Vacuflush question.
I asked Dometic for advice on our Sealand Vacuflush System (OEM in 2005). The unit works well, however, over night while all is quiet, we hear the Vacuflush come on for about 10 pumps then stop. Happens ever so often. We keep a small amount of water in the bowl at all times and never see it dry so I do not believe the bowl seal is leaking. What do you suggest problem might be and solution?
Their response:”The pump occasionally regenerating lost vacuum is not a problem.
However, if it cycles frequently and wakes you up, you may want a technician to investigate the system.”
Not sure I want a technician just yet. Has anyone on the list experienced a similar situation with a Sealand/Dometic Vacuflush and suggest a potential solution other than call a factory tech?
Steve
————-
Steve Bedford
maxmarineproducts.com
Super MAX Anchors
M/V No Regrets II, Legacy 42
Burgess, Virginia
.
Steve, I spent a month off and on fighting what turned out to be at least two problems with the new-to-me 2005 era VF system on the Frolic. At first, it would hardly stop pumping for ten seconds before resuming for 30-60 seconds. Early one, I replaced the four joker valves to no effect. The vacuum switch on the tank had worn a pinhole in its "rubber" diaphragm. Once I cut an access to the tank area (stupid Mainship installation practices) and could get a piece of flex tubing to it and up to me ear to verify the area of the hiss I could hear, it was a simple enough replacement. HOWEVER, that did not totally solve the issue because the pump was still coming on pretty frequently, just not as long. Next candidate was to area of the toilet; so it was down on bended knee to ferret out that one. The ol' flex tube trick and my one good ear determined the issue to be around the foot pedal. The shaft connecting the pedal and the ball valve has two o-rings along its length, and they needed replacement - got whole new shaft assembly. Had to remove and upend the toilet; so what the heck, I replaced the big bowl seal too. Now after the system is shut off for a couple of weeks, it does not even pump one time when the breaker is switched back on. I had fixed every possible leak as far as VF parts were concerned. The only other places which could leak were a couple of hose connections which luckily did not. In the end, no pun intended, I think the system is a gem when it has not been left unmaintained for about ten years like mine was. Happy t__d chasing, pal! :)
Rich Gano
FROLIC 2005 Mainship 30 Pilot II
Panama City, FL
You've got a leak. It can be from various places. The fact that the bowl
holds water is a pretty good indicator that the bowl seal is not the
culprit.
There is a set of O-rings in the pivot shaft that the flush pedal is
attached to- that shaft rotates the flush ball, and it penetrates the
housing. The O-rings are on that shaft. If the bowl seal was replaced at
some point, that shaft should have been replaced at the same time. Not
particularly simple to troubleshoot since it's sort of buried. Vacuum
leaks are tough to begin with. If you can remove the pedal cover, you
may be able to apply some foamy soap (think shaving) to the shaft
penetration, if the foam seems to be sucked in, it's leaking.
The vacuum switch that controls the pump could have a leaking diaphragm.
Depending on the style of your system, that switch may also have limited
accessibility. Switch DX is pretty much by elimination, or plug the hose
from the tank to the toilet bowl to take that out of the equation.
So the system is 13 yrs old, if it's never been serviced, the easiest
approach might be to just do the service, rather than chasing leaks.
Replace the bowl seal, the flush valve pivot, the ball, and new
duckbills for the pump if they're the same age. Yes, probably more work
than a fix, but in the end it will bring everything up to snuff
concurrently and probably take less time than multiple fixes. Do it one
time, chances for success are much improved.
How coincidental, I have one that's not shutting off this morning,
today's chore: new pump duckbills. Yay! Poopie!
Steve Sipe
Solo 4303 /Maerin/
On 8/21/2018 8:21 AM, Stephen Bedford via Trawlers-and-Trawlering wrote:
I asked Dometic for advice on our Sealand Vacuflush System (OEM in 2005). The unit works well, however, over night while all is quiet, we hear the Vacuflush come on for about 10 pumps then stop. Happens ever so often. We keep a small amount of water in the bowl at all times and never see it dry so I do not believe the bowl seal is leaking. What do you suggest problem might be and solution?
Their response:”The pump occasionally regenerating lost vacuum is not a problem.
However, if it cycles frequently and wakes you up, you may want a technician to investigate the system.”
Not sure I want a technician just yet. Has anyone on the list experienced a similar situation with a Sealand/Dometic Vacuflush and suggest a potential solution other than call a factory tech?
Steve
————-
Steve Bedford
maxmarineproducts.com
Super MAX Anchors
M/V No Regrets II, Legacy 42
Burgess, Virginia
.
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Steve,
Start with the easy stuff. The Joker valves are the problem most of the time. The need replacing every few years (dometic says yearly I believe) depending on use. It will have 4 valves and all should be replaced at the same time. It's easy to do if you good access to the pump... otherwise YRMV. Also, since it is vacuflush the valves are not too nasty..
