Vacu Flush doesn't work on Sunday's

M

Mood Swings

New Member
Jun 30, 2009
26
Marietta Ga
Boat Info
330 DA Sundancer
Engines
Twin 454's V Drives
I have tried to read thru every thread on this issue but did not see anything related to this. We had problems with the vacuflush about a month ago and after reading all the threads I could, replaced the duckbills and the diaphram. Unit worked great. We spend every Friday, Saturday and Sunday on the boat. The next weekend the unit worked great Friday and Saturday but Sunday would not create a vacuum. Checked for vac leaks and could find none. Had a mechanic look and it and he took the whole unit apart and could find nothing wrong. He put it back together and it worked Great Friday and Saturday but would not build vacuum on Sunday morning. What am I missing? Thanks for the help and if this was covered in another thread I am sorry to bring it up again
 
Atmospheric pressures are generally a bit higher on Sundays, hence the increased difficulty in creating a vacuum on the sabbath.











(sorry couldn't help myself)
 
Quint4 said:
Atmospheric pressures are generally a bit higher on Sundays, hence the increased difficulty in creating a vacuum on the sabbath.

(sorry couldn't help myself)
Click to expand...

:grin::grin::grin:

Gary, what does it mean it doesn't create vacuum?

Is the pump running after flushing? If there is a leak in the lines or at the bowl, the pump would run indefinitely.

I also wonder if there some kind of safety feature preventing flushing when the holding tank is full... (as it could be on sunday)
 
Sorry, I should have stated that the pump runs but does not build vacuum. After the last complete flush the fill water remained in the bowl. My thought is that if the vacuum leak was at the bowl then the water would be sucked into the line. I have tightened all the stainless steel clamps I can find on the system. We pumped the tank out on Saturday morning and it worked fine the rest of Saturday. One flush Sunday morning and the pump would not stop running.
 
Mood Swings said:
Sorry, I should have stated that the pump runs but does not build vacuum. After the last complete flush the fill water remained in the bowl. My thought is that if the vacuum leak was at the bowl then the water would be sucked into the line. I have tightened all the stainless steel clamps I can find on the system. We pumped the tank out on Saturday morning and it worked fine the rest of Saturday. One flush Sunday morning and the pump would not stop running.
Click to expand...

Does the bowl hold water??
 
Mood Swings said:
Sorry, I should have stated that the pump runs but does not build vacuum. After the last complete flush the fill water remained in the bowl. My thought is that if the vacuum leak was at the bowl then the water would be sucked into the line. I have tightened all the stainless steel clamps I can find on the system. We pumped the tank out on Saturday morning and it worked fine the rest of Saturday. One flush Sunday morning and the pump would not stop running.
Click to expand...

Cary, if you keep the pedal down, the pump runs and the water stays in the bowl, right?

I would say that the only reason for that is an obstacle downstream the pump itself...
 
The bowl does fill and hold water. I should have also said that I ran a small 25 foot snake down the toilet and removed the hose from the suction side of the pump to make sure that there was nothing in the line. I also ran it down the 3 ft section from the discharge to the tank.
 
Mood Swings said:
The bowl does fill and hold water. I should have also said that I ran a small 25 foot snake down the toilet and removed the hose from the suction side of the pump to make sure that there was nothing in the line. I also ran it down the 3 ft section from the discharge to the tank.
Click to expand...

You probably screwed up the duck bill valves with your 25' snake.
 
I removed the hose from the pump before I sent the snake down the toilet to avoid that possibility. If it didn't work at all that would make it easier but if we go back on Friday it will probably be fine until Sunday.
 
So far the antenna IS the most logical answer.
We left the covered dock just long enough to take the picture. I hoped no one would notice.
 
When's the last time you changed your holding tank filter? I'm thinking that if the filter is clogged up, it may keep things from working properly. Monday through Thursday may be enough time for some of the pressure to eek it's way past the filter... Then a few flushes on Friday and Saturday builds up the pressure again. Do you notice the holding tank starting to bulge by Sunday?
 
Could there be a leak around the pressure switch? Seems like you have covered everything else. Mine takes a while to kick off the first few times I use it, but then works fine the next couple days. But I am getting plenty of vaccum during this time.
 
I sincerely appreciate all the help. I am headed back up to the boat on Friday and will check for a leak around the pressure switch. The filter is about 16 months old so it's probably time to change it again. I'll let you know if any of these makes any difference. Again Thanks
 
someone could be using "too much toilet paper" as well... and it's not dissolving fast enough and getting stuck in the vacuum tank by Sunday... Have any little girls on board? Maybe you could try a "no wiping your a$$ on Saturdays" thing...
 
I may have to resort to that. I used to laugh at owners who would not let people use the head for all of it's intended purposes but I may have to rethink my position. The standard is 6 pieces per flush. I wonder if I can get a bidet for the head???
 
Mood Swings said:
The filter is about 16 months old so it's probably time to change it again.
Click to expand...

I know it's not always easy on some boats, but also try following the vent line as it leaves the filter. Make sure there are no low spots where water could accumulate. Also check the fitting on the hull side.

A clogged up vent line (filter) may or may not be the answer. But since this problem seems to be due to some kind of cumulative effect, you can likely rule out mechanical issues. Like Gary mentioned, a clog that builds up in the vac tank is another good possibility. Maybe something got flushed that shouldn't have and is caught up in the vac tank (or hose from vac to holding tank) causing this. The time period from Monday to Friday could be enough time for the toilet paper (which is getting caught up on this foreign thing) to dissolve.

I know, lot's of guessing and speculation. Hopefully it ends up being something simple.
 
Last edited:
Mood Swings said:
I may have to resort to that. I used to laugh at owners who would not let people use the head for all of it's intended purposes but I may have to rethink my position. The standard is 6 pieces per flush. I wonder if I can get a bidet for the head???
Click to expand...

Not really a bidet, but my mod may help... I put a shower head next to the bowl!
 

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