Toilet Problem!

M

MART1N

Active Member
Joined
14 Mar 2002
Messages
42
Visit site
Went down to the boat at the weekend and seem to have developed a fault with the toilet!

Basically..... it will pump out but no sea water comes through when you flush. It's a "normal" manual one, not an electric.

If anyone has any suggestions or ideas they would be greatly appreciated, before I have to contact the so-called "experts"!!!
 
Bet you left the fill/empty lever in the wrong position. The flap valve in the top of the pump will be stuck up, and the weight won't be heavy enough to close it. Nothing for it, you need to replace the valve (only a few quid). Remember to leave the lever pointing to the right (from memory) so the valve lays flat...
 
Or remember to open both toilet sea cocks.
I've put a diagram at the bottom to help you!!

Toilet_2.thumb.jpg
<font color=blue> Haydn
 
I get this. I find that if I pump really fast for about 30 seconds then i get suction and then the pump works a treat. It will then work normally for the whole time I'm on the boat. Only when I come back to it after a week off do i have the same problem again.

Haven't really looked into it. So which way should you leave the switch - to pump in or pump out?
 
Thanks!

Yes, I did leave the switch the wrong way.... always have and didn't know it mattered!

However when I arrived and flushed for the first time (the one where all the stinky, stale seawater goes through) it seemed to be working. The problem only came to light on subsequent trips - would this still be in line with your diagnosis?
 
The stinky stuff was probably forming the perfect seal around the piston giving the good suction needed for that first 1 ft of air to be sucked through before the water. The brisk pumping should do the trick. Once the system is primed with water it will be ok....until next time.
This is a common fault, why don't the manufacturers solve it??
David
 
What I sometimes have to do, is to put some water down the toilet. Usually from the shower thingy. About half fill the bowl then pump. That usualy does the trick.

Toilet_2.thumb.jpg
<font color=blue> Haydn
 
Thanks - That is what we ended up doing at the w/e, pumps out fine, but no sign of any sea water coming through.
 
No, I didn't know it mattered either, but I replaced one only to have it fail within weeks. When I stripped it down, the little rubber flap had a permanent bend in it from where the lever held it up. Once you have the thing in bits, it's obvious which way you should leave it.

I now leave it that way all the time, and I haven't had a problem since (apart from that gruesome rotten eggs smell first time you flush).

I'll give you good odds that your little rubber bit is all bent (fnarr, fnarr) when you look...
 
Hope that is what it is... are these rubber bits readily available at chandleries or would a need to order from a rubber specialist!! (fnarr, fnarr!!!)
 
Re: Smelly Toilet Cure...

There is a cure for your smelly Loo - you have to make sure it is flushed thro' with FRESH water before you leave it. This really works. I have a TEE piece in the inlet pipe as close to the inlet seacock as possibl, with a ball valve fitted in the Tee line, which youn dip into a container of fresh water and pump thro' the loo. The sequence is to close the inlet seacock, open the ball vave, dip the end into the fresh water, pump until water appears in the loo and then pump dry, close ball valve, close outlet seacock.
Leave for a fortnight and lo and behold - NO SMELL when you next go on board & pump.Forget about the in-line deodorisers - they don't work, only make the loo water a nice blue colour.

dickh
I'd rather be sailing... :-) /forums/images/icons/smile.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top