Hello everyone

I have a 4 year old Wilcox Headmate head (model 1460). The head has seen
relatively little use it has been installed and had been used in fresh water
only.

I noticed earler this season that it took more and more strokes to get
fresh flush water into the bowl. This probelm got progressively worse until
yesterday when the head stopped working altogether (thankfully on the last
day of our vacation). Now, when trying to flush the tolet you can pump as
long as you like but you get no flush water. (same effect as pumping with
the boat out of the water). Pumping the bowl dry seems to function normally.

Any help on where to satrt looking would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Matt

b1bxkp76 Carolyn1 wrote:
Hello everyone

I have a 4 year old Wilcox Headmate head (model 1460). The head has seen
relatively little use it has been installed and had been used in fresh water
only.

I noticed earler this season that it took more and more strokes to get
fresh flush water into the bowl. This probelm got progressively worse until
yesterday when the head stopped working altogether (thankfully on the last
day of our vacation). Now, when trying to flush the tolet you can pump as
long as you like but you get no flush water. (same effect as pumping with
the boat out of the water). Pumping the bowl dry seems to function normally.

Something has created an air leak in the pump or intake hose that's
preventing the intake hose from priming...it's just pulling in air. My
money is on the flapper valve (part #9) on the drawing) at the top of
the pump...especially, if you've never lubed the toilet. The other
possibility is failed flap valve spring (part # 10). I suggest you give
W-C call. Their phone # is on their website at
http://www.wilcox-crittenden.com

--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://69.20.93.241/store/customer/p...40&cat=&page=1

Peggie

Many thanks for your reply. It is very much appreciated.

You are correct in your assumption that the toilet has never been
lubricated. I'm embarassed to ask but how do you go about lubrucating
a toilet?

Thnaks for putting up with ignorant quesitons.

Matt


Peggie Hall wrote in message om...
b1bxkp76 Carolyn1 wrote:
Hello everyone

I have a 4 year old Wilcox Headmate head (model 1460). The head has seen
relatively little use it has been installed and had been used in fresh water
only.

I noticed earler this season that it took more and more strokes to get
fresh flush water into the bowl. This probelm got progressively worse until
yesterday when the head stopped working altogether (thankfully on the last
day of our vacation). Now, when trying to flush the tolet you can pump as
long as you like but you get no flush water. (same effect as pumping with
the boat out of the water). Pumping the bowl dry seems to function normally.

Something has created an air leak in the pump or intake hose that's
preventing the intake hose from priming...it's just pulling in air. My
money is on the flapper valve (part #9) on the drawing) at the top of
the pump...especially, if you've never lubed the toilet. The other
possibility is failed flap valve spring (part # 10). I suggest you give
W-C call. Their phone # is on their website at
http://www.wilcox-crittenden.com

Matt Koch wrote:
You are correct in your assumption that the toilet has never been
lubricated. I'm embarassed to ask but how do you go about lubrucating
a toilet?

Many people just wait till the toilet starts to squeak and become hard
to pump, then pour some mineral oil or vegetable oil down it. That’s ok
in an emergency, till you can get home and do it right, but it’s not the
way to maintain the toilet. Not only is this very hard on the toilet,
but it’s a never-ending job because anything thin enough to be poured
down the toilet is also so thin that it washes out in just a few flushes.

Why is it hard on the toilet? Because a toilet doesn’t squeak unless it
needs lubrication; that squeaking is the sound of seals rubbing against
the inside of the housing, being worn away. Waiting till it squeaks to
lubricate it is like waiting till an engine starts to smoke to add oil.

Ever wondered why a new toilet doesn’t need any lubrication for at least
a year? It’s because every toilet leaves the factory slathered with
thick synthetic Teflon grease that takes a full season or more to be
flushed out. Replacing it just once a year is all it takes to keep a
toilet pumping smoothly. And it’s only a 15 minute job—just open up the
top of the pump and put a healthy squirt of it into it…pump the toilet a
few times to get it all through the pump, and you’re “good to go” for
the entire season. And, by keeping the pump lubricated this way, you
extend the life of the seals and valves, reducing the need for rebuilds.

The best time to lubricate a toilet is in the fall, as part of
winterizing. The Teflon grease protects the rubber parts in the toilet
from drying out, which also extends their life.

