vacuflush - no vaccum - pump keeps running

R

risingson

Member
Joined
Apr 21, 2008
RO Number
29910
Messages
68
Have a VF, all of a sudden the pumps keeps cycling. I get no vaccum any more. We never put any TP in the head so I'm stumped, any help.

problem is it bellows, Duck valves , swith
 
Start by replacing the duckbill valves in the vacuum pump - all (4) of them.
 
you dont' say how old the pump/duckbills are...

if you dont' get any vaccum, it's not the switch. bellows are pretty bullet proof, start with the duck bills.

what kind of system do you have? separate tank and pump, or "Vacuum Generator" compact unit?

could also be a loose hose which cause the pump to suck massive amount of air. pull the hose off the pump inlet, turn the pump on and feel for suction.

curious to know how you can find a way not to flush TP... never mind... dont' answer that, it's almost lunch time! :)
 
Have a 1999 Sea ray with a vacflush Model HTS42 - 00524 sealand 42 gallon.

Vaccum generator, compact unit

I have tighten all hose clamps, hear no air leaking, because no vaccum is being created.
 
open the fittings on each side of the pump, and replace the duckbills.

assuming of course the pump is running and that the bellow is moving. make sure that the set screw on the shaft hasnt' worked loose, in which case the motor would be turning but nor actually moving the bellow. There is a little cover on top of the shaft/bellow connection.
 
pump is running, bellows is moving, any way to check if bellows is bad?

PS boat is 10 years old and I must assume ducks
valves have never been changed.

Have people telling me about a switch can go bad!!! how does the switch creat vaccum?
 
The switch just shuts off the pump when proper vacuum is achieved.
 
it doens't create vaccum, as Scott said it just turns off the pump when vacuum reaches the right level.

bellows dont' go bad, i mean... anything is possible but unlikely. Again, start with the duckbill, they're cheap and easy. jsut pull the hoses of the inlet and outlet, unscrew the fittings. you'll find 2 DB on each side.. replace. I usually put a little bit of liquid soap on the flanges so that they dont' get stuck and deformed.

If that doens't fix it, then check the bellow. you'll need to pull the motor and the screws at the top to pull it out.
 
do the Duck Bills first
As stated by Vic there are 4 them- item # 10
This is the most common one

Vacpump.jpg


yours may look like this-# 5 in this drawing
vacGEN.jpg
 
Iam up and flushing, it was the Ducks, replaced all four and things are fine.

Thanks for everyones help, safe sailing.....
 
I have a new boat, and the pump keeps running. I have to add a lot of water to the bowl, so the vacuum pump will stop. Any suggestions
 
Sounds like the bowl seal. Does water stay in the bowl overnight? Or does it go dry?
 
first trick is to not let the foot pedal up too slowly, a little snap seems to close the bowl seal better.
 
As Bruce says, snap it. When they start to drain water, snap it back and forth quite a few times to work whatever is in there out a bit and a scrub around the edge with the toilet brush seems to do the trick. usually I get something to come out eventually and they seal again. Mine are old seals for sure, so this is what I do. I really need to get after my ducks soon.
 
If it is a new boat, and water stays in the bowl over night (your comment that you have to put a lot of water in the bowl is confusing in this regard), then it may be that someone has already flushed something they shouldn't have. It's not backing up is it? Try filling the bowl and holding the lever down for a long time, say 15 seconds. Oftentimes this will clear the valves for you. As mentioned above, whenever flushing do let the foot pedal up with your foot on it, pull your foot away when it is fully depressed (and remember hold down to the count of three for liquid waste, 10 for solids!) and let it snap up hard.

If the bowl is draining water between flushes, after cleaning around the seal as per the instructions (actually I just use my finger and not the little wood stick), wipe some silicon grease around the bottom the seal where it interfaces with the ball valve . Courtesy of GeeBee (Greg) this may be the single best piece of advice I have received on this forum. We do this maybe a couple times a year (full time liveaboards) and these toilets give us less hassle than the ones we had on land.

George
Hatteras 56MY (three independent VFs on board).
 
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