Vacuflush pressure switch

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gardnersf

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Hi all, I'm in the process of parts ordering for a sanitation system overhaul. On my system currently, the pump will sometimes run forever, and sometimes shut off like it should. I suspct that the pressure switch is not working properly. Is there an adjustment on the switch? I have to dismount my vacuum tank to get at the switch so I haven't really done much investigation yet. should I just plan on replacing the switch or do these typically last a long time?
 
Vacuum switches are factory set, and should not be adjusted. Sometimes touching the end of the switch shuts the pump off.
Start with a leak test. If no leaks are present, check duckbill valves. They should be changed when the pump runs for more than a minute. They are relatively cheap, and last about 5 years or so. There are two of them, one in front of the pump, and one behind. Good Luck.
 
Thansk Gary,

Sounds like the swicthes are usualy not the problem,

I am overhauling the head (New seals, water valave, vaccum breaker) plus replacing the hose and duckbill valves. I will do all that and see how it runs.
 
well, if sometimes the pump stops and sometimes it doens't, the switch is suspect.

from my experience, the older switches had a plastic washer inside the membrane, I've found 2 old ones with a broken piece. The replacement has a SS washer... symptoms were as you described.. pump would not always stop, it was not a cycling issue caused by a leak.

I still have one that i want to mess with, I hate paying $120 for the whole assembly just for a $ 0.05 washer!!

as Gary said, they are not supposed to be adjustable and are factory preset.
 
Thanks,Pascal, I'll get a better look when I pull the system apart next week. I have to dismount the vacuum tank to get at the switch and will pull it out and clean and inspect it.

Also has anyone rebuilt their Sealand vacuum pump? Mine works fine now but I have seen whisper motors and new bellows to fit the old pumps. Wondering if it's hard to do and worth doing while I have the system apart?
 
the new motor/gear/bellows are a little quieter, not really worth it in my opinion unless yours is shot (rare) or located under your bed :-)
 
Scott,

If you rebuild your vac pump, I'd like to hear about it. I've owned my 10 Meter for almost 8 seasons and haven't yet touched the pump. It's got to be ready and I'd rather be proactive rather than just waiting for it to fail.

By the way, the pressure switch on my Vacuflush unit IS adjustable.

RWS
 
you can tweak some of them (older ones?) by holding the wheel shape thingy and turn the rest of the rod but there is no point in doing this as they need a certain amount of vacuum to get stuff thru the venturi.
 
Mine has a wheel type adjustment screw on the end of the vacuum tank. After I had it rebuilt, it would continue to run occassionally. I made a VERY minor adjustment to this wheel and it has run as designed for over a year now.
 
Thanks Guys

My Vacuum pump is under the floor outside the stateroom door. (Holding tank is under the master berth) I will probably leave it alone for now, but I have two vacuum pumps, one for overboard and one for the vacuum. I think the overboard one may be seized (Or miswired) If so I may rebuild that one and switch them out.

I also may add a switch for the pump in the head. Currently I open the breaker at night and when the head is not going to be used, but when my kids get up, it is a pain.

The whole system is loud enough that you will probably wake the whole boat for a minute if you use the toilet anyway
 
sealand makes two type of pump, which looks very similar. One is a vacuum pump with TWO pairs of duckbills, the other one is a discharge pump with ONE pair of duckbill. You could use the discharge pump as a vac pump but it probably will not hold vacuum as well since it only has one pair of DB. The pump bodies are different, thread on the Vac pump are reversed...
 
"The whole system is loud enough that you will probably wake the whole boat for a minute if you use the toilet anyway"

If that's the case, then switching to the new whisper setup would be well worth it. I was amazed at how quiet they are. Sealand switched out 5 old style pumps on a Marlow I was running with whisper pumps under warrenty. 4 of the pumps were located in the same space in the forward bilge pump room. You could barely hear the pumps running with the pump room hatch open. With it closed, you could not hear them at all.
 
some pumps can be louder than others. Most of the time, I can't hear them run with hatches closed although I have one which starts knocking loudly when vac. builds up for the last 5 seconds or so in the cycle. on the to do list!
 
Ona 33ft cruiser, the flush alone is pretty loud, the pump definitley knocks though. Now, if it was quieter, then maybe I would leave it on when on the boat as the hourly or so cycle wouldn't bother us.

Of course thats if the switch works properly.

I haven't pulled aprt the system yet, Are the duckbills right at the pump? also you said there were two pair of duckbils, is that 4 pieces, or is one piece considered a "Pair".
 
it's 4 duckbills... 2 on the inlet, 2 on the outlet. easy to replace, just unclamp the hose and unscrew the fittings.
 
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