VacuFlush Question

R

ridley

New Member
Jul 9, 2009
34
Virginia
Boat Info
1997 400 Sedan Bridge
Engines
454 Mercruiser inboards
In a VacuFlush system is there anywhere or anything under the head ball seal that can allow a vacuum leak? Holds water ok but vacuum pump runs every 10 to 15 minutes. Is twin head system on a 400 Sedan Bridge. I've replaced vacuum pumps and duckbills, vacuum switches, and holding tank. All fittings are tight and all hoses in excellent condition. Only things I haven't replaced are ball components, etc.
Commodes hold water fine, no leaking. Any ideas?
 
Agree it could be the vacuum switch but I had a nagging leak and it turned out to be the hose between the head and the pump; not obvious because the pinhole was under a vacuum. You can check for this by taking the inlet hose off the pump assembly, blocking it off and turning the pump on. I was able to just hold my hand over it but my cycling was more frequent. If the pump does not cycle then the problem is either the hose or one of the connections. If it does cycle then there's a problem somewhere in the pump.
 
Thanks for your responses so far. Please note in my original question that I stated I had previously replaced the vacuum pumps, pressure switches, duck bills and holding tank. All of the hoses are in excellent condition. That's why I'm wondering if there is anywhere I could have a vacuum leak under the ball somewhere. A gasket, maybe? As I mentioned, the heads hold water fine without any leakdown so the balls are fine and the heads flush fine. I'm about to replace the balls, etc. If that doesn't fix it the only things left are the vacuum tanks and hoses. I'd rather not go there...
 
Replace the ball valve in the toilet bowl.

I had exactly the same symptom, took me 10 months to do it, now it holds the vacuum no problem.
And when you get the ball valve, purchase the rubber and Teflon seal between the bowl and base. I didn't, so fixed the vacuum leak, and now the water ( and any thing else in the bowl ) leaks out onto the floor, yuk! So they are this weekends job.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
If it's holding water fine in the bowl I wouldn't think it would be the ball seal.
Could be the ball assembly though, as Ian Bat said.
I would think it is something between that and the bellows

It's probably not the bellows though because the duckbill between the bellow and the vacuum tank should hold the vacuum.
It wouldn't be the holding tank either, no vacuum there.

Hose connection?
Duck Bills (I know you changed them)
Any chance they didn't seat well or a piece of debris in there?
Could there be a crack in the vacuum tank?
Did you get a good seal when you replaced the vacuum switch?

I assume you have two pumps, do they both cycle at about the same interval?

You may want to listen very carefully at each fitting, while it is very quiet. You may be able to hear the leak. Although at 10 to 15 minutes it may be too small to hear.
 
I had the same problem tured out to be a small crach in the vac tank , mine had a threaded hole with a threaded brass plug in it PO had turned the plug in too far causig a small crack in the tank so i just siliconed it for now an it works great
 
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