Vacuflush breaker constantly tripping

[FeLizDream]

My Head system breaker keeps tripping, I have a 2001 sea ray 400 DB with 2 toilets, with VG2 model Vacuum generator system, the 2 toilets are full of water, and there is no way to start the head system, as soon as I turn it on it keeps tripping immediately. This happens this last weekend, I had guest on board, I told them to not put any paper or anything in the Toilet, but you know how it is.
Does this happens to anyone, what can be the problem? I think one f the bellows is stuck with something causing he pump to be unable to move, and this causes the breaker to trip? I am going back to the boat this weekend.
what causes the breaker to trip all the time?
any help...

 

[FeLizDream]

here is the parts picture exploded

 

[Boater420]

My guess would be a vacuum pump going bad or a short in the wiring to the pump.

 

[ZZ13]

May just have to crawl under the bunk with a small flashlight and a mirror on a stick to look at the pump/ bellows area. Bellows might be leaking the bad stuff out and onto the pump/wiring.

 

[bahamabreisus]

Breaker tripping usually means BLOCKAGE, nasty job ahead.

 

[mquiet]

Bahamabreisus is correct. Most likely a block attheduckbills take apart both before and after the pump. You will find it. It has happened to me a few times. Nasty job ahead is right


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[Mike Blake]

Or, a bad motor.

 

[mquiet]

Do you see wild amp swings on your panel? If so followed by tripping of beaker I would still suggest blockage.


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[Air O'Nautical]

Yup, I've had that.....blockage in the bellows was my issue.
Wrong TP was used for a while and it caked all around the inside of the bellows restricting its ability to move, causing the breaker to trip. I was able to completely dissemble the pump and clean everything up requiring no new parts but, anytime your in there....go ahead and replace the (4) duck-bills.

Nasty job ahead of you due to the fact you can't flush soapy clean water through before pulling it open.

Good luck....get some gloves!

 

[hottoddie]

Spray some cheap cologne in the area and put some Vics Vapo Rub on your upper lip to help kill the smell. Make the offender help with the dirty work. They won't do it again.

 

[PMC]

here is the parts picture exploded

I don't have this exact model, but rather the VG2. They are close enough, and I think you'll find the pump is wedged with a blockage. I agree with others that it is going to be quite the messy job. Have a garden hose close by. You're also up against what will seem like impossible access. I ended up removing the shower sump to slide the vac generators out . Concider rebuilding it all, as you dont want to do this job ever again.

 

[FeLizDream]

Yes, I see wild amp swings on the panel, the amp meter goes immediately all the way up and then trips. I went to Sealand domestic here in Fort Lauderdale and bought a repair kit parts , I am ready to replace the 4 duck bills also. This will be a nasty weekend, Thank you all for the information.
We use only marine toilet paper all the time but we don't put on the toilet we put on a basket, I believe the guest uses a lot of paper or feminine stuff an didn't flush Enough water with each flush...
Lets see.

 

[FeLizDream]

Yup, I've had that.....blockage in the bellows was my issue.
Wrong TP was used for a while and it caked all around the inside of the bellows restricting its ability to move, causing the breaker to trip. I was able to completely dissemble the pump and clean everything up requiring no new parts but, anytime your in there....go ahead and replace the (4) duck-bills.

Nasty job ahead of you due to the fact you can't flush soapy clean water through before pulling it open.

Good luck....get some gloves!

Mark, did you fix the pump inside the boat, or do you have to remove the entire pump out of the boat to clean it?

 

[Air O'Nautical]

Mark, did you fix the pump inside the boat, or do you have to remove the entire pump out of the boat to clean it?

Took it off the boat, disassembled the pump, cleaned the plastic housing in a little muriatic acid in a bucket...that sizzled the crusties (whatever that stuff was) and made it all look new.
Lubed the O-rings, installed new duckbills just because...worked like new!

Oh yea..go to the pump out FIRST, pump-rinse-repeat.

 

[FeLizDream]

Took it off the boat, disassembled the pump, cleaned the plastic housing in a little muriatic acid in a bucket...that sizzled the crusties (whatever that stuff was) and made it all look new.
Lubed the O-rings, installed new duckbills just because...worked like new!

Oh yea..go to the pump out FIRST, pump-rinse-repeat.

Thank you, Mark.

 

[FeLizDream]

Ok, today I fixed the blockage that was tripping the breaker. as suggested by other CSR members.

" Bahamabreisus was correct. Most likely a block attheduckbills take apart both before and after the pump."

This is what we did to fix it:
I now know that blockage was after the pumps and before the holding tank, our system only has one breaker for the 2 pumps of the Vacuflush, so I put a switch on each pump, that way I can test and use only one or both at a time. I called my mechanic Capt Drew and showed him the problem, he told me, “Fernando, we have 3 options to fix it”:

1. Open the “Y” connection after the pumps to the holding tank, run a snake to try to remove the blockage.
2. Prepare a connection in the “Y” to connect the water from the dock and try to flush the blockage to the tank, our dock has a 80 PSI, it will be enough pressure to push any clog.
3. Our marina has a Pump Out on each dock, we can disconnect the “Y” and insert the pumpout right there and try to flush back (vacuum) the blockage.

Capt Drew and I agreed to go with the option 3, we brought the pumpout hose and we connected it to the “Y”. We were able to vacuum the clog easily. We then cleaned the line from the master toilet to the vacuflush. I put the fresh dock water hose in the toilet, opened the water and connected to switch to run the pump. Capt Drew was on the other side of the line with the pumpout and vacuumed all the water in the lines. We left the freshwater running for 5 minutes to thoroughly clean the lines, dock bills, bellows. Then I disconnected the master bedroom pump and connected the guest pump and we did the same job. The job was very easy and clean, and only took one hour. I did not have to dissemble any parts or pumps except the Y connection. After we put everything back together, I turned on the head system and tested the toilets and everything was running smoothly. Now the system runs clean and better than before. Hope this helps anyone with the same problem. See the photo below.

 

[FeLizDream]

Yes, Bahamabreisus was correct, tank you everyone for all the solutions .

 

[bahamabreisus]

Even a blind squirrel gets it right sometimes. Glad you are fixed.

 

[HUMPH]

Doesn't look that much like a "clean job"! Good to hear it was a relatively simple fix. Thanks for the write-up and photos.

 

[FeLizDream]

I don't have this exact model, but rather the VG2. They are close enough, and I think you'll find the pump is wedged with a blockage. I agree with others that it is going to be quite the messy job. Have a garden hose close by. You're also up against what will seem like impossible access. I ended up removing the shower sump to slide the vac generators out . Concider rebuilding it all, as you dont want to do this job ever again.

My mistake, I have the same model as you, model VG2,
I have a blockage again, always happen after we have guest on board, apparently the flush TP on the toilet.
I notice that the line from the Y to the holding thank ( the black line is clogged inside with hard solid dry matter, I am thinking to replace that line with the new white sanitation lines, has anyone done that job, how difficult it can be to replace that line, I believe this is what is causing the blockage.




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