Vacu-Flush 800 Series

[Brewbeck]

Checking out a Vacu Flush in my new old boat. Actually read the manual! And, after two years without use. the pedal put water into the bowl when I lifted it and then flushed when I pushed on the pedal! WooHoo!

Some moments later I noticed a clicking sound from the bilge in the vicinity of the holding tank and the pump. Is this normal?

BTW, how do I insert a smiley in a post AND,
How do I reply to a reply without having to quote the message?

[bud37]

That sound is the pump building vacuum again....should pump for 30 to 60 seconds or so until the vac switch is made, all depending on the state of your system.
Just reply in the quick reply and I think you have done the other you asked.......

[Brewbeck]

Thank you, Bud37. This click was about every 5 seconds and continued for several minutes until I turned the toilet pump off. I theorized it might be the pump working the high side of its pressure cycle? If so, now that I've heard it, it will be like a dripping faucet.

[Viper]

Pump operation up to 90 seconds is within acceptable limits. If it's working longer than that, then some diagnostics is necessary as this indicates there is a leak in the system. The most common regular maintenance items that will give you this symptom is worn check valves (duckbill valves) at the pump, bad pump bellows, or a bad bowl seal. If it's a bad bowl seal, the tell tale sign is that your bowl will be dry, it should always have water in it. If it starts off with water then dries out after a while, the seals need to be replaced or your pump will continue to work. Bad check valves will not allow for a good seal so it'll never build up enough vacuum or it'll take much longer. Of course other issues will cause the same symptom such as a hose leak or vacuum tank/fitting leak but the above are the most common.

Clicking every 5 seconds (pump rotation) seems too slow. Check this timing, if that is indeed the case, you may want to check your batteries.

[Brewbeck]

Thank you! The bowl has been dry for some time due to lack of use last year and then winter lay-up. Now that it's being used I'll be doing differential diagnoses on this guy. First, I'll time the actual duration of the clicking sound - waiting for it always seems the time is much longer. Next, I'll leave water in it and see if it dries out. If no answer presents itself, then it's under the galley floor for me! Found a receipt from a previous owner for a duckbill! Hope that's not a premonition.

[Viper]

Source of the post .... it's under the galley floor for me! Found a receipt from a previous owner for a duckbill...

Get used to it. Unfortunately they are a regular maintenance item but eventually, you'll get good at replacing them. Have the system pumped out and flushed several times, and wear gloves and eye protection any time you work with this system as the contents can be a health hazard. And have a lot of rags and a bag ready!

[mjk1040]

Try some vegetable oil on the bowl seal. Turn the unit off and open the ball valve and rub it on with a paper towel. I believe your manual suggests running a cup of vegetable oil and a cup of vinegar thru the system occasionally. Good Luck you'll have it working perfect I'm sure!

[hausherrs]

Source of the post worn check valves (duckbill valves)

Mine just started having issues and the pressure switch diaphram was so corroded it wouldnt build vacuum. The pump would run and the tank switch would just hiss. I replaced the switch yesterday and working great now. Both heads had switches dated 1995. Both now have switches dated 2016.

[Brewbeck]

Spend the last few days finding stuff related to the Vacuflush system. Heck of a big tank and a switch system under the cabin floor. The clicking sound on activation did stop after about a minute and was apparently the pump re pressurizing the system ( or would it be "re-vacuuming"?) The issue appears to be an issue of the seal in the bowl, need the seal kit and some time on my knees before the toilet - an experience I have not had since college! Eye protection and gloves will be used. And, it is surprising how good the U-Tube videos are for this kind of repair.
Thank all who commented.