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Leak on head floor

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Alan Clark
Captain

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406 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/20/2004 : 14:40:21

I was reading Karens Question to the Forum and lo and behold, I have what appears to be a leak from the marine head on my Catalina 25. I have tightened the bolts holding it to the floor which were somewhat loose,BUT

,It is still leaking. This is the first Head

,I have had,I don't know what the cure might be. I have the diagrams but am afraid that if I remove the teak foot rest that I will dig into something that I need parts for and have no idea what parts to replace or will just tightening bolts fix it? HELP! BTW the leak is small and may come from the bowl? and does not happen all the time.
Suggestions? Many Thanks... Alan

Alan & Eileen
2001 Catalina 310 Hull #155
"Anam Cara"
ex-1987 C25 TR/SK #5612
"LEPRECHAUN"
Troy Ohio USA / Lake Erie-Catawba Island
ASA 101 103 104

"The clink of an anchor - chain, the 'Yo-Ho!' of a well time crew, the flapping of huge sails - I love all these sounds."

John 'Rob Roy' MacGregor

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Edited by - on

RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 09/20/2004 : 15:54:05

I don't think the bolts holding the head to the floor have anything to do with your leak (unlike a home toilet, there's no hole/wax gasket under my marine head, a Wilcox/Crittendon).

I'd guess the leak is coming from a loose hose clamp. I think mine has four -- one where the hose from the thru-hull enters the head pump, one where the hose leaves the top of head pump, one where the hose from the head pump enters the head bowl and one where the head effluent hose leaves the bottom of the head and goes to the holding tank.

Good luck.

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Alan Clark
Captain

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406 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2004 : 12:37:00

Richard, Thanks , I REALLY apreciate the information and I will Take this apart this weekend-the head I believe is a Jabsco...But you have given me confidence and I will give it the examination and let you know what happens :) Thanks for reply Alan

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Lowell
1st Mate

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USA
30 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2004 : 21:58:41

Alan,

My '87 had a slow leak in the head when I bought it. I thought that it was a bad seal or hose clamp at the bottom of the hand pump. I bought a rebuild kit for the pump. After taking all the hoses loose so I could see what was happening I discovered a small crack in the cast iron pipe that the bowl and pump attach to. The crack was near the bolt tab on the back side of the pipe nearest the pump. I took the reuild kit back and bought a new head. The rebuild kit was about $70.00. The new head was about $150.00. It was a fairly easy job to put the hew head in. The hardest part was fitting all the hoses back in place.

Lowell Heenan
Dreamer 5655 WK/SR

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karentc
1st Mate

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USA
68 Posts

Response Posted - 09/22/2004 : 10:54:10

Hey,
About the water on the head floor... I discovered that the water hose that goes into the head had somehow disconnected from the back of the toilet- so anytime someone tried to wet flush, it put the water onto the floor instead of into the bowl. I am not sure what kind of fixed head it is- (I think it might be a Jabco) but now I need to figure out how it came off and how to reconnect it... Unfortunately it was late at night and very bad light when I figured it out... Has anyone else had this happen??? It is in a really awkward location to try to see what is up- I would love to have a diagram of how the head is plumbed to know if I need to reconnect it or if it is actually broken... No idea how this one happened...
Karen Christensen

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RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 09/22/2004 : 11:43:39

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I will Take this apart this weekend<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

I would suggest you not take anything apart. Simply use a flashlight while pumping the head (valves open and closed) to determine exactly where the leak is. Hopefully it's just a loose hose clamp. As Lowel suggested, if it's the head itself, getting a new one would probably be prudent. Boaters World's regular price on the Jabsco is $119 and often puts it on sale for less. I prefer the W/C, but I would not recommend that for you because the mounting bolts will not line up with your existing holes.

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RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 09/22/2004 : 11:53:08

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I discovered that the water hose that goes into the head had somehow disconnected from the back of the toilet- so anytime someone tried to wet flush, it put the water onto the floor instead of into the bowl. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

It sounds like that's the hose coming from the top of pump going to the head bowl. There may be something clogged further 'downstream' causing pressure to build up which popped the hose off. You may want to get a good flashlight and try simply reconnecting the hose (with a hoseclamp) to the corresponding unused nipple on the back of the head, then pump the head slowly to see if the clog will clear.

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karentc
1st Mate

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USA
68 Posts

Response Posted - 09/22/2004 : 12:39:33

Richard,
Thanks for the good info. I am a little concerned that it is more than the hose as whatever the loose end of the hose (large & clunky) is connected to is sharp and acutally cut my finger when I discovered it...
Am heading down now to take a closer look...
Thanks again!
Karen :)

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Alan Clark
Captain

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406 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2004 : 12:00:55

Thanks for all the information, this past weekend I went and took the wooden step off the base of the head and checked all my hose clamp fittings which were tight.:( There is an odor about the head and the head is NOT clogged, I use CP/KO products. I find that the leak is on the front bolt on the stern side. There are 4 bolts holding the head. I tightened them and the front bolt still weaps.. :( SO..... I would guess that I will either replace the head OR put in a service kit. I am not sure what is easier...New Head or Service kit. I believe the head is the original. Any Thoughts?. This is not what I needed at this time.. first head and getting ready to put Leprechaun up for the winter. Thanks for all your help. Let me know your thoughts! Alan

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John V.
Admiral

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USA
559 Posts

Response Posted - 10/01/2004 : 11:12:55

Hi Allen,

Here is another theory. Is the water on the floor Blue or clear? (I usually add the blue tank chemicals right through the head every couple of flushes)
if clear check under the port V-berth cushion for damp or water.
I discovered that a leak in the pulpit bedding was allowing rain water to seep down the liner and under the cushion. finding its way past the forward bulkhead it pooled around the head. The stuff in the locker behind the head was also damp. Because of the characteristic port list on '77's the water all stayed in that region till it finally ended up on the head floor. It is always better to look for other possible sources of water before you dismantle the head.

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Alan Clark
Captain

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406 Posts

Response Posted - 10/01/2004 : 11:48:14

John and All, Thanks for all your help and information, I have done about all I can do and also checked some of your suggested sources and I have ordered from Boatersworld a new HEAD. Between the fact that the current head is 16 years old.. and the cost of a new rebuild is between $40 and 55.00, I think a new one is in order for $120.00. SO a new Jabsco in on the way and I will install it next week before I put LEPRECHAUN up for the winter. :( . I have never done this before so it should be interesting. Karen, I will give you an update as to wether its easy or not. Alan

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Alan Clark
Captain

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406 Posts

Response Posted - 10/08/2004 : 15:53:55

Well, As a newbie to HEADS this has been an interesting expierence,and I cant thank everyone in the forum enough for all the help/encouragement. Well I took the advice and ordered a Jabsco out of Boatersworld,for $119.00. It arrived and was cheaper than going to West Marine still with shipping. My wife and I went to "Leprechaun" and true to the advice given, We had the new head installed and the old one removed within an hour.

Easy to do. Admiral advises it pumps easier

than the old one (O.E.). I had bought extra clamps and liquid soap to make the hoses go on easy and towels,cleaner and of course,

RUBBER GLOVES. It was NOT that difficult, I would encourage anyone to go for it.It was probably easier than a rebuild kit! Thanks again for all the Info. Alan

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