Sea toilet issue? (video)

JollyRodgers

JollyRodgers

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Hi guys,

Me again..

Now I am probably being an idiot, but am I missing out an important step for getting the sea toilet to work?

I made a quick video, as I thought it would be easier to show you what I am doing (or perhaps, more accurately - not doing).

Some feedback would be great!

Thanks,

Alex

 
It's a Jabsco. Buy a service kit for it which includes an set of step by step instructions on how to strip the pump down, replace the seals and rebuild it. From what your video shows, the pump isn't doing much so try replacing the seals and valves and see if that works. Bear in mind you may need to pump quite a few time for anything actually to happen.
 
The presence of fresh water in the tank is irrelevant. I'd start by removing the top of the toilet pump so you can check the piston.
 
Stork_III said:
With the seacock closed you should have a lot of resistance when pumping. Suspect the piston seal. Try adding water to bowl and then pump.
Click to expand...
Yeah, there was no resistance at all. Add water to the bowl to see if it drains on the 'switched right' position?

I'm glad I'm not being silly. I checked everything that I thought could have been an issue on it.

It just seemed as though there was no suction to the pumping.

I had a sneaking suspicion that it may have been the piston rod, but that was just because of the lack of suction I was experiencing.
 
duncan99210 said:
It's a Jabsco. Buy a service kit for it which includes an set of step by step instructions on how to strip the pump down, replace the seals and rebuild it. From what your video shows, the pump isn't doing much so try replacing the seals and valves and see if that works. Bear in mind you may need to pump quite a few time for anything actually to happen.
Click to expand...
Will purchase one and get it sorted. Even if it doesn't fix it, servicing it and learning about it definitely wont do any harm. Thanks.

pvb said:
The presence of fresh water in the tank is irrelevant. I'd start by removing the top of the toilet pump so you can check the piston.
Click to expand...
Haha, shows my knowledge. I've only had the boat about 3 weeks so far, so still in a learning phase. Where does the water come from to flush out the waste, if it's not from the water tank? Is it saltwater?

Thanks all. I'm going to see if I can get hold of a Jabsco PDF manual online and have a look at the diagram on how it's setup. Might help a bit.
 
JollyRodgers said:
Haha, shows my knowledge. I've only had the boat about 3 weeks so far, so still in a learning phase. Where does the water come from to flush out the waste, if it's not from the water tank? Is it saltwater?
Click to expand...

Yes, it's sea water, drawn in through the smaller of the 2 seacocks. Both seacocks need to be open to operate the toilet.
 
Don't know if prices in the UK are similar but here it as cheap to buy a complete replacement pump assembly as to buy the reair kit. A spare pump can be changed over quickly, allowing time for the faulty one to be disassembled and only the required parts purchased, at leisure, ready to become the new complete on board spare.
 
Robin said:
Don't know if prices in the UK are similar but here it as cheap to buy a complete replacement pump assembly as to buy the reair kit. A spare pump can be changed over quickly, allowing time for the faulty one to be disassembled and only the required parts purchased, at leisure, ready to become the new complete on board spare.
Click to expand...
That's a very good idea actually. Just had a quick look online and I can get the brand new (with lock/unlock feature) hand pump for £55, or I could get the service kit for £30. Not much in it to be honest, for a lot more. It's funny/strange to think that I could get a brand new whole toilet with hand pump included for £120..
 
NealB said:
Just so you know....

You don't need to switch the electrics on, either...you provide to effort via the manual pump.
Click to expand...
I thought that I may have needed to have the electrics on, because I thought that the water would have to be electrically pumped up to where the toilet was from the bag under the sofa haha. Oops!
 
JollyRodgers said:
That's a very good idea actually. Just had a quick look online and I can get the brand new (with lock/unlock feature) hand pump for £55, or I could get the service kit for £30. Not much in it to be honest, for a lot more. It's funny/strange to think that I could get a brand new whole toilet with hand pump included for £120..
Click to expand...
Buy a pump and a service kit - put the new pump on and put the service kit in the old pump, much easier to do at home on the work bench. You've then got a spare and next time you have a problem simply put the spare pump on and service the other one at leisure, rather than have to search for spares and strip the pump down in the middle of a week away with a SWMBO with crossed legs looking over your shoulder asking how long before the toilet's working again...:)
 
l'escargot said:
Buy a pump and a service kit - put the new pump on and put the service kit in the old pump, much easier to do at home on the work bench. You've then got a spare and next time you have a problem simply put the spare pump on and service the other one at leisure, rather than have to search for spares and strip the pump down in the middle of a week away with a SWMBO with crossed legs looking over your shoulder asking how long before the toilet's working again...:)
Click to expand...

So wot I said in my reply #9 above then?:encouragement:
 
One of the flap valves at the top of the pump is stuck open. That's very common on these pumps when they are left unused for long periods. So instead of sucking seawater, because the valve is stuck open, you're just sucking air.

As advised a service kit (or a new pump) will sort it PDQ.

If you do buy a new pump I'd recommend stripping down the old one so you can see how it works and are able to fix it more quickly in the future. :)
 
Robin said:
Don't know if prices in the UK are similar but here it as cheap to buy a complete replacement pump assembly as to buy the reair kit. A spare pump can be changed over quickly, allowing time for the faulty one to be disassembled and only the required parts purchased, at leisure, ready to become the new complete on board spare.
Click to expand...

After several years of toilet training, I have found the exchange pump the most successful way to go. It's not a matter of cost (though you can save a lot) but entirely one of convenience.
I just change pumps (95% of sea-toilet problems are in that), and rebuild the pump @ my leisure having ordered just those parts which have failed. Ironically, in most cases the failed part isn't in the manufacturers' spares kit.

Unless the boat is in the water it's probably a good idea for the OP to desist from trying the unit at all - unless both sea-cocks are open and inlet submerged nothing will happen.
Rather like testing the coffee grinder with the plug out.
 
Hi all.

Will definitely get a new pump then, as well as the service kit and fix up the old pump and have it around as a spare.

Will get this pump, as it seems as though it will fit and is the cheapest one I can find online - http://www.seamarknunn.com/acatalog...Bmllozijp-RlDTUZZxUE8aAgwk8P8HAQ#.VSEIB2akTDm

strip the pump down in the middle of a week away with a SWMBO with crossed legs looking over your shoulder asking how long before the toilet's working again..
Click to expand...
We were down for the weekend, so I hooked up a 10L jerry can and a funnel for her haha
 
As people say, the toilet is nothing to do with the freshwater system, sea water only. Try putting a couple of litres of sea water in the bowl to prime it and then pumping with the seacocks open. Usually this will get it going. Was it empty over the winter? Hopefully frost hasn't damaged it.

How did you get on with the leaking log sensor?
 
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