Toilets!

Jonny_H

Jonny_H

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Our new boat has two RM69 toilets, of which I am having issues with both.

On the foreward heads the pump will not pump flushing water into the basin - have checked the pipes are clear, seacocks open and gaskets not shot - but to no avail! Regardless of what position I have the lever (flush or dry bowl) I can't get any water flushing through the system. (at the moment we use the shower as a flush!!)

On the aft heads I have the same problem as above, and also the pump is pretty shot - I dismantled it all and the plunger bar is rotten (managed to get a new nut on the end so it works, but suspect it's revised life expectancy can be measured in days). As a new pump is around £79 (and therefore not much less than a new heads at £99) I think I'm going to replace the whole unit.

Questions:

1) Any ideas how to get the pump in the foreward heads to bring water through?
2) When replacing the aft heads whats the best unit to go for? I am considering Jabsco due to cost and availability of parts.
3) If I'm putting a new unit in the aft heads, does it make sense to replace the forward heads with the same type (which may solve problem 1 in the process) then I only need to carry one set of spares?

All help much appreciated!

Jonny

p.s. Look forward to the next post coming soon on how to fix the fridge unit too!!
 
Try priming the forward heads by pouring fresh water into the bowl until it >2/3 full. Then pump out. Also, pour a little cooking oil gently down the plunger rod - it should pass into the cylinder and help seal the plunger better.
 
Can't fault the Jabsco. Installed one in our Moody last season and was amazed at how much better it was compared with the original heads. Probably should be your number one priority as busted heads make for a miserable experience. Shop around though as prices vary wildly. You should get 2 Jabsco compacts for just under £200.

Enjoy your blog by the way!!!

Rob
 
Rheinstrom look good - but far from cheap! One of the main dislikes with the RM69 is that many places don't stock spares - this is why we had thought Jabsco as these seem to have spares universally available.

Had looked at Lavac - but due to the tight fit of the heads, would quite like to stick to the standard layout (bowl with adjacent pump) as this seems to fit - not sure where I would mount a seperate bulkhead pump that would be easy to use.

Jonny
 
[ QUOTE ]
Had looked at Lavac - but due to the tight fit of the heads, would quite like to stick to the standard layout (bowl with adjacent pump) as this seems to fit - not sure where I would mount a seperate bulkhead pump that would be easy to use.


[/ QUOTE ]

Our "bulkhead" pump's on the floor - right next to the bowl.
 
Ah! I see - that makes it look very attractive. Buying from Lavac direct the unit with pump is only $349.99 - so circa £175 ish (plus delivery and tax!).

Its tempting - what are spares availability like - this being the big draw of the Jabsco at the moment.

Jonny
 
Hi johnny

Welcome to the cruising life. (Fixing boats full time, occasionally in exotic places)

I have had both lavac and Jabasco. To be honest I was happy with both, but did see Jabasco spares every where.

I told you you'd need to change that fridge /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif.......and don't forget to do your water pumps at the same time.

Glad you had a cracking trip home. Well done mate.
 
Surely shome mishtake........£57 for a Lavac?

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

It'd be worth getting one as a spare - only mine's 23 years old and still going strong........It had new seals for the lid as a special 21st birthday treat.

Great bogs!
 
Cheers John!

Actually enjoying fixing boats - sure it will wear off soon! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Fridge is next on the list - reckon I'll need to dismantle half the galley to get to the pipes for the holding plate though /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Its definately down to Jabsco or Lavac as a choice - the Lavac bonus seems to be the pump which can be used as a bilge pump etc in an emergency. - Although the Jabsco will be easier to fit as all the pipes are in exactly the same place as the RM69 unit.

Decisions decisions - who'd have thought throwing money at (rather than down!) a toilet would be so hard /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Hope your packing is going well John - very jealous!!

Jonny
 
This year our foreward loo wouldn't pump in fresh until I applied a small amount of grease to the inlet seals found under the top assembly.
Just unscrew the 6 screws holding the top down and look at the black rubber gasket. It should sit and seal onto the moulded pipe holes and seal as a non return valve. A smear of grease around this area cured it fine, along with olive oil for the plunger lubrication as mentioned elsewhere.

Cheers
 
We are also cursed with a RM69, the only toilet that will fit our heads. We have had endless trouble with it but, thanks to our very helpful local chandler in Holland, it is now reasonably reliable. During the course of our (their) development we have had two complete toilet replacements and four pump units. This is the one that has the valves at the top of the pump, not the standard version. We broke a pump handle half way across the Bay of Normandy and managed for a couple of days with a nut and a bit of scrap metal wrapped up in tape. The discharge flange leaked constantly and two broke. The hollow drain nut right at the bottom of the base fills up with sewage and smells. The various head units leaked, cracked and valves stuck.

As time has gone by, most of the problems we had have been remedied by the makers. If you want to upgrade yours, buy the replacement pump unit only if it is bolted together, not the one that only has self-tappers. The bolted ones seem to incorporate all the other developments and are much more strongly made.

Having said that, I have never had exactly your problem. Have you tried greasing the piston O-ring? We have had some reluctance to prime but never total failure. Silicone grease lasts a reasonable length of time. Provided that the inlet valve closes and the piston is sealing I cannot understand how it can fail to pump.

The only good thing that can be said for the device is that the bolt-on holding tank is not too bad. Except that the instructions are incorrect and the diverter valve needs to be left the opposite way from their recommendation in non-holding use, otherwise the tank gradually fills up with sewage without your knowledge and the boat becomes a mobile H2S generator.
 
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