Early in the sailing season, the things we overlooked during winter storage can come back to haunt us. And with regard to our boat's sanitation system, the spooky item is usually the marine toilet. Seals are often the first to go, with telltale waterlines dripping from the pump body. Less obvious are failures at the joker valve, the duck-billed rubber valve that prevents flushed water (and odor) from returning to the bowl. If you can't completely flush your marine toilet, the joker valve may be failing.
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Several years ago a representative for one of the manufacturers recommended adding a few drops of Marvel Mystery Oil into the toilet bowl from time to time to lubricate the pump and valves. Have you ever heard this, and is it satisfactory?
I have never seen PS respond to the comments, it’d be helpful if they stated this.
MMO is great stuff in engines but I wouldn’t use it in toilets and would never let it get near water lines. Check Marvels MSDS.
If in the market for a new head please investigate the Lavac. It has a history of great reviews here and I have had excellent luck with it for the past seven years (although that probably ended with writing this note).
What is CLR?
Calcium , lime,rust remover, buy at any hardware store.
La Vac. Ablsolutely the best, most maintenance free head in existence.
If you don’t like working on heads, get a LaVac.
I was in the crewed charter business with the boat that my wife and I lived aboard for more than 8 yrs. This head just keeps going, through thick and thin (literally). Charter guests will put the craziest things down a head. In the eight years that I had that head, I never once had to rebuild it. Never once had any significant repair. Just had to clear the occasional foreign object. Tampons, the simi-cloth handi-wipes. (This head would even pass Bounty paper towels ) And with this head that was a super easy job of unscrewing the quick release cap and clearing it. About a one minute job. That’s all I did in 8 years!! About onece a month I would flush some white vinegar through it. Never once had to clear or replace the exhaust output hose. A complete rebuild and pounding, clearing the output plumbing, (or replacement ) was at least an annual job with a regular head. And this is not a freak situation. When I bought my next boat, one of my first projects was to install a new La Vac head! Owned this boat for 6.5 yrs and again, never once had to rebuild or repaint the head.
This all applies to a raw water flushed head, for long range full time cruising, For less intense and more occasional use where there is always plenty of fresh water, that will be an advantage in any head.
I’ve been reading the blog posts and have seen lots of dialog regarding cleaning and odor….but nothing on the use or recommendations for lubricants in the manual pumping heads.
Is there a recommended liquid for occasional lubrication of the head/pump?
Don
Howdy, I love Super Lube. It is potable water safe.
Yeah, but you have to disassemble to apply Super Lube. Is there anything that can occasionally be pumped through to lubricate?
I apply 1 Tbs. Mineral oil to the bowl every few days, depending on use. Flush through. Keeps pump lubricated
SeaSmart is absolute the best way to not get these problems.
Next time you test, can you please add vinegar to the cleaning treatments? It seems pretty effective when I use it, but of course my personal experience is not science. Thanks!
Look under “Acids” for the vinegar test.
automatic trans fluid works well. silicones lubricate
I have 2 Jabsco electric heads with seawater flush. I had trouble with one not getting enough water so I put a repair kit in it which made no difference. I took it back apart and noticed the impeller housing was worn. I ordered and installed a new housing and it worked like new.
Ethylene glycol will either be drained from your exhaust at the boatyard or into the water at first startup. On the ground kills pet animals running around at the boatyard, and in the water kills fish and such. Use propylene glycol and replace the joker and impeller as necessary.
My yacht has two “Baby Blake” toilets. Have you tested the rubber seals of this brand?
When the LaVac pump becomes stiff and needs lubrication I use a very small amount of cooking oil.