Head system pumps but no vacuum

Irie308

Irie308

Well-Known Member
May 28, 2013
2,598
CT
Boat Info
2004 420 DB, GHS Hydraulic Lift
Garmin 8600/Garmin 1222 plus
AB Mares 10 VSX with 30 hp Tohatsu
Engines
Cummins 450C 8.3 L Turbocharged
this started out of the blue yesterday. The pump runs nonstop but doesn’t build vacuum. Only liquids have been flushed since recommission a few weeks ago so I don’t think there is blockage or a duckbill wedged open.Planning on taking a look this weekend but wondering where I should start. Don’t want to give myself any undo work as the pump is not the easiest location. My initial guess is that the bellow may be shot and not building up vacuum.
 
There may be a leak somewhere. Check near the tank for smell and liquid?
 
Most likely bellows especially if original.
 
Yeah... get down there while it's running and listen for a leak. Bellows not that bad to replace if that's what it is.

Wish I had these problems... may be able to put in in couple weeks...
 
I had a similar problem and took all the hoses off, checked them for blockages by running hose water thru them. Then changed out the duck bills, still wouldnt work. Finally got looking at things and found the vacuum tank itself had solids in it that had solidified over the winter. Took it all apart and sprayed a hose into one end and a vacuum at the other end ( wet dry vac) and after a few times of cleaning it out..worked like new. I was surprised that happens also over the winter, but it does. So basically solids were dried up and covered up the pick up in the vacuum tank.
 
Harry Williams said:
I had a similar problem and took all the hoses off, checked them for blockages by running hose water thru them. Then changed out the duck bills, still wouldnt work. Finally got looking at things and found the vacuum tank itself had solids in it that had solidified over the winter. Took it all apart and sprayed a hose into one end and a vacuum at the other end ( wet dry vac) and after a few times of cleaning it out..worked like new. I was surprised that happens also over the winter, but it does. So basically solids were dried up and covered up the pick up in the vacuum tank.
Click to expand...
Wow! That sux!... I mean doesn't! :)
 
Harry Williams said:
I had a similar problem and took all the hoses off, checked them for blockages by running hose water thru them. Then changed out the duck bills, still wouldnt work. Finally got looking at things and found the vacuum tank itself had solids in it that had solidified over the winter. Took it all apart and sprayed a hose into one end and a vacuum at the other end ( wet dry vac) and after a few times of cleaning it out..worked like new. I was surprised that happens also over the winter, but it does. So basically solids were dried up and covered up the pick up in the vacuum tank.
Click to expand...
I always pump out to the best of my ability before winter, but also put antifreeze into the toilet and cycle it through. Might help with the sludge buildup.
 
If you suspect the bellows, might as well redo the duckbills at the same time.
 
The actual rebuild will be much easier than his access....getting to the damn thing will be the challenge. I am very fortunate here. I use Norflex very liberally and both of mine will hold vacuum for a whole week.

Bennett
 
dtfeld said:
If you suspect the bellows, might as well redo the duckbills at the same time.
Click to expand...
Yup, took it out this afternoon and and bellows look fine from what I can see, no visible tear etc. will rebuild and replace the duckbills. Where’s the best place to purchase for this setup. Assuming the setup is the same on the the vacuflush setups.
 
Last edited:
capecodcruiser said:
I always pump out to the best of my ability before winter, but also put antifreeze into the toilet and cycle it through. Might help with the sludge buildup.
Click to expand...
we do also....we had just bought the boat..so it wasnt from us....yeah that made it even worse...but we got it
 
Ended up replacing the bellow and the duckbills and back in business. They must have been on their way out for a while as i always had an oder in the bilge. Not anymore.

With that out of the way the one thing that i'm trying to resolve is the overboard discharge. don't think i will ever be able to use it based on where we boat but would like to know its working. When i flip the switch in the control panel nothing lights up even though the seacock is open. PO removed the handle from the seacock so i'm led to believe he may have done more to disable it. Is there a fuse or another switch to energize the overboard pump?
 
I "thought" that there was some sort of interlock associated with the seacock. The valve had to be open for the system to work.
 
The handle needs to be on the valve and in the open position to work.
See the red arrow in the picture below, it points to a tab on the valve handle that contacts the stainless steel switch pad on the left -green arrow- when the handle is open, closing the circuit.
IMG_E0464_LI (2).jpg
 
yes, the handle is on and in the open position. I wonder if the contacts needs a good cleaning. Will try that and see if that works. Seacock is located under the generator so another royal pain to work on.
 
Irie308 said:
yes, the handle is on and in the open position. I wonder if the contacts needs a good cleaning. Will try that and see if that works. Seacock is located under the generator so another royal pain to work on.
Click to expand...
OK, I assumed from your post the handle was off. I have a “discharge pump” breaker on the 12v side of the electric panel and there is discharge switch to turn on the pump. You can check those 2 items to see if they are connected. Maybe the po unhooked them. The zip tie method you see above of locking the valve has always satisfied my local authorities, but when I cruise to Canada for extended periods, I unhook the wires off the back of the panel discharge switch. IF yours are the same as mine, here’s the colors and where they go. You could take a look.

8508B54D-04DE-4DE5-9032-3B06CD7C0CFC.jpeg
 
my3sons said:
OK, I assumed from your post the handle was off. I have a “discharge pump” breaker on the 12v side of the electric panel and there is discharge switch to turn on the pump. You can check those 2 items to see if they are connected. Maybe the po unhooked them. The zip tie method you see above of locking the valve has always satisfied my local authorities, but when I cruise to Canada for extended periods, I unhook the wires off the back of the panel discharge switch. IF yours are the same as mine, here’s the colors and where they go. You could take a look.

View attachment 83020
Click to expand...
Appreciate it. will give that a try.
 
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