Vacuflush switch failure

T

TimHenn

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Jan 1, 2000
RO Number
126
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346
Last month I determined a switch failed on one of my Vacuflush units. If I shorted across the switch, everything worked correctly. If I depressed the rod on the switch manually the switch did not engage. So, I ordered a new switch, installed it and the problem was fixed.

Less than ~20 flushes and ~30 days later I have the exact same problem with the unit!! What is going on? I checked the voltage across the switch and it measures 27v which sounds normal. I also measured the other vacuflush switch just to make sure and it measured 26.9v - pretty much the same.

Any ideas how/why this is failing?
Could failed duck bill valves cause the switch not to engage on it's own? I'd buy another one but they're not cheap.

Any help appreciated
 
If you pull the rod away from the switch, agaisnt the spring, does the switch click and does the pump run?

Te switches themselves rarely fail. Usually it s the portion of the rod that goes in the tank and the rubber diaphragm that fails.

Duckbills won't affect the switch. Bad duckbills may cause vacuum to leak or may prevent the pump from enveloping enough vacuum which obviously will cause the switch not to be triggered
 
I went ahead and ordered new duck bills - seems like this is a part that can fail; if it can fail in a way that prevents the switch from triggering the pump it should be worth replacing.

I'll try pulling the rod on the switch to see if it engages. You don't have to pull it very far, correct, maybe 1/4" or so? It is hard to believe the switch is fried so there has to be another explanation.
 
Yes, it doesn't take much pull on the rod for the switch to click on.

How old are the duckbills? They can last anywhere from 5 to 8 years on average
 
Purchased new in 2010 so 4+ years of usage, but, they were brand new in 2008 which would make them 6+ years old.

Should it be obvious they've failed or should I just replace them no matter what they look like? My first vacuflush system.

Thanks,
 
They re cheap so once you open it up you may as well put new ones in unless they are very recent.

What happens is that as they age and become hard and encrusted with mineral they either leak or don't develop enough vaccum for switch to turn off th pump.

When you replace them make sure you clean the inside of hath fitting and put a bit of liquid soap on the duckbill flanges so they don't get distorted.
 
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