After that, I'd check all the vacuum hose connects. Rich used flex tubing to hear the leak... my high frequency hearing sucks... too many rock concerts when younger I guess...My way may be easier.. Put shaving cream on each connection and turn on the vacuum pump. If you have a vacuum leak it will suck the shaving cream inward so it's easy to spot.
Hope this helps,
-Matt
Their response:”The pump occasionally regenerating lost vacuum is not a problem.
However, if it cycles frequently and wakes you up, you may want a technician to investigate the system.”
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In addition to Steve's comments you might want to change out the duck
bill valves in the pump first, if they are older than 2 years, since
this is a frequent cause of trouble. If you are still having problems
you might want to shut the pump off and fill the system with water. Then
look for a water leak. When you are finished just turn the power back on
to the pump to clear the water,
Also Vacuflush makes a tester that will help narrow the problem. You
start at the toilet and keep working your way toward the pump. Here is a
link to the tester:
https://seacoastservices.com/vacuum-tester-gauge/
Frank Burrows 79 43' Viking Piney Narrows Chesapeake Bay
I finally gave up. I was sick of chasing leaks and replacing ungodly
expensive parts. I switched to Raritan Elegance heads and could not be
happier. It is much more sensible to push rather than pull.
Best,
Steve
PS Peggy Hall recommends putting shaving cream on joints to look for
leaks.
On Tue, Aug 21, 2018 at 5:22 AM Stephen Bedford via Trawlers-and-Trawlering
trawlers@lists.trawlering.com wrote:
I asked Dometic for advice on our Sealand Vacuflush System (OEM in 2005).
The unit works well, however, over night while all is quiet, we hear the
Vacuflush come on for about 10 pumps then stop. Happens ever so often. We
keep a small amount of water in the bowl at all times and never see it dry
so I do not believe the bowl seal is leaking. What do you suggest problem
might be and solution?
Their response:”The pump occasionally regenerating lost vacuum is not a
problem.
However, if it cycles frequently and wakes you up, you may want a
technician to investigate the system.”
Not sure I want a technician just yet. Has anyone on the list experienced
a similar situation with a Sealand/Dometic Vacuflush and suggest a
potential solution other than call a factory tech?
Steve
————-
Steve Bedford
maxmarineproducts.com
Super MAX Anchors
M/V No Regrets II, Legacy 42
Burgess, Virginia
.
http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/trawlers_lists.trawlering.com
To unsubscribe or modify your subscription options (get password, change
email address, etc) go to:
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Trawlers & Trawlering and T&T are trademarks of Water World
Productions. Unauthorized use is prohibited.
recent relevant discussion to a problem I am having
Vacuflush system, installed new on my 2003 DeFever. Overall, very good service.
Recently started taking a lot longer to pump a vacuum. At first, I thought it was not pumping vacuum at all, replaced duckbill valves, it had been a few years since last replacement. Old ones did not look bad.
still takes a LONG time to pump a vacuum. when it does get a vacuum shut-down, appears to hold it (that is, the pump does not cycle). This eliminates a lot of failure modes recently discussed.
My thinking: must be the bellows going bad. Bellows replacement is listed as possible cause in the Vacuflush owner’s manual.
Yesterday, I replaced the bellows. No change. it takes probably 10 times longer to get a vacuum and shut off the pump as it previously did.
This particular head has a very long discharge hose to the holding tank, over 20 feet in length. I have never used any chemical to clear the calcium build-up out of this hose, puzzling if this may be the cause. I think vinegar is the recommended solution to break-down the calcium, and understand that it will not damage the parts.
Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance.
Chet
DeFever 49 CPMY, Cygnet
Daytona Beach, FL
Chester:
I have had to replace all the hoses twice in my 35 year ownership (can't
believe it has been this long) ownership of my Vacuflush equipped boat.
I did it because after a long time all head hoses eventually accumulate
crystal like stuff and have to be changed out. However I don't recall
longer pumping time being an issue. Clogging was an issue.
I can't really come up with any ideas because you obviously don't have a
vacuum leak. I am assuming that it will hold vacuum overnight,
I wonder if the vacuum switch cut off setting has changed and it is not
cutting off until a higher level of vacuum is obtained. They make a
tester to diagnose these problems and this would tell you if the vacuum
exceeds 10"
You might be able to jury rig a tester but here is a link to the
"official" tester:
https://seacoastservices.com/vacuum-tester-gauge/
This site has some good info:
http://marinesan.com/v/Vacuflush%20-SuperTech-%20Service%20&%20Troubleshooting.pdf
Frank Burrows 79 43' Viking Piney Narrows Chesapeake Bay
On 8/23/2018 9:39 AM, Chester Brummett via Trawlers-and-Trawlering wrote:
recent relevant discussion to a problem I am having
Vacuflush system, installed new on my 2003 DeFever. Overall, very good service.
Recently started taking a lot longer to pump a vacuum. At first, I thought it was not pumping vacuum at all, replaced duckbill valves, it had been a few years since last replacement. Old ones did not look bad.