I think you'll find the link in my signature useful.

--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://69.20.93.241/store/customer/p...40&cat=&page=1

Peggie,

highly informative, as always!

My question: does the Lavac pump similar maintenance? I don't recall
reading anything about it in the manual.

Thanks!

--Ernst



Peggie Hall writes:

Matt Koch wrote:
You are correct in your assumption that the toilet has never been
lubricated. I'm embarassed to ask but how do you go about lubrucating
a toilet?

Many people just wait till the toilet starts to squeak and become hard
to pump, then pour some mineral oil or vegetable oil down it. That’s
ok in an emergency, till you can get home and do it right, but it’s
not the way to maintain the toilet. Not only is this very hard on the
toilet, but it’s a never-ending job because anything thin enough to be
poured down the toilet is also so thin that it washes out in just a
few flushes.

Why is it hard on the toilet? Because a toilet doesn’t squeak unless
it needs lubrication; that squeaking is the sound of seals rubbing
against the inside of the housing, being worn away. Waiting till it
squeaks to lubricate it is like waiting till an engine starts to smoke
to add oil.

Ever wondered why a new toilet doesn’t need any lubrication for at
least a year? It’s because every toilet leaves the factory slathered
with thick synthetic Teflon grease that takes a full season or more to
be flushed out. Replacing it just once a year is all it takes to keep
a toilet pumping smoothly. And it’s only a 15 minute job—just open
up the top of the pump and put a healthy squirt of it into it…pump
the toilet a few times to get it all through the pump, and you’re
“good to go” for the entire season. And, by keeping the pump
lubricated this way, you extend the life of the seals and valves,
reducing the need for rebuilds.

The best time to lubricate a toilet is in the fall, as part of
winterizing. The Teflon grease protects the rubber parts in the
toilet from drying out, which also extends their life.

I think you'll find the link in my signature useful.

--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems
and Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://69.20.93.241/store/customer/p...40&cat=&page=1

brain wrote:
Peggie,

highly informative, as always!

My question: does the Lavac pump similar maintenance? I don't recall
reading anything about it in the manual.

The Lavac pump is actually a Henderson manual diaphragm bilge pump...and
should be maintained (lubricated/rebuilt) the same way as any other
manual diaphragm bilge or holding tank overboard discharge pumps.

They do need periodic lubrication...and synthetic Teflon or similar
non-petroleum water soluble grease is recommended. And they also need to
be rebuilt occasionally...more often if they're never lubed. Lack of
lubrication isn't all that good for y-valves and seacocks either.

--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://69.20.93.241/store/customer/p...40&cat=&page=1

Peggie

Many thanks again for your very informative answers. It's a pleasure.

matt


Peggie Hall wrote in message om...
Matt Koch wrote:
You are correct in your assumption that the toilet has never been
lubricated. I'm embarassed to ask but how do you go about lubrucating
a toilet?

Many people just wait till the toilet starts to squeak and become hard
to pump, then pour some mineral oil or vegetable oil down it. That’s ok
in an emergency, till you can get home and do it right, but it’s not the
way to maintain the toilet. Not only is this very hard on the toilet,
but it’s a never-ending job because anything thin enough to be poured
down the toilet is also so thin that it washes out in just a few flushes.

Why is it hard on the toilet? Because a toilet doesn’t squeak unless it
needs lubrication; that squeaking is the sound of seals rubbing against
the inside of the housing, being worn away. Waiting till it squeaks to
lubricate it is like waiting till an engine starts to smoke to add oil.

Ever wondered why a new toilet doesn’t need any lubrication for at least
a year? It’s because every toilet leaves the factory slathered with
thick synthetic Teflon grease that takes a full season or more to be
flushed out. Replacing it just once a year is all it takes to keep a
toilet pumping smoothly. And it’s only a 15 minute job—just open up the
top of the pump and put a healthy squirt of it into it…pump the toilet a
few times to get it all through the pump, and you’re “good to go” for
the entire season. And, by keeping the pump lubricated this way, you
extend the life of the seals and valves, reducing the need for rebuilds.

The best time to lubricate a toilet is in the fall, as part of
winterizing. The Teflon grease protects the rubber parts in the toilet
from drying out, which also extends their life.

I think you'll find the link in my signature useful.