock. Is it half closed?

 

[thalassa]

Sometimes the lever you move to the right to empty the bowl got some play (screw..). The little hook on the lever inside the pump doesn't then open (lift) the associated little valve. In that case, you have this situation. Try to re position the lever angle. A little is often enough.

 

[DangerousPirate]

I've read this a few times and I still don't understand it. Aside from that what kind of seacock is it? Blakes? Generic ball valve?

Yeah, the blockage is freed, the seacock just doesn't move on its own accord. It's a blakes, yes. I am by no means a weakling, but I couldn't move it, not even a milimeter (which would have given me hopes). Once I saw stars for a few seconds because I tried so hard haha

It's slightly awkward to get there and look properly, but I am sure it's fully open, especially considering the flow of water when someone steps on the starboard side of the boat.

Just bogstandard old, gummed up seacock. Who knows how many years it has not been touched?

 

[penfold]

No offence, but checking and servicing seacocks before launching a boat is normal stuff. If there's access and you feel like tackling the problem afloat, back off the clamp screws(that hold the seacock cone) slightly(no more than half a turn), put some pressure on the handle and give the body of the seacock fairly firm taps with either a mallet or short length of wood. Alternate the direction of the pressure a few times. If it frees off work the handle a few times then tighten the screws back up until stiff but still movable.

If you're feeling brave and as the exit is above water level, undo the clamp screws completely and put somewhere safe along with the clamp plate, then a glamorous assistant goes in the dinghy, sticks a 12" length of broomhandle up the outside and wallops it with a mallet while a little dutch boy waits to catch the taper plug which should come out when walloped. Once removed clean the outside of the taper plug and the inside of the seacock body with green potscourer or wire wool lubricated with soapy water, once cleaned wipe it all off then smear both with heavy grease, reassemble and refit the clamp plate and screws and tighten them until the handle is stiff but still readily movable. While all this is happening it may be prudent to have equally glamorous but heavier assistants hang out on the opposite side of the boat to discourage inadvertent water ingress.

If you're not confident to do either, then it will need to wait until the boat is lifted for the seacocks to be serviced.

 

[DangerousPirate]

No offence, but checking and servicing seacocks before launching a boat is normal stuff. If there's access and you feel like tackling the problem afloat, back off the clamp screws(that hold the seacock cone) slightly(no more than half a turn), put some pressure on the handle and give the body of the seacock fairly firm taps with either a mallet or short length of wood. Alternate the direction of the pressure a few times. If it frees off work the handle a few times then tighten the screws back up until stiff but still movable.

If you're feeling brave and as the exit is above water level, undo the clamp screws completely and put somewhere safe along with the clamp plate, then a glamorous assistant goes in the dinghy, sticks a 12" length of broomhandle up the outside and wallops it with a mallet while a little dutch boy waits to catch the taper plug which should come out when walloped. Once removed clean the outside of the taper plug and the inside of the seacock body with green potscourer or wire wool lubricated with soapy water, once cleaned wipe it all off then smear both with heavy grease, reassemble and refit the clamp plate and screws and tighten them until the handle is stiff but still readily movable. While all this is happening it may be prudent to have equally glamorous but heavier assistants hang out on the opposite side of the boat to discourage inadvertent water ingress.

If you're not confident to do either, then it will need to wait until the boat is lifted for the seacocks to be serviced.

Yeah, I am doing that when the boat is lifted. But good advice thanks.

 

[PabloPicasso]

A guest on board didn't listen to the million times I told them to not use excessive amounts of paper, well, now the toilet's clogged and won't pump out, and worst of all: the seacock won't budge to close it so I can take it apart.

Water intake is fine, just doesn't pump out. The handle is stuck on top and won't go down, jumps right back up when I try and I fear I might blow a seal or something.

Any ideas what I can do? Apparently they couldn't find new roll of tp either and used kitchen roll aswell. Oh my...

Listen to yiur captain, people! It's not that hard.

Anyway. Now I got the problem.

Anything that dissolves the kitchen roll? I tried a plunger but soon realised that it's obviously not going to work because of the one way discharge system. Should have thought of that...

Can I maybe get a wire to maybe poke it through or something? Not sure what my options are. Lifting out will be a little while from now.

Start by throwing the offending crew over the side