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 Replace Head?		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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Phredde
Navigator

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125 Posts
Initially Posted - 04/24/2013 :  18:38:40  Show Profile
Looks like another project. The head always took some pumping, but would work. Until now. No action from the pump at all. I didn't find much in the archives on this topic, but did some research. Seems like replacing the entire head for $150-200 makes more sense than a rebuild kit for ~$70. I'm looking at the Jabsco marine head.

The current head is original (1984 std rig/keel) with the manual pump flush. The water intake selector is a small lever with a red plastic cap.I'm not interested in a porta pottie.

Has anybody done this? Any advice if you did?
Phredde
Catalina 25
San Francisco
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Ape-X
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
662 Posts
Response Posted - 04/24/2013 :  18:42:30  Show Profile
I pulled the unit out, disassembled and found a check valve ball stuck. I also was able to fab my own gaskets, so rebuilt for only $3. The duck bill valve was still in good shape luckily
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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts
Response Posted - 04/24/2013 :  18:47:53  Show Profile
I agree with the replace the whole thing thought.

I replaced mine a couple of years ago after talking with the guy at Westmarine. He advised that sometimes the repair kit fixes the problem and sometimes it doesn't. For the cost difference I didn't want to waste the time for a maybe. I think it took me 20 - 30 minutes total to replace it.
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szymek
Navigator

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Canada
209 Posts
Response Posted - 04/24/2013 :  19:00:40  Show Profile
Agreed with Gary. I was going to buy the rebuild kit but decided to replace entire head. Entire project took less than 30 mins. It was almost direct replacement. I got the Jabsco one as well - got it when my local store had it on sale and paid 145 all in.
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CarbonSink62
Navigator

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USA
208 Posts
Response Posted - 04/25/2013 :  06:08:37  Show Profile
I did the rebuild and it worked fine.
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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts
Response Posted - 04/25/2013 :  20:11:03  Show Profile
I also did a rebuild 3 - 4 years ago with no subsequent problems.
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redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts
Response Posted - 04/26/2013 :  10:04:07  Show Profile
I did a rebuild and it worked ok. Then I bought a new jabsco and after about a year it malfunctioned. it seems they have about 3 versions on that rebuild kit ( or three version on the pump design ), and one of them the rubber can swell and stick or screwing down the pump cover screws hard, after a rebuild makes the rubber gasket squeeze out and stick.

Anyhoo.. I remember talking with the distributor for Jabsco after buying a new one and they sent me a new rebuild kit, so I think they knew I had bought one that was poorly designed or poorly manufactured.

Seems all the ones out now are "3rd generation" and work properly.

I must have spoken with about 5 people at West Marine that could tell me little about the pumps and finally found one guy that had been through the same problems I had encountered and knew the deal.

A few times back when I went out I completely dissembled the toilet, totally frustrated, and realized the through hull was closed...

Advice on working on them.... take the end out of a interchangeable screwdriver and use it as a nutdriver to make it work easier on the hoseclamps. and purchase a crack pipe lighter ( a butane cigar lighter ) to heat the hoses to make them easier to remove/connect.

Let me know if you find a methane gas buildup in the process...
Edited by - redeye on 04/26/2013 10:04:56
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redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts
Response Posted - 04/26/2013 :  10:07:47  Show Profile
Pump a lot of vinegar they the system and let it sit for awhile... Makes the job easier to deal with...

Sten
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sailboat
Navigator

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USA
149 Posts
Response Posted - 04/26/2013 :  15:46:17  Show Profile
Go with the vinegar approach first. If the head is old or old looking I can tell you that after four sailboats and four children replacing the head, if the replacement was an exact fit, that was usually the quickest way to go. Rebuilding worked some of the time. Replacement worked every time.
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redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts
Response Posted - 04/26/2013 :  20:31:47  Show Profile
The new jabsco toilets are cheap, but for $125 you can just buy the whole pump assembly and that only two clamps and four screws to replace. BTW, vinegar helps with buildup inside the hoses and helps to clean the joker - appropriately named - valve.... Olive oil should be added as well so you lubricate the seals. We cruisers call it tossing salad...

Sten
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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts
Response Posted - 04/27/2013 :  07:33:26  Show Profile
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by redviking</i>
<br />...vinegar helps... Olive oil should be added...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">...plus a little mustard powder and garlic, and you have a gourmet dressing in the holding tank!
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Phredde
Navigator

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125 Posts
Response Posted - 04/29/2013 :  17:37:25  Show Profile
Hey - thanks for all of the tips. On my next visit to the boat, the darn thing decided to start working! May not last long, but sure made my day...for now at least.
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.