www.iFourWinns.com

So my 5 year old comes up and tells me the toilet wont flush...he's right, and the bowl has water that wont go anywhere. Ours is a vacu-flush.
we were thankfully at the last stop of our 3 day weekend trip, so I've not done any in depth analysis of the issue. I'm hoping someone here can help point me in the right direction.

What I know:
- the water in the bowl is standing and not going anywhere
- the holding tank is not full
- we use the 'special' paper
- the vacuum pump is pumping and never stops
- when ever I look in the engine compartment, I'm amazed at the kink in the sanitation hose and the fact that the waste gets past it

My thoughts:
- could be the valves in the pump
- my initial thought is that he put too much paper in the toilet and it's clogged at the kink <- Need to use a snake to unclog

Questions:
- Do the valves in the pump suddenly stop working or die slowly? The pump was working fine before this 'event'.
- With the line clogged, and no water moving - wouldn't the pump be able to create a vacuum? I would think it would be even easier.
- When I snake the plumbing, my guess is that I cannot do that from the toilet bowl as there are valves in there I would destroy. Is this true? Do I need to disconnect the pipe from the back of the toilet to snake it?

Any thoughts and help would be appreciated so I can minimize the 'dirty' side of this job and do it right the first time.

Steve.

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1969 Chris Craft Commander 47
1999 Four Winns 328 Vista - SOLD

Really sounds like a vacuum leak or the pump has failed. By the pump not stopping, my guess is you are not creating enough suction to pull the water. Can you hear any whistling around any of the fittings?

Since gravity is not your friend, I can see where it will not drain.

Good Luck. We have been lucky to avoid such an issue but I carry disposable gloves just for such an occasion.

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Jnizi

2007 Vista 338 "Better Yet"
Previously:
2007 Vista 258 " Just Right"
2005 Horizon 230

I had what sounds like the exact same problem with mine last year. Here is what I found.

It seemed like the vac flush was getting weaker and weaker, then all the sudden it wouldn't flush. I thought I had someone use to much "paper". we also only used the "special paper". I tried plunging, to no avail. I had the bowl off and checked it out, nothing. My vacuum pump would run constantly and never turn off as well.

figured it had to be the valves and maybe the vacuum switch, so I bought both and installed, still the same. I removed the line from the head to check for it being plugged, nothing in the line, but when I looked into the vacuum tank where the line goes in, it was stuffed with paper. Where the tank is on a 318 is no joy to get at, but i worked for over an hour with a "flexible claw" trying to pull the paper out, yuck! I finally realized i wasn't going to get it cleaned out without pulling the cover off. That was a real chore, but when I did, i found the vacuum tank was 3/4 filled up with paper.

Not to gross anyone out, but I had to scoop it all out, fill a small trash bag, again yuck! put it all back together, and wow, it flushed perfect.

I have a new rule now, no paper in the head, unless it is an emergency! the ladies going #1 we keep a small bag behind the toilet and the paper goes in there. In the few instances, of emergencies (#2) flush small amounts several times. I don't want that job again.


I hape yours isnt that, but from the sounds of it, it very well could be. Good Luck

_________________
Jeff

'14 Cruisers 380 Express "Simon Sez"
Merc 8.2 Mag MPI 380
DTS B3X, (x2) Axius Premier


(SOLD)
'08 V318
Merc 350 Mag MPI 300
DTS Seacore, B3 (x2)

So now you have me thinking. I may see how much "stuff" is inside the tank when it is showing empty.

Yuk!

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Jnizi

2007 Vista 338 "Better Yet"
Previously:
2007 Vista 258 " Just Right"
2005 Horizon 230

Well I may have gotten lucky, but only time will tell. I went back to the boat at lunch today and pushed the pedal, and the bowl emptied! Okay, step one. Then I turned on the pump and listened for leaks, couldn't hear any. When I looked at the hose that was kinked, I discovered it's the pump out hose, not the one going to the vacuum pump. I tried to get some slack to reduce the kink and as soon as I moved it, I heard an audible noise change in the pump - sounded like it was pumping liquid. I have no idea if the kink the pump out hose contributed, or maybe the quick dissolving paper was clogged but overnight dissolved? In any case the pump stopped running. I flushed 2 almost full bowls of water and there was plenty of vacuum and the pumped stopped after 30ish seconds.
I hope it solved itself, but am not foolish enough to believe my issues are gone. I don't look forward to gaining access to the vacuum pump either - it's stuck about as far out of reach as possible. Eliminating paper isn't really practical for us - however if I need to do the job that Jsimon did, I may change my mind of what is, or isn't practical!.
Maybe I'll try shining a flashlight into the pump tank to see if it's full or not. What should be in there? Nothing?

