Holding tank purge pump

[Polyman]

Hello:

I am in the process of fixing the holding tank of a Passport 40 yacht and found out
that it came with a pump that was meant to be able to purge the tank when not at
a marina. The previous owner told me that it never worked, and between his
ownership and mine makes 17 years. The attached picture shows the device once
I power washed it. The motor is inside the rubber bag in the middle while the bottom
seems to be an impeller. The waste is pumped out through the hose partly visible
in the top side of the assembly.

I was trying to fix it, but even assuming I can disassemble the severely rusted,
galled and corroded frame, I am wondering how easy it would be to locate compatible
replacements for motor and impeller.

Would anyone be able to suggest a replacement for the entire assembly? Even if
the dimensions are not perfect, I can, within reason, create shims and adapters.

Thanks
Tony

[Bowdrie]

It's an ancient device, been forever since I've seen one.
IIRC, it was made by either Groco or perhaps Wilcox-Crittenden.
Replacement parts might be impossible to source.
Although, I wouldn't put it past some forum member to have a better answer.

[nuku34]

Basically its a macerator pump; the impeller shreds the poo and there's an integral diaphragm pump that sucks it out of the tank and overboard. Sometimes the macerator outlet hose connects to the toilet waste seacock/thruhhull, sometime it has its own seacock/thruhull.
I'd suggest giving up trying to fix it and buying a new unit; they are standard items in electric toilets.
My holding tank actually doesn't have the macerator pump, just a large manually operated Whale diaphragm pump which seems very happy to pump poo without it being macerated first.

[NYSail]

If your tank is above the water line as is mine, ditch the pump and go to gravity fed discharge. Great improvement and worry free.

Good luck

[peghall]

It's the pump for a Groco ZDX Waste System
Groco ZDS Waste Holding System--which most likely was the original holding tank with the only overboard discharge pump that's installed INSIDE the tank.

Deposit it in a dumpster and replace it with Jabsco macerator pump, or better yet if your budget can stand it, a Dometic T-Series SaniPump--a diaphragm pump that sits outside the tank.


However, you would not be able to use it except when at least 3 miles outside the Golden Gate because it's illegal to discharge raw sewage in any US waters within 3 miles of the nearest point on the whole US coastline.



--Peggie

[peghall]

A slight correction to my previous post that I caught too late to edit:


and replace it with Jabsco macerator pump that would sit outside the tank, or better yet if your budget can stand it, a Dometic T-Series SaniPump--a diaphragm pump that also sits outside the tank.

Installation of either one is easy, would only require a bit of additional hose and MAYBE a y-valve.


However, you would not be able to use it except when at least 3 miles outside the Golden Gate because it's illegal to discharge raw sewage in any US waters within 3 miles of the nearest point on the whole US coastline.


--Peggie




--Peggie[/QUOTE]