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10-08-2015, 11:02
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Denmark
Boat: Albin Vega 27
Posts: 75
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My head pump gets stuck and is extremely hard to pump
Hi guys,
Suddenly the pump for my head has gone extremely tight and is almost impossible to pump.
Could it be a matter of lubricating it somehow or what could it be?
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10-08-2015, 11:13
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Montpellier, France
Boat: FP Bahia 46 catamaran
Posts: 34
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Re: My head pump gets stuck and is extremely hard to pump
I had one that was a bit stiff, but could still be pumped. A table spoonful of cooking oil made a huge difference.
Tony
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10-08-2015, 11:14
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#3
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Moderator Emeritus

Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Manchester, UK
Boat: Beneteau 473
Posts: 5,622
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Re: My head pump gets stuck and is extremely hard to pump
What type of pump is it?
Could be the piston needs lubricating (silicon grease is good), or a quick fix is to put a small amount of vegetable oil in the bowl and pump.
On the other had, it could indicate a blockage in the discharge line.
__________________
Nigel
Beneteau 473
Manchester, UK
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10-08-2015, 11:14
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#4
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CLOD
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: being planted in Jacksonville Fl
Boat: none
Posts: 20,813
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Re: My head pump gets stuck and is extremely hard to pump
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nicks
Hi guys,
Suddenly the pump for my head has gone extremely tight and is almost impossible to pump.
Could it be a matter of lubricating it somehow or what could it be?
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assuming you have the lever fully open - clogged discharge line, full tank, clogged vent are first things to check
__________________
Don't ask a bunch of unknown forum people if it is OK to do something on YOUR boat. It is your boat, do what you want!
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10-08-2015, 11:23
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Denmark
Boat: Albin Vega 27
Posts: 75
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Re: My head pump gets stuck and is extremely hard to pump
Hmm. I don't know how to explain it, but it's like it gets glued to the position I leave it in. I have a photo of the pump and toilet here:
After I use tremendous force (much more than my girlfriend is able to do on her own) I can get it unlocked and I can pump it - but still very hard. Which is why I suspect it needs some sort of lube.
As you can see on the image, it is an old toilet.
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10-08-2015, 11:44
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Illinois
Boat: Rinker 24
Posts: 399
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Re: My head pump gets stuck and is extremely hard to pump
Distasteful as it sounds, it looks like that pump can be disassembled somewhat easily. The amount of force you describe is a bit excessive for just a sticking seal IMHO, but there is not much to lose by trying some oil first.
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10-08-2015, 11:48
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#7
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CLOD
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: being planted in Jacksonville Fl
Boat: none
Posts: 20,813
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Re: My head pump gets stuck and is extremely hard to pump
if it's a lube issue try the easy simple thing first, either go the marine shop and get some head lube or put some vegetable oil in the bowl with some water and pump it
__________________
Don't ask a bunch of unknown forum people if it is OK to do something on YOUR boat. It is your boat, do what you want!
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10-08-2015, 11:53
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Denmark
Boat: Albin Vega 27
Posts: 75
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Re: My head pump gets stuck and is extremely hard to pump
Quote:
Originally Posted by sailorboy1
if it's a lube issue try the easy simple thing first, either go the marine shop and get some head lube or put some vegetable oil in the bowl with some water and pump it
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I should put the oil in the bowl and pump it out that way? I thought I needed to oil the cylinder attached to the handle or something?
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10-08-2015, 12:06
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#9
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CLOD
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: being planted in Jacksonville Fl
Boat: none
Posts: 20,813
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Re: My head pump gets stuck and is extremely hard to pump
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nicks
I should put the oil in the bowl and pump it out that way? I thought I needed to oil the cylinder attached to the handle or something?
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If you put the oil in the bowl and pump it will lube the pump. It wouldn't last as long as greasing the pump but it will quickly tell you if that is the problem.
__________________
Don't ask a bunch of unknown forum people if it is OK to do something on YOUR boat. It is your boat, do what you want!
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10-08-2015, 12:22
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Denmark
Boat: Albin Vega 27
Posts: 75
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Re: My head pump gets stuck and is extremely hard to pump
Quote:
Originally Posted by sailorboy1
If you put the oil in the bowl and pump it will lube the pump. It wouldn't last as long as greasing the pump but it will quickly tell you if that is the problem.
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Alright I will go out and try that tomorrow. How much oil are we talking about? Like a spoonfull or a small glass?
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10-08-2015, 12:24
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#11
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CLOD
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: being planted in Jacksonville Fl
Boat: none
Posts: 20,813
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Re: My head pump gets stuck and is extremely hard to pump
A few tablespoons in some water are normally enough.
__________________
Don't ask a bunch of unknown forum people if it is OK to do something on YOUR boat. It is your boat, do what you want!
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10-08-2015, 13:10
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Houston
Boat: ‘01 Catana 401
Posts: 9,627
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Re: My head pump gets stuck and is extremely hard to pump
I had my pump feel stuck when I had a fish stick in the seawater inlet.
Pulled it apart and pulled out a fish that had been subjected to massive decompression, and stopped procrastinating about the seawater strainer on the seawater side.
Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum
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10-08-2015, 13:55
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#13
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CLOD
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: being planted in Jacksonville Fl
Boat: none
Posts: 20,813
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Re: My head pump gets stuck and is extremely hard to pump
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sailmonkey
I had my pump feel stuck when I had a fish stick in the seawater inlet.
Pulled it apart and pulled out a fish that had been subjected to massive decompression, and stopped procrastinating about the seawater strainer on the seawater side.
Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum
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You know that's a good point. I can not remember the last time I checked my SW head inlet strainer.
__________________
Don't ask a bunch of unknown forum people if it is OK to do something on YOUR boat. It is your boat, do what you want!
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10-08-2015, 16:19
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#14
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,122
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Re: My head pump gets stuck and is extremely hard to pump
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nicks
Hi guys,Suddenly the pump for my head has gone extremely tight and is almost impossible to pump.Could it be a matter of lubricating it somehow or what could it be?
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Lack of lubrication would make it hard to pump, but it wouldn't feel like what you're describing...your toilet would have been squeaking and dragging. You can try putting a couple of tablespoons--more won't help any more, but I don't think it'll help much if any.
Before I go any further, though, I have a couple of questions: what's the make/model of your toilet? Is the toilet equally hard to pump in both the wet and the dry mode? Do you ever switch between the two modes?
__________________
© 2025 Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since '87.
Author: "NEW Get Rid of Boat Odors"
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10-08-2015, 16:47
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: On board
Boat: Van de Stadt 50'
Posts: 1,413
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Re: My head pump gets stuck and is extremely hard to pump
...and I have one more question
What have you been eating?
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