Leaky refurbished Jabsco!

Zen Zero

Zen Zero

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I have just got round to using my €50 Jabsco refurbishing kit that I bought because my heads didn't suck (blowing was no problem and staying close to home marina and a convenient hose, flushing with fresh water wasn't really an issue). So big spanner, electric screwdriver (what a boon!) jar of vaseline, instruction manual, half naked in the Mediterranean heat, with a large and growing shoal of "Oblada Melanura" waiting for my next contribution (don't tell anyone that I'd performed my morning ablutions less than 3 nautical miles from the coast!), "fit O ring" where the fox that O ring? etc" finally the job was done and ... pump pump pump, the bowl fills with water and small crabs (it's been a whle since I used it), switchy switchy - pumpy pumpy, bowl empties; switchy backy pumpy pumpy, why's my feet getting wet?

The pump leaks water on "suck" from the head of the pump! What have I done wrong?

Answers please!

Thanks
 
What have I done wrong?
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Refurbed the Jabsco instead of fitting a complete new Lavac :D

Leaking from the joint between the pump body and the top or round the stem of the plunger ? Or somewhere else?


Several differnt kits for overhauling different parts but the plunger seal and the top cover gasket are available separately
 
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Zen Zero said:
that's it! leak comes from between component 27 and component 28! No broken hoses!
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Gasket 21 then. Defective or not fitted properly or cover not fitted properly

Lavacs dont have all these bits and pieces !
 
Your electric screwdriver may have something to do with it. The screws run in a plastic thread and you have to be careful when you run them down to make sure they engage in the threads - otherwise they cut new threads and don't seal.

Bit late now, but buying a new twist and lock pump is a much better idea than refurbishing an old one. Not a lot more expensive at £60 in UK against £40 for the kit and a much better job. You can of course refurbish the old one replacing just the worn parts as a spare.
 
Tranona said:
buying a new twist and lock pump is a much better idea than refurbishing an old one. Not a lot more expensive at £60 in UK against £40 for the kit and a much better job.
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This did occur to me! Fork!

Anyway I don't mind wet feet. I decided on the refurb because my Mum (80) is coming aboard for a week at the end of the month. But she's quite adaptable too.

Boogah it though! €50 for all those seals - reminds me of buying gaskett kits in my motorcycling days (actually I'm still motorcycling but with newer machines and not doing DIY maintenance any more).
 
The screws run in a plastic thread and you have to be careful when you run them down to make sure they engage in the threads - otherwise they cut new threads and don't seal.
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Turn the screws gently backwards until you feel the thread engage then tighten.
 
This message might offend those of a sensitive nature.

Its quite easy not to get that gasket aligned properly. Over-tightening the screws doesn't help either.

Ignore the smart comments about lavac's. ** I have had no end of problems with them and their 'simple' design and our Jabco's keep on going.











** Perhaps I am biased as on one of the few times I have had a blocked heads to deal with, it was a lavac. Not only had the young lady tried to pump sanitary towels through the pump, but when I went to unblock the pump, it sprayed the contents all over my face. (The pump was on a bulkhead at shoulder height). When I got the pump in bits, I then discovered what I had been sprayed with. I speak with feeling when I speak about lavac toilets!
 
Leaky Jabsco

I have just replaced the "O" ring on two Jabsco pumps in the last couple of weeks.

I had water leaking from one of them (mine!!) because the top "cover" was not seated properly; I just undid the screws and wiggled it a bit until it clicked into place.

By the way you can order individual parts for Jabsco products (toilet pumps, Flojet water pumps e.t.c.) from www.jabscoshop.co.uk. Here in Italy they only sell the kits for the toilet pumps ..... 70 euros and I only needed the "O" ring, but I was in a hurry and couldn't wait for the post from UK.

Just a by-the-by: I always assemble all the fiddly bits inside the cover and then drop the whole lot onto the body.

Alan.
 
john_morris_uk said:
Its quite easy not to get that gasket aligned properly. Over-tightening the screws doesn't help either.

Ignore the smart comments about lavac's. ** I have had no end of problems with them and their 'simple' design and our Jabco's keep on going.

** Perhaps I am biased as on one of the few times I have had a blocked heads to deal with, it was a lavac. Not only had the young lady tried to pump sanitary towels through the pump, but when I went to unblock the pump, it sprayed the contents all over my face. (The pump was on a bulkhead at shoulder height). When I got the pump in bits, I then discovered what I had been sprayed with. I speak with feeling when I speak about lavac toilets!
Click to expand...

You cannot blame the Lavac for the sanitary towel! You think a Jabsco would have handled it... no way!

A Lavac is so simple. No fiddly bits and pieces in the toilet at all. Just a standard diaphragm bilge pump to empty it, mounted at an accessible height too !
 
Tranona said:
Your electric screwdriver may have something to do with it. The screws run in a plastic thread and you have to be careful when you run them down to make sure they engage in the threads - otherwise they cut new threads and don't seal.

Bit late now, but buying a new twist and lock pump is a much better idea than refurbishing an old one. Not a lot more expensive at £60 in UK against £40 for the kit and a much better job. You can of course refurbish the old one replacing just the worn parts as a spare.
Click to expand...

+1 to both of the above.

You have to be real careful to get the screws started before screwing them down.

I never buy service kits. Once a pump can't be fixed by dismantling, cleaning, greasing, or swapping bits from old pumps, we buy a new one. The twist and lock ones are a good idea too, especially if your bowl is below the waterline at any angle of heel.
 
VicS said:
You cannot blame the Lavac for the sanitary towel! You think a Jabsco would have handled it... no way! No it wouldn't - but it would have been a bit more obvious and then not sprayed me in the face with the foul contents!

A Lavac is so simple. No fiddly bits and pieces in the toilet at all. Just a standard diaphragm bilge pump to empty it, mounted at an accessible height too !
Click to expand...
Its a fair point - but I hope you understand my strong feelings. I haven't had to deal with many blocked toilets (perhaps I look so severe when I brief the crew about how to treat the heads compartment and what not to put in the loo?) but although I admire the simplicity of the lavac, I have been let down by them and they don't always seem to behave in accordance with the instructions. For example, every one I come across I always have to wait for the vacuum to go and lift the lid and pump it dry. The pause for so many seconds and pump again doesn't cut the mustard. And yes, I have checked the anti-syphon valve etc. I have no real axe to grind except when people claim that Lavacs are the answer to all our toilet prayers. They are good - but not that good - and we have also been served very well by Jabscos.
 
If when all is said and done and you still have a problem, you can mix up washing up liquid with water and then whisk it. Paint it over all the joints in question. Operate the unit and see what happens to the bubble!
Should point to the problem. Worked for me last year!
 
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