Head Rebuild??

M

mecoli

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Joined
Mar 24, 2008
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29691
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I am new to boating, just bought my first boat in Jan. As I use the boat small repair items keep presenting themselves the latest of which concerns the toilet. I have one of the very common Jabsco manual pump units manufactured in 2000. My problem is two-fold. First is that the pump is not pumping water (raw sea water) into the bowl as I understand it should. I have checked the valve to the bottom of the boat and is does not seem to be clogged or inoperative. My second problem is that fluid from the holding tank can flow back into the bowl after flushing. There does not seem to be any danger of it overflowing the bowl as it does not rise that high but I don't think this should happen. Is this normal? Is it possibly a bad "joker valve"? (Not quite sure what that is or what it's purpose is. I assume it is a one way valve designed to prevent this)
I have ordered a full rebuild kit from Boatfix in hopes that rebuilding it will cure these issues. Am I on the right track here? Do you think performing this rebuild will solve my problems? Thanks for your advice.
 
it sounds like rebuilding will help some of your problems. i would also be checking your hoses. they tend to become clogged. it is much easier to replace them then to try and clean them.
 
I use a Willcocks Crittenden Head Mate manual head which operates much the same way as the Jabsco. Manual heads become lesss effective at pumping water (and flushing) as the packings and other servicable parts harden with age or wear out. I had the same experience with the WC head and rebuilt it in about an hour. Rebuilt heads work like new, although some heads rebuild better than others.

It could be that the head is doing such a poor job of flushing that it isn't flushing the line fully clear between the head and the holding tank or a vented loop that you may have between the tank and the head.

Depending on use, manual heads need to be rebuilt every few years. In addition to rebuilding, the Willcocks Crittenden Head Mate I use has a packing gland right under the pump handle that has to be tightened at regular intervals.
 
I do my rebuilds about every other year. I have a Jabsco that is probably about a 2004 model. It's easier and less stink in the Spring after winterizing it than trying to do it mid-season! It's easy to do and the kit has all the instructions. I'll bet the hoses are plugged since it's not pumping very well as suggested above. You may want to consider replacing the hose from your toilet to the holding tank. They seem to last a while and then the smell permeates through the hose and stinks. I think the test is to take a wet cloth and wipe the outside of the hose. Remove the cloth out of the boat and check to see if it stinks. Maybe you have to let it dry first, I can't remember. Anyway, that will tell you if it's time to replace the hose. And if you do, make sure you use the high end stuff! It's expensive, about $7 or $8 per foot as I recall, but it's the only stuff that will last and keep the odors out of the rest of the boat, like the aft cabin or wherever it goes.
 
I have the same problem on my 2005. Besides the cost of the pump, WOuld replacing the pump work to fix this issue as well? Or do you need to still replace the joker valve and all.
 
Replacing the pump will solve the problem for a while, but it will still need to be rebuilt every 3 years or so. The joker valve is a maintenance item, and it's best to replace it every year - before it conks out.
 
So the joker valve is not part of the pump replacement? What is better to replace or rebuild the pump?
 
Considering that it is a year 2000 head, and likely is pretty well worn, I'd go with replacing the pump. Some companies include the joker valve with the replacement pump, others don't.
 
Oops, I thought I was replying to mecoli, who originally started the thread - my bad!
 
yeah he was talking about a 2000 and I added my mess with the 2005. SO I guess just try the service kit and replace all the seals and valves?
 
Service kit for the WC head included parts for the hand pump and joker valve, everything that can wear out. I usually buy extra packings for the hand pump shaft. Only one comes per rebuild kit. Those last me a year or two but they change out in minutes. I went four or five years without a full rebuild.
 
I did the rebuild kit. While the joker valve stopped the waste from backing up the pump still will not suck up sea water for a "wet" bowl.
 
Does the pump seem tighter and harder to pump? Do you have a kink or clog in the water inlet hose? When you operate the hand pump, does it suck air from anywhere on the inlet line... like a loose clamp or cracked plastic fitting? Is the water intake from seawater (outside of the boat) or a fresh water tank? If from a tank, is it pressurized? If sea water, check that the thru-hull hasn't been painted over. Is the sea cock OK? Did you not replace any of the kit parts? Did the pump assembly screw back together without any stripped or loose screws?

Just some ideas from my own head rebuild adventures.
 
intake is seawater. I checked the trainer before launching. The pump feels easy and does not get harder. I dont see where air could get into the supply line.
 
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