Moody 44 Rear Heads - Toilet Discharge Pipe Removal

Richard10002

Richard10002

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The above pipe is blocked and the easiest way to sort it is to replace it - If it is anything like the forward pipe it will be solid limescale such that the diameter is only about half an inch, and no amount of acid will shift it.

I've had a good look and am not sure how to reach where it goes through 2 thick cable ties behind the vanity cabinet over the toilet. I know MoodyNick replaced his on Lechwe a year or so ago, so I am looking for a "heads up" in order not to reinvent the wheel. (Having said that, I think Nick said that he is 6ft6in tall, with arms like a spider and even he had difficulty)

I removed the forward one, (approx. 8 metres), by cutting it at all points where I could reach, and replaced it by tugging it through various holes, nooks and crannies, with a piece of nylon string tied to a couple of holes made in the end.

So... I've taken the pipe ends off the pump and the seacock, but I cant cut the ties, or the pipe, through the small hatch hole in the vanity unit.

I'm toying with cutting the whole of the back panel off the vanity unit, and fitting a removable panel - something the builders should have done in the first place, (and not only here!!)

Anybody got any good reasons not to do this, or any method of cutting the ties? or any other ideas?

I also toyed with leaving the pipe in situ, blocking the ends, and fitting the new pipe around it.

Cheers for now,

Richard
 
Like Nick I had replaced more forward heads pipe and like Nick I'm 6'6" with arms like spiders /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I think there is an access hole high up behind the mirrors which may help. Otherwise you will have to cut a hole in the vanity unit. Sorry, but knowledge a bit rusty as I sold Hana 20 months ago to another forumite....
 
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I also toyed with leaving the pipe in situ, blocking the ends, and fitting the new pipe around it.



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I've got this image of some future owner thinking "what on earth is this pipe, and what's it for?" Much head scratching, lots of arduous work removing it and then....

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Richard, I will have to go and take a look because I cant remember off the top of my head. It actually took me, a good mate, and an ex plumber who happened to be living aboard his boat in Almerimar! Yes, all three of us did at least part of our body in the heads compartment at the same time.

The biggest mistake I made was trying to clean out the old pipe - once removed - instead of spending 60E on a new piece.

Better answer to follow on MOA, as it is quite specific to our boat.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Like Nick I had replaced more forward heads pipe and like Nick I'm 6'6" with arms like spiders /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I think there is an access hole high up behind the mirrors which may help. Otherwise you will have to cut a hole in the vanity unit. Sorry, but knowledge a bit rusty as I sold Hana 20 months ago to another forumite....

[/ QUOTE ]

Your knowledge is spot on.... but doesnt help in getting to the cable ties. I'm leaning towards cutting the hatch, but will sleep on it ... perhaps for a few days /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Whatever I do will be cheaper than paying £40 per hour, and a hatch will make it easier to get at other stuff - I can feel a few wires passing through the area, aswell as the pipes.
 
If there is one thing I don't miss from my Moody it is the amount of ripping apart of joinery you need to do to get to things. My RM is a revelation in this respect. Every job takes what I think or less - I reckon I'm subconsiously adding in a Moody fudge factor which I will have to unlearn!

Don't think that Moodys are necessarily worse than other marques, just that RM stand out as easy to work on.
 
When you posted the photos, and described how she was built and laid out, it was quite clear that there was a revelation taking place. One reasonably large area for all the serious stuff must make it easy to get at and worth whatever you might lose in space for other things - if any.

Personally I would keep your Moody fudge factor so that you remain constantly pleased and amazed, rather than disappointed /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Have 44 where rear heads can also be diverted to frwd holding tank. Accessed pipework by crawling into cupboard under sink, once in suprisingly spacious. Also small hole access behind left hand mirror and access hatch in back of high level cupboard over heads. I replaced all pipework.
 
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The above pipe is blocked and the easiest way to sort it is to replace it - If it is anything like the forward pipe it will be solid limescale such that the diameter is only about half an inch, and no amount of acid will shift it.

[/ QUOTE ]Don't be too sure about that. My experience is that lots of scale is freed, not just dissolved, by HCl acid. I try to do ours at least every week with half a litre of Italian acid (half the strength of the Spanish we were getting). Fill the bowl with hot water from the shower and add around half a litre of 5% or quarter of 10%. Pump through slowly, over about five minutes. Go away and leave for some hours or overnight. When you come back to it you will need to add some oil but you will feel grit (assuming it is a Jabsco) in the cylinder as you pump. A bit of vigorous pumping will push out far more scale than has actually been 'dissolved'. Unless you love working with lavatory pipes, don't give up on the acid until you have given it at least a half dozen goes -- and then do it EVERY WEEK!!!
 
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