Head is cycling...possible causes/fixes

[mmcguire2002]

My head is cycling often...every 10 to fifteen minutes I hear the pump go off. I can't hear a leak anywhere, but assume this is what would cause this. Has anyone else experienced this? What is the best way to trouble shoot and any possible fixes are appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Lazy Daze]

There's quite a few threads about this, so don't be shy on using the search feature.

But, basically, start at the hopper and work your way back. Does water stay in the bowl, or does the level go down? Next, you're gonna have to get friendly with your suction pump and holding tank. Get your ear right in there - you may not hear anything till you get very close. Possible culprits, among others, are the grommets where the pipes go into the tank, the fittings themselves, the pressure switch, and the loveliest of things (and most common)... the duckbills. Do you know when the duckbills were last changed? If not, and you can't find/hear any obvious leaks, change those out. There's only two ways to change these duckbills: (1) Rubber gloves and a clothespin for your nose or (2) Open your wallet. :smt001

There's more to this (details), but this should at least get you going.

EDIT: Oh, has anything "foreign" been put down the head? If so, it's possible that it got stuck. Also, do you hold the pedal down for a good 3 seconds? If not, the toilet paper can get clogged in the suction pump, for example.

 

[Kreole Kid]

Michael, I changed my pressure switch and that solved my problem.

 

[mmcguire2002]

There's quite a few threads about this, so don't be shy on using the search feature.

But, basically, start at the hopper and work your way back. Does water stay in the bowl, or does the level go down? Next, you're gonna have to get friendly with your suction pump and holding tank. Get your ear right in there - you may not hear anything till you get very close. Possible culprits, among others, are the grommets where the pipes go into the tank, the fittings themselves, the pressure switch, and the loveliest of things (and most common)... the duckbills. Do you know when the duckbills were last changed? If not, and you can't find/hear any obvious leaks, change those out. There's only two ways to change these duckbills: (1) Rubber gloves and a clothespin for your nose or (2) Open your wallet. :smt001

There's more to this (details), but this should at least get you going.

EDIT: Oh, has anything "foreign" been put down the head? If so, it's possible that it got stuck. Also, do you hold the pedal down for a good 3 seconds? If not, the toilet paper can get clogged in the suction pump, for example.

Thanks of for the info. Nothing foreign has been put in there and we do hold the pedal down. It is clear. I've put my ear next to many parts that I didn't want to and still don't hear a leak. I have not done the duck bills, so that is a very real possibility. How would I know for sure if that is the culprit?

 

[mmcguire2002]

Michael, I changed my pressure switch and that solved my problem.

Kreole - thanks for the heads up. Where is the pressure switch and what did changing it entail? I'm hoping for an easy, and not messy, fix.

 

[Pietro]

Michael, I changed my pressure switch and that solved my problem.

I experienced the same... with a new pump to boot!

 

[Lazy Daze]

I don't know if you'll ever really be 100% sure, but if you can't physically hear a leak anywhere, then it's a pretty good bet. It's one of those things where you narrow down the possibilities.

But, at this point, those duckbills have been in there for quite a while so it's a good idea to do them, regardless.

 

[mmcguire2002]

I don't know if you'll ever really be 100% sure, but if you can't physically hear a leak anywhere, then it's a pretty good bet. It's one of those things where you narrow down the possibilities.

But, at this point, those duckbills have been in there for quite a while so it's a good idea to do them, regardless.

Garry has a long thread on this...I wonder if he's like to come to sunny California and assist...

 

[Lazy Daze]

Good luck with that!:lol:

 

[alnav]

Michael, I would add one step to Dennis' troubleshooting process. Take off the hose that runs from the head to the pump (at the pump end) and plug the opening (putting your hand over it will work if you want to hold it that long). If the pump doesn't cycle, the hose may have a pinhole leak. I learned this the hard way after a duckbill dive, which you probably need to do anyway at some point based on the age of your boat.

 

[mmcguire2002]

Michael, I would add one step to Dennis' troubleshooting process. Take off the hose that runs from the head to the pump and plug the opening (putting your hand over it will work if you want to hold it that long). If the pump doesn't cycle, the hose may have a pinhole leak. I learned this the hard way after a duckbill dive, which you probably need to do anyway at some point based on the age of your boat.

Thanks for that...great to know.

 

[Kreole Kid]

Kreole - thanks for the heads up. Where is the pressure switch and what did changing it entail? I'm hoping for an easy, and not messy, fix.

Michael, I remember it is located right by the macerator just aft of the hot water tank, but closest to the port hull side. There is a plastic cover on top of the switch that has like 2 screws holding it down. Also if I remember correctly, there are 2 wires that connect to the actual pressure switch. Sorry, it's been 2.5 years since I even looked at it so I hope this helps out.

 

[Prosideus]

Looks like a duckbill dive is in my future. In preparing for this first time event, I see that I need at least:

1) rubber gloves
2) olfactory filter of some type


I am wondering if I need anything else, like a stash of paper towels for unexpected discharge (from the vacuflush system, or my uncontrolled gagging), eye protection, hazmat suit, Clorox for bilge sanitizing? Or is it pretty simple?


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[IanBat]

Do the butterfly valve and seal in the bowl first. I at least is just a rubber glove job.

Mine was doing the same, I purchased duckbills (still have them) and the bowl valve kit. I did the bowl, problem fixed. I now go down after I haven't been to th boat for 2 weeks, flick the batteries on, and there is still full vacuum up!

After I did I h PO told m h had don the duckbills 12 months before I bough it tryin to fix the problem.

I had been watching the bowl and had not detected any water loss, so was not suspecting the bowl, was convinced it would be the duckbills.

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[Prosideus]

Do the butterfly valve and seal in the bowl first. I at least is just a rubber glove job.

Mine was doing the same, I purchased duckbills (still have them) and the bowl valve kit. I did the bowl, problem fixed. I now go down after I haven't been to th boat for 2 weeks, flick the batteries on, and there is still full vacuum up!

After I did I h PO told m h had don the duckbills 12 months before I bough it tryin to fix the problem.

I had been watching the bowl and had not detected any water loss, so was not suspecting the bowl, was convinced it would be the duckbills.

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Ianbat

I replaced the seal, and the duck bills. You mentioned something about the bowl valve kit. I could not find a reference to that or part labeled as such. I can tell there is still a leak at the pedestal - I can hear it. I don't think it is the seal. Any thoughts?


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