Marine Head, AAAARRRRRGGGG!!!!!!

magstang1

magstang1

Active Member
May 30, 2010
1,338
Lake St.Clair
Boat Info
1998 31 Sedan Bridge
Engines
Twin 350 Marine Power
I should have known better.

I should have known better.

I should have known better.

My Jabsco electric head has been leaving quite a bit to be desired. First of all, it's a new to us boat with someone else's deposits for the past 19 years around there. The pump locked up on us last weekend while a guest was using it. It seemed like the impeller ran dry and bound up. It's loud enough to wake the dead, pumps little water and scares (literally they cover their ears) my children.

Me being the handy and thrifty kind, decided to work on it. West sells a spares kit with all the wear items and I even grabbed a new seat while I was there.

After disassembling the old parts and washing things as best as I could, I start to rebuild the pump. The new parts don't match the exploded view and holy crap is the inside of that pump nasty. After playing around in the bowels of hell for an hour it was all back together.

Now to install the pump on the head itself.

I learned today that no matter how well you THINK you cleaned a toilet, you gain a new perspective while both arms are wrapped around it and you are contorting your face around the bowl to attempt to see the tiny screws that hold the pump to the bowl.

Another hour of installing 4 tiny screws and hugging the crapper. TADA! In!! Time for a test run. Drip. Drip. Drip.

Ok... Back out. The miserable O ring shifted while installing previously mentioned tiny screws. Start over.

I feel like a nascar toilet pit crew.

Head smashed against toilet bowl, check.

Tiny screws impossible to see, check.

O ring, check, I hope.

Back in. Time for another trial run. Loud as a 747, no water pumping, I'm covered in other people's bodily fluids and I'm 5 hours in.

I guess now is a good time to order that new Raritan head I was looking at last week.

Done, done, DONE with this Jabsco piece of crap. I wish I could flush this POS right down a toilet. Too bad mine is currently inop...

Raritan Elegance currently in the mail, check.

Hands raw from washing them about 39 times, check.

Time for a beverage.
 
Yikes ..... I have been in the exact same place a number of times at the boat and home.... There is nothing worse.
 
Had the same issues with same toilet. Rebuilt twice still leaked. Lucked out on prime day and bought a brand new quiet flush for $299 shipped. Has separate water pump and macerator. No leaks, quiet and now we can poop freely with confidence! Lol
 
That's why i switched back to a mania pump.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
magstang1 said:
I should have known better.

I should have known better.

I should have known better.

My Jabsco electric head has been leaving quite a bit to be desired. First of all, it's a new to us boat with someone else's deposits for the past 19 years around there. The pump locked up on us last weekend while a guest was using it. It seemed like the impeller ran dry and bound up. It's loud enough to wake the dead, pumps little water and scares (literally they cover their ears) my children.

Me being the handy and thrifty kind, decided to work on it. West sells a spares kit with all the wear items and I even grabbed a new seat while I was there.

After disassembling the old parts and washing things as best as I could, I start to rebuild the pump. The new parts don't match the exploded view and holy crap is the inside of that pump nasty. After playing around in the bowels of hell for an hour it was all back together.

Now to install the pump on the head itself.

I learned today that no matter how well you THINK you cleaned a toilet, you gain a new perspective while both arms are wrapped around it and you are contorting your face around the bowl to attempt to see the tiny screws that hold the pump to the bowl.

Another hour of installing 4 tiny screws and hugging the crapper. TADA! In!! Time for a test run. Drip. Drip. Drip.

Ok... Back out. The miserable O ring shifted while installing previously mentioned tiny screws. Start over.

I feel like a nascar toilet pit crew.

Head smashed against toilet bowl, check.

Tiny screws impossible to see, check.

O ring, check, I hope.

Back in. Time for another trial run. Loud as a 747, no water pumping, I'm covered in other people's bodily fluids and I'm 5 hours in.

I guess now is a good time to order that new Raritan head I was looking at last week.

Done, done, DONE with this Jabsco piece of crap. I wish I could flush this POS right down a toilet. Too bad mine is currently inop...

Raritan Elegance currently in the mail, check.

Hands raw from washing them about 39 times, check.

Time for a beverage.
Click to expand...

This is the best detailed story yet. LOL. Damn, I thought I was the only one this type sh*t happens to...
 
One more doing the same thing then... Since I want every system to work properly on the boat, I assigned myself the task of making the inoperable grey thank pump system operable. I am almost done with the Sealand T Model Transfer pump, the one with the bellow. I found an expert in poop (as he calls himself) in youtube who happens to be also a member of our club and I've followed his videos, great stuff. So, soon I will be able to empty the tank on the sea rather than relying on a marina facility
 
Sorry, but I literally spit coffee reading this... I think many us can put ourselves in exactly that situation :)
 
I helped a friend replace his head on a 300DA once - in August! - never again.

Let me put it this way - I have offered to help two friends in the past with their head:

The first one took me up on it and we replaced his head in August - oh man, just really hard to describe the experience!
The second one (CliffA) graciously thanked me, but declined my help - Cliff is a good friend!
 
Last edited:
On the bright side, I'll get to do it all over once the new head arrives.

Yay!
 
magstang1 said:
On the bright side, I'll get to do it all over once the new head arrives.

Yay!
Click to expand...

might be one of those jobs that you just write a check for.....

cliff
 
BillK2632 said:
II have offered to help two friends in the past with their head:

The first one took me up on it and we replaced his head in August - oh man, just really hard to describe the experience!
The second one (CliffA) graciously thanked me, but declined my help - Cliff is a good friend!
Click to expand...

friends don't ask friends to dig into other people's 'stuff'......

cliff
 
CliffA said:
friends don't ask friends to dig into other people's 'stuff'......

f
Click to expand...

Maybe this is a reason to stay in touch with crappy friends. "Hey buddy, I know we haven't talked in a long time, but I need some help with a project on my boat and I thought of you Want to help??"
 
CliffA said:
might be one of those jobs that you just write a check for.....

cliff
Click to expand...

Already wrote too many checks this summer. Started on day one with this boat when the rod inside the starboard engine got tired of living in the dark and poked a hole in the oil pan.

New engine, check.
 
magstang1 said:
Already wrote too many checks this summer. Started on day one with this boat when the rod inside the starboard engine got tired of living in the dark and poked a hole in the oil pan.

New engine, check.
Click to expand...

.....damn.....:smt009.......
 
Ok, I can proudly say that I finished repairing the complete head transfer pump system.
Clean tank: check
Model T sealand transfer pump serviced: check
Original fluid level system serviced (3/4 full and full indicator): check
Clean seacock: check
Put everything back in place and test with clean water: test
Make a sign that says NO TOILET PAPER!! and stick it on the head wall: will do it on Monday

Now we need to finish the repair of the Out Drive, discover the water intake on my carpet and we should be ready to go
 
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