www.iFourWinns.com

I have the manual pump head in my 248 Vista. I opened the sea cock and used the outside fresh water for my flushing for about 3 weekends. The previous owners never used this feature and choose to flush the head using fresh water from the head faucet. The first time I used the pump head, there was a lot of black crud that flushed into the head from the water line. Now, my pump will not draw water in at all from the outside of the boat. Does anyone know where or if there is some sort of strainer or filter that I can check to see if it might be clogged? Is there anything else I should check to get the water flowing back to my head?

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"Where Da Go"
2002 248 Vista
Lafayette, IN
http://blueoceanlife.worldventures.biz

Take the top of the pump off and clean the joker valve. Most likely some dirt won't let the flap close. I don't think they put a strainer on the manual head. I converted mine to ele. and installed a filter.

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Inboard, outboard, onboard never bored
KUT 'N LOOSE
'99 258 VISTA

The previous owners used fresh water for a reason. You're inviting trouble making the switch, as you've already seen. Granted, that's probably due to their not using the raw water intake and crud getting built-up into the lines.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

It seems a lot of people feel that way about using the raw water to flush the head and I don't understand why. I am using fresh water, not salt water, so odor isn't a big issue. I have a hunch that my problems are from non-use by the previous owners and I will have to check the joker valve.

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"Where Da Go"
2002 248 Vista
Lafayette, IN
http://blueoceanlife.worldventures.biz

YET

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Jvalich
http://www.badcock.com

'04 FW 288 Vista "Mental Floss"

All sorts of little creatures live in fresh water and will make your holding tank their new home. Unless you flush out that tank all the time I wouldnt use that water.

So True!

I learned this half way thru my 1st Season with the boat, and since then have actually shut off the intake valve, and only use the fresh water from the shower nozzle.

But then again considering I am in the Hudson River, using the fresh water really is a "No-Brainer" when you think about it!!!

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'04 FW 268Vista "Andiamo"

I use lake water for the head, no problems after 7 seasons. My boating is on Lake Huron or Lake Michigan,so the water is always fresh. I add 1/2 cup of a product called "Odorlos" after each pump out. As far as your pump goes, your may find it easier to just replace the whole pump assembly, rather than messing with rebuilding your existing one. Just my 2 cents.



http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... 214/209/11

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Fred 248Vista
So much water so little time!

My pump wasn't working either (on an 06!) so I emailed ITT (Marinco, Guest, Jabsco conglomerate) and they sent me a new Joker Valve and the new gasket that goes up in the top of the pump head where the wet/dry bowl selector is.

Worked like a charm! Pumps water in great now and nope there is no strainer on the raw water seacock for the turlet. After I pump out my holding tank I add about a gallon of fresh water and a bottle of Thetford Champochem Natural (no formaldahyde) available in six pack boxes at Wally World cheap! No smell from using raw (fresh) water.

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Brett DiMichele

My pump wasn't working either (on an 06!) so I emailed ITT (Marinco, Guest, Jabsco conglomerate) and they sent me a new Joker Valve and the new gasket that goes up in the top of the pump head where the wet/dry bowl selector is.

Worked like a charm! Pumps water in great now and nope there is no strainer on the raw water seacock for the turlet. After I pump out my holding tank I add about a gallon of fresh water and a bottle of Thetford Champochem Natural (no formaldahyde) available in six pack boxes at Wally World cheap! No smell from using raw (fresh) water.

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Brett DiMichele

On occasion I have had to prime my system if it has been out of the water and gotten some air in the line someplace. I can pump and pump and no water will run into the head, just the sound of rushing air. To do this I pull the small hose off the top of the pump that runs to the head. I then cover the male end (the end attached to the pump) with my hand when I lift up on the pump handle, then take my hand off when I push back down (maybe I do it backwards, I cant remember when I cover it for sure right now but I think I'm right). I repeat this 3 times or so and get the water into the system, then everything works fine. Not a big deal to me, does not happen everytime and I don't close the seacocks when I pull it out of the lake so the water runs out.

Lake water is fine for me in the head. If we use the head, when we are done with our weekend, or however long we get to stay, I put some blue stuff in the bowl and flush it down so it gets in the tank and in the lines. Empty it out and then rinse with more than a gallon of water, maybe a few gallons and suck that out.

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2005, 268 Vista, Table Rock Lake "Choices II"

I am going to take the pump apart to see if I can find something either clogged or defective. With regards to the odor, It's not really an issue. I always flush the tank with about 5-10 gallons of water when I pump out and put some green stuff (tank deodorizer) in it, and away we go, no problems.

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"Where Da Go"
2002 248 Vista
Lafayette, IN
http://blueoceanlife.worldventures.biz

Well, we diagnosed the problem. Inside the pump, there is a rubber ring around the pump shaft where it enters the pump that was deteriorated. We put some plumbers grease on it and it's working..............for now. I need to get a rebuild kit for it. Does anyone know exactly what comes in that kit?

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"Where Da Go"
2002 248 Vista
Lafayette, IN
http://blueoceanlife.worldventures.biz

Hmm. I've been using the onboard water to fill the pot so far this season. I just cracked open the seacock and to no avail - not pumping in any raw water. I'll open it up tommorow and see if I can do the things you guys speak of. Maybe Brett, if you have that contact info, could list it up if I can't get it going I'll email them.

On a side note, my hot water heater doesn't appear to be working either

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V475
Chris Craft Catalina 23 w/ 300 G2
Previously-V338, 248 Vista, H210

Michael Irving
Product Specialist
ITT Marine and Leisure Group
tel: 978-282-5227
fax: 978-283-2619
Michael.Irving@itt.com

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Brett DiMichele