Galley Maid Head: Won't Flush

[53hatt]

I have done a lot of searches but can't seem to find the exact cause for my problem. In the past, after running the boat, the master head would fill with water but not evacuate the bowl. Usually after several attempts, or manually emptying the head a few times, it would get suction and work fine. Now, no matter how many times I empty the bowl manually and try flushing, the bowl overflows with no suction out. I had the holding tank pumped and it is definitely empty. Any ideas on what to try next?

 

[Angela]

Replace the stator on the "big" end of the pump - that's the "dirty" end.

 

[saltshaker]

I have done a lot of searches but can't seem to find the exact cause for my problem. In the past, after running the boat, the master head would fill with water but not evacuate the bowl. Usually after several attempts, or manually emptying the head a few times, it would get suction and work fine. Now, no matter how many times I empty the bowl manually and try flushing, the bowl overflows with no suction out. I had the holding tank pumped and it is definitely empty. Any ideas on what to try next?

I've had the exact same problem before. Sounds like it's time to rebuild the discharge side of the pump. Pretty simple job. First check to see if the head is clogged. Empty the bowl a bit and try to plunge it while flushing. If it still doesn't flush, try disconnecting the waste water discharge hose from the intake side of the pump. If there's no clog the water should flow freely.

 

[Angela]

To add to my "replace the stator" comment, I did that once and still had no suction. It was because the discharge hose had become fully closed with the gradual build-up of that calcium or rock-like substance that plagues saltwater flushing heads. That stuff may not always be right at the end of the hose - you've got to inspect the entire hose, regularly, to see if you've got that build-up going on. My neighbor was having a problem like this. While troubleshooting the "it won't go down" thing, I told him to check his hoses. He did and said they were clear - he only pulled the ends off and peeked inside and the ends were clean. Turns out, he had a slight low spot and that's where the "cement" was.

It got to the point that once a year, I would have to remove the discharge hose (the one running between the pump and the holding tank) and take it outside and beat it to death until all the rocks crumbled and came out (or just replace the hose). I have four heads, and I got tired of that annual maintenance. I switched to freshwater flushers!

So, if you have saltwater flushing heads - check the last hose to see if it's been closed up; otherwise, replace the stator. There are some good instructions in the FAQ section here on how to remove the tee blade and get at the stator to pull it off.

 

[dcate]

If another stator doesn't fix your problem, I'll second Angela's suggestion. My master head (the one the furthest from it's pump) wouldn't empty....no suction.

took the line off the pump and cleaned it out by banging it on the dock. And there was more blockage in the 90 degree bends of the pvc pipe that had to be replaced.

works like a charm now. All the comforts of home.

 

[davidwigler]

Before you tear into the big stuff, make sure you don't have a simple priming problem. The discharge line of the master head loses prime every time we run the boat, I have no idea why.

I did remove the copper line between the discharge and intake sides of the pump as suggested. Now it is easy to loosen the pipe plug on the discharge side until the air stops coming out. Then all is well.

 

[rwaldrop13]

Here's the issue I am experiencing - New to us boat, 1984 Hat 54'. The midships head seems to have a clog - water will come in but will not go down - but the aft toilet is flushing fine. Both toilets currently run to one Galley Maid macerator waste pump then to the holding tank. The PO apparently eliminated the second pump during the 7 years they owned the boat for easier maintenance. Since the 2 toilets run to one pump, I am thinking the clog is somewhere in the connection between the midships head and the union before the pump. I tried a couple of suggestions from fellow liveaboards here in the marina, but cannot get a snake into the PVC coming out of the back of the toilet - pic attached - as it won't make the second curve. I even bought a "skinny snake" to try to overcome this issue. Only thing I have not tried but has been suggested is the diluted muriatic acid solution in the bowl. Before I go that route, has anyone else tried it and did it work for you? Alternatively, cutting the PVC and then rejoining it has been thought out as well. Plunging the toilet has no effect whatsoever.

