electric conversion kit, getting stuck

[Veg]

Last week I posted (on the wrong forum) about my electric conversion kit that was pulling power but wouldnt flush (or at least wouldn't flush until pounded repeatedly).

Well, it started getting really bad and after hurting my hand pounding the thing for fifteen minutes to get it to flush I had enough. I took the cap off, the gasket and metal lid that covers the impeller, and the impeller itself. I polished some gunk from the underside of the metal lid and left it very smooth. I cleaned around the impeller housing and put some Dawn on the impeller. Put the thing back together and it worked like a champ for most of the day, maybe 3-4 flushes. Then it started getting stuck again.

I went to the manual and papers and found that this electric conversion was new in 2006, so I would think it should still be good for some time? The owner says he had the same issue happen when he was commissioning his boat for sale, and he did about the same thing that I just did and he thought he had fixed it.

I'm thinking of replacing the impeller, maybe it was a bit too stiff? It was hard to tell. Any more ideas?

 

[Vic Willman]

Is this what you're describing?

(3rd down, right column)

http://www.boatfix.com/catalog/598.pdf

If so, they have two impellers in them, one on top to bring in outside water; one farther down, to empty the toilet bowl. They'll both need to be lubricated.

Here's the Owner's info with exploded parts view:

http://www.jabsco.com/files/29200_electric_conversion.pdf

If that isn't it, we'll need to talk a little more, to pin down exactly what you have.

 

[Veg]

Yes, that's it.

Oh boy. I knew this had been too 'clean' a job! LOL So the second impeller must be sitting on the 'waste' side of things huh? Time to get the gloves! Can't I just flush some scoops of petrolleum jelly down the toilet and call it a day?

I'm guessing they both contribute resistance to the motor starting, which is why when I cleaned one up it worked fine for a while but then started getting stuck again? Reading through that manual, looks like using petrolleum jelly is suggested also, I bet the dish soap I put there washed off pretty quickly.

Vic - how often do these impellers need replacement? The one I pulled was all in one piece but my guess is that maybe it was a bit stiff.

 

[Vic Willman]

Ernesto, the impellers likely need to be changed every 2-3 years. But if it is hanging up, grease it up! Don't use Dawn, because it's a detergent and it washes all the grease out of the pump, making it drag even worse.

 

[j-d]

E, you may just find what I'll delicately call an obstruction down there. Call it inside information.

 

[robedney]

I'll bet you do find an obstruction. There is a sign in my head that explains how much I charge if you flush a tampon or a sanitary napkin -- and that sign is for my kids. Those things not only obstruct, they un-weave themselves and wrap their nasty selves around everything. Good luck!