Yuck - Issues with Vacuflush!!!!

[nyrussell]

Saturday night (late of course) after sitting on the throne, no flushing action though pump ran and was hot. Went down and made sure all of the normal setting s didn't change etc... Finally pulled the sanitation hose off the pump and Admiral did a GREAT job of cleaning the 2 plastic ends going into the pump. Not pretty to say the least. Then ran a snake into the hoses to the vacuum tank from both sides (more yuck). Nothing!!!! Still would not flush!!! Said okay, rehooked the system up and then turned the handle to go straight out the thru hull. Vacu flush toilet worked. However, I need to use the tank, not the thru hull... So, do I run a snake from the other side to the holding tank?

Oh yes, Help!!!!!

 

[Pete]

To help diagnose the problem, try removing the pump out deck fitting cap, and then flush the system, while the valves are set to use the holding tank. If the VF head works, then the path to the holding tank is open and likely your tank vent is blocked. If the head does not work, the path to the tank, down stream from the discharge selector valve, is likely blocked. Be careful around the open deck fitting, while doing this. Good idea to place an old rag or two over it and have another person watch from a distance. If you see any discharge coming up through this fitting, stop immediately, your tank vent is definitely blocked. Good luck

Pete

 

[Beckytek]

Could be that your 3/4 full warning light is not working and the tank is completely full. I would get the tank pumped. If the vent is blocked this might also clear it as air has to get into the tank while pumping out.
You didn't say if the problem was in both heads. Ron

 

[nyrussell]

Ron,

I pumped the tank out last week. But I can try it again too. One head is not usable as I have to put it back into service.... However, the head should work the same as they are both routed out the same way to the holding tanks....

How about if i pump the tank oput and then fill the tank with water until it overflows?..... I do need to figure out which thru hull the overflow/vent is anyways.

Noel

 

[Beckytek]

Ron,

I pumped the tank out last week. But I can try it again too. One head is not usable as I have to put it back into service.... However, the head should work the same as they are both routed out the same way to the holding tanks....

How about if i pump the tank oput and then fill the tank with water until it overflows?..... I do need to figure out which thru hull the overflow/vent is anyways.

Noel

That's why I asked if the other head worked. If any one works then the tank is ok as they both go to the same tank.
Did you try the test that Pete suggested, removing the deck cap? Make sure the valve going to the tank is in the correct position, open to tank. It's right after the pumps to the right of the through hull.
Do you have a filter in your vent hose? it could be clogged causing this.
If you feel the vent is clogged.
I would not fill the tank with water to see if it overflows. If the vent is clogged then the Stuff will go all over your deck. Pump the tank to make sure it's empty. Go to the top of your tank, under the steps. There are three hoses there. Two of them are white sanitation hoses going to the pumps and one to the deck fitting for pump-out. The other hose is black (on my boat) and is
the vent hose. Remove this hose from its elbow. If you can find another hose to connect to the elbow temporarily just to vent the smell outside that would be nice. Maybe an old vacuum cleaner hose would do. Then try to flush again.
If that works then all you have to do is clean out the vent hose and replace it
on the elbow.
I can't see how any other hose 1 1/2 inch could be clogged. Good luck Ron

 

[Pete]

Do not recommend either pumping the tank again or filling it until you sort out the problem. The fiberglass holding tank can not take significant pressure or vacuum with out the risk of damage. If you pump it and the vent remains blocked, you could suck in one of the tank panels to the point of fracture. Filling the tank from the pump out fitting is less of a risk as long as you put the water in at a slow rate. Only problem with this is you will surely drive some bad stuff into the vent line once the tank is full and you keep adding water. I still recommend the procedure I originally recommended, just because it is least likely to cause additional problems.

Pete

 

[dwaynec]

Sure it''s not the duckbills?

I do agree that it sounds like a plugged hose. Either to the tank, or the vent. Had that happen on our boat. Found out when I went to the fuel dock to get pumped out so I could service the heads. They hooked up the pumpout and got her going, and I could hear the tank "oil canning". I had them stop right then and took the vent fitting off. Let's just say it was not pretty. There was some pretty good pressure in the tank.

It's amazing that the "stuff" in the tank could plug the fitting so tightly, but I ended up replacing it as a certain amount of "stuff" corrosion had taken place.

BTW the tank oil canned pretty well, and there was a certain amount of pressure in the tank, but it held up well.

 

[Pascal]

doesnt' hurt to try with the HT cap off, but i can tell you from experience that a VF will be able to pressurize the tank if the vent is clogged.

sounds like duckbills to me. pull the hoses off the inlet and outlet side of the pump. there is short fitting that you need to unscrew from teh body to access the second duckbill. clean them and make sure they're not too badly covered with hard stuff. you have 4 DB total on the pump.

it's really almost impossible to clog one of the hose. "stuff" has to go thru the ventury at the bottom of the head first, and that's much smaller than the hose.

the clog is unlikely to be at the bottom of the head, if it was the pump would shut down since the vac swtich is downstream of the venturi at the bottom

 

[nyrussell]

Pascal,

At the same time, the "stuff" does go through the duckbills when the head is turned to the thruhull and not turned to the tank... But will not pressurize when turned to the tank and then flush.

 

[Pascal]

then your issue is between the vac pump and the tank. again, nearly impossible to clog the hose, but check your Y valve or any fittings.