 

[Westfield 11]

If you are concerned that muriatic acid might be too harsh, try cleaning vinegar. It is available online at 30%.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I don't see how one pump and work for two heads. There must be another pump there somewhere. That just doesn't make sense.

 

[SEVEN]

You should have three head pumps one in the master, one in the starboard engine room and one in the generator room.

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

The snake probably won’t work. You need a plunger. But, instead of plunging, push slowly to expel the air. Then jerk upwards. Best on a less than full bowl. Do it a few times to dislodge the clog. When it flushes you’ve got it. Then undo that plumbing abortion you’ve got.

 

[rwaldrop13]

The PO routed the aft and midships heads both to one GalleyMaid pump in the port engine room. The plan is to install a second pump for the aft head. He ran a main line from the aft head with the midships head connected thru a manifold in the waste line to the pump. When I replumb the heads and run a second pump, this will be corrected. But up until yesterday it was working.

 

[rwaldrop13]

It wouldn't let me quote the post, but the plunger technique is what I've been using without success. Thank you for the suggestion though. The snake was a swing and a miss. The funky elbow defeated the snake.

 

[rwaldrop13]

If you are concerned that muriatic acid might be too harsh, try cleaning vinegar. It is available online at 30%.

Thanks. I will look that up, and I have a monthly vinegar dump for each head in use on my calendar.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

SO when you push the button, water is pumped into both bowls and both bowls flush simultaneously? IF that's the case, then no wonder you can't get it to flush. The suction will only pull from the one with the least resistance which is going to be the one without the clog.

 

[oscarvan]

SO when you push the button, water is pumped into both bowls and both bowls flush simultaneously? IF that's the case, then no wonder you can't get it to flush. The suction will only pull from the one with the least resistance which is going to be the one without the clog.

And if that is the case PLUG the other one to maybe get this one unclogged. Careful as the other one will now overflow unless there is a valve in the supply line you can shut off.

 

[kingsley_oasis]

Not a good modification as will pull from head with least vacuum required to clear bowl.
Have you tried plugging the head that will clear and see if operating pump then clears the stopped up bowl.

 

[rwaldrop13]

I don't see how one pump and work for two heads. There must be another pump there somewhere. That just doesn't make sense.

You should have three head pumps one in the master, one in the starboard engine room and one in the generator room.

I get what y'all are saying, but believe me there is one pump. It's wired so either the aft head or midships head controls it, and it pulls from both heads via a main line to the aft head with the midships head connected in there as well.

The new issue after trying the muriatic acid solution is that I am seeing waste water come from the rim, not flush water. This is really starting to worry me, as we've owned the boat for 3 weeks and this issue just arose out of nowhere. The original plan was to replumb the midships head with a dedicated pump, not this jury-rig mess I have right now. But I can't figure out why this toilet won't flush, but the aft one has no problem. PO lived aboard with this setup for over 2 years.

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

I get what y'all are saying, but believe me there is one pump. It's wired so either the aft head or midships head controls it, and it pulls from both heads via a main line to the aft head with the midships head connected in there as well.

The new issue after trying the muriatic acid solution is that I am seeing waste water come from the rim, not flush water. This is really starting to worry me, as we've owned the boat for 3 weeks and this issue just arose out of nowhere. The original plan was to replumb the midships head with a dedicated pump, not this jury-rig mess I have right now. But I can't figure out why this toilet won't flush, but the aft one has no problem. PO lived aboard with this setup for over 2 years.

Even though you've pumped her out, sounds like your holding tank(s) dip tube has suffered that all too familiar fate of corroding away. On a normal GM set-up, that's the only way waste will back up into a bowl. Sounds like your going to have to eliminate that possibility before proceeding.

 

[oscarvan]

The new issue after trying the muriatic acid solution is that I am seeing waste water come from the rim, not flush water.

There is ZERO connection between the two in the proper setup..... It's one motor with two separate pumps on the two ends of it's spindle......The hoses do not meet.....

You have any pictures of this engineering marvel?