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1969 Chris Craft Commander 47
1999 Four Winns 328 Vista - SOLD

My vacuflush toilet suddently stopped working after about 3 years of careful use. I checked the hoses for leaks and blockages - it all looked remarkably clean inside. I installed a small inspection plate in the vaccum tank top. I replaced the duckbill valves and installed an O ring kit. I then replaced the pressure switch. The bellows appeared to be in perfect order.
It still didn't work so I hired a shipwright who is the local specialist for the vacuflush system. He checked all my work and could not find a fault. He replaced the bellows as he was at a loss to find a problem. Didn't make any difference. He did tell me that he doesn't approve of proprietory toilet cleaners and additives but liquid soap works wonders in keeping things working without a bad effect on the rubber and plastic parts. I put some liquid soap in the toilet and the system worked like magic. We will never know if that would have worked in the first place before the replacement parts. I have been adding washing up liquid or liquid soap to the system for another 2- 3 years and have had no further issues.
About a week after the soapy solution, a boat owner in a nearby pen complained that his vacuflush had stopped working. I told him to use liquid soap - he gave me a strange look and went back to his boat. Within minutes he ran back shouting, "It worked, it worked".

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John
2006 Four Winns Vista 278 (sold)

Buy yourself one of these because I have found it to get the system back to working order when having the same issue as you. I have the original 12 year old unit and the 4" plunger is the perfect size for our marine head. Also, add vegetable oil every now and then to keep the rubber lubed up so they maintain good suction.

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY

There should be nothing in the vaccum tank. Not sure if you can see in it though can you?

Funny you say "what is or isnt practical" I had 2 guys at West Marine tell me about the bag behind the head trick, so you dont have problems. I thought "whatever" the system is designed to work using paper, so I didnt listen to the advice. After that job, I did a complete 180.

_________________
Jeff

'14 Cruisers 380 Express "Simon Sez"
Merc 8.2 Mag MPI 380
DTS B3X, (x2) Axius Premier


(SOLD)
'08 V318
Merc 350 Mag MPI 300
DTS Seacore, B3 (x2)

The vacuum tank is translucent, so shining a flashlight should let me see vaguely if there is something in there - that is what I do with my holding tank, since the indicator is worthless and is stuck on full.

Steve.

_________________
1969 Chris Craft Commander 47
1999 Four Winns 328 Vista - SOLD

While it may seem rude it's important to have a discussion with the guests about using the toilet. It's not a home toilet and cannot tolerate anything more than a very small amount of paper being used. No FIST SIZED WADS OF PAPER.

Yes, it's rude, but tell them, pee or poop will not kill you if you get it on your hands, it washes off quite easily in this handy thing called a sink... But I most certainly will kill you if I discover you've jammed up my toilet.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

I did not find my vacuum tank sufficiently translucent to check the contents from the outside. I installed a bung on top of the tank - similar to the photo. For a couple of dollars I can look inside the tank, use a dipstick or insert a hose for a cleanup job. Easy to install with a holesaw and a tube of Sikaflex - as long as the piece of plastic being removed by the saw does not drop in to the tank.

_________________
John
2006 Four Winns Vista 278 (sold)

When I snake the plumbing, my guess is that I cannot do that from the toilet bowl as there are valves in there I would destroy. Is this true? Do I need to disconnect the pipe from the back of the toilet to snake it?

I have this same issue for the last couple of weeks. Never had a issue, but had a bunch of kids on the boat and now it won't flush. I think it is a clog since over the past week, remnants of toilet paper have made its way back to the bowel. I'm going to try the plunger first, but in regards to the initial question about the snake, can I not use it through the bowel, even though I make only go a couple of feet.

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2001 328 Vista

Previous Boats:
2004 Sea Ray 220 Select

Ouch, all the way back up to your bowel? That's some freaky toilet paper... Heh. Oh, you mean bowl.

Have you tried the soap idea yet? Buddy of mine just had his get clogged and that worked. It apparently helped loosen up the material enough for the pump to get it loose.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

My bad. That would hurt. Going to work on it today. Just didn't know if I should try the snake.

_________________

2001 328 Vista

Previous Boats:
2004 Sea Ray 220 Select

Try the small plunger because I have 4 kids on board all summer long and my head has become clogged many times (won't flush and fills up). Turn the water off because it does take a minute or so to get the blockage out. I use the plunger so often that I now keep it behind the head as it is only about a foot tall and 4 inches at the base.

The "No More Shitty Hands Plunger".

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY