40 sedan bridge forum

ROB BONDY said:
I am trying to remove the norcold fridge from the boat. Got all the screws out a the outer flange but at the top it is covered by a trim piece. Does anybody know how to remove the vinyl trim??
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That piece is held on by "Christmas tree" fasteners. I started at the end closest to the pantry with a skinny flat blade and carefully worked the piece loose. If I recall correctly the fasteners are spaced every 8" or so. Mine was one piece approximately 5/8" thick from near the pantry around the cabinet to over the cooktop.
 
LED replacement bulbs. Going to head to the marine store to pick up some sample LEDs to replace the Salon lights on my '01 400 DB. Ten bulbs burning off one switch need to be dealt with so I thought I would start there. Can anyone tell me if the salon light bulbs on a 400 Sedan would be side pin or back pin LEDs? I have also 'assumed' i am replacing 12V 10W G4s. The store is on the way to the boat so I am trying to avoid backtracking. Any insight from someone who has tackled this project would be appreciated. Thank you.


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Mine are back pins, heading to the boat to tackle the same project.


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I went with bright white, but have no experience to date, so I am anxious to see the results
 
Hi all my vacu flush head system intermittently comes on and pumps for a few seconds anyone else ever had this issue. I am guessing it could be a duck valve problem.Anyone advise on where the are located on the 40 DB Thanks
 
Caseclosed said:
Hi all my vacu flush head system intermittently comes on and pumps for a few seconds anyone else ever had this issue. I am guessing it could be a duck valve problem.Anyone advise on where the are located on the 40 DB Thanks
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There are two access panels under the starboard bunk in the port stateroom. Still going to be awkward accessing it.
 
Caseclosed said:
Hi all my vacu flush head system intermittently comes on and pumps for a few seconds anyone else ever had this issue. I am guessing it could be a duck valve problem.Anyone advise on where the are located on the 40 DB Thanks
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Try replacing the seals on the head first. Solved my issue.
 
Well. Just gave our grandson a tour of the boat. He is 3. He had to do a #2 in the master head. Low and behold the vacu flush wouldn't stop pumping. I had to turn the switch off. Coincidence? I think not. I am hoping he pooped rocks and it's just a matter of it breaking down so the duckbill it's stuck in can close.

Gotta quit reading these threads. It's bringing on bad karma. Ha!

Anyone know how to "unplug" the offending pump so we can use the good head?

Next Day Update: fixed itself. Probably a wad of TP that had to dissolve.
 
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Hi folks, I am out at sea for a couple of weeks. Can I use salt water to flush the waste holding tank? Thanks in advance.

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Swordfish,

I am not sure flushing with sea water is going to solve your problem. I have to defer to others on the effects of using sea water. It seems to me you may have a substantial leak somewhere if it smells that bad. Have you checked your forward and aft bilge areas?
 
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Thanks prosidieus, nothing on the bilge. It could be a breather problem. But when I'm out at sea, I have no choice but to keep on flushing it out to empty the contents, well that's my idea

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I just flush the 2 heads now and then and empty the holding tanks and it goes away. But now I'm out at sea I need to conserve freshwater

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Could be the filter. But can I flush with salt water in the meantime? I'm afraid that salt will damage the pump?

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Did you pull the panels under the starboard bunk in the port stateroom? Both pressure tanks/pumps are there along with all the hose fittings. Plus there is another bilge pump there as well. Would be able to tell if you have a leak.
 
swordfisherman said:
Could be the filter. But can I flush with salt water in the meantime? I'm afraid that salt will damage the pump?

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This is where I would rely on others here on the forum. I am in freshwater and would be out of school on that one. Personally, I would not introduce saltwater intentionally on any system aboard unless it was an emergency.
 
swordfisherman said:
But can I flush with salt water in the meantime? I'm afraid that salt will damage the pump?
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I found this thread on The Hull Truth Forum: http://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-forum/83090-saltwater-flush-head.html#b. While there are varying opinions on how safe salt water is to the MSD, there seems to be a consensus that sea water use increases oder over freshwater.

Not being a wise guy, if you are going to use a bucket to retrieve your salt water, your problem might be solved.

[video=youtube;_104F-kUCL0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_104F-kUCL0[/video]
 
This is a guess..............The holding tank vent filter only works if it stays dry. If you kept on using the vacuflush until the holding tanks were full, it is very possible that the filter media got wet. If it gets soaked with holding tank contents, it is useless and you pass all the vent gasses thru concentrated aged waste........the vent outlet is in the side of the boat near or slightly forward of the salon door a few inches below the rubrail so every time you flush the head, hot stale sewage gas is going to be expelled very near the passengers.

Pumping the waste overboard requires no water unless you flush out the holding tank. So I am not clear why you need to use salt water for anything. If you are so low on freshwater that you cannot use the head system as it is designed, this is going to be a very long trip. The problem with salt water is that the waste system on these boats is designed as freshwater system. Salt residue (crystallized salt from evaporation) will clog and perhaps damage the bellows and other rubber parts in the vacuum pumps. I wouldn't use it unless it is an absolute necessity.

Finally, the first thing you need to do is remove the waste vent filter and temporarily connect the 2 vent hose ends to each other in some manner. They are std. garden hose fitting, but you will need to join a female to a female. That will get most of the odor away from the boat.

Good luck with it............
 
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