My joker valves fail in weeks

[SilentOption]

What's the life of a joker valve? I'm replacing mine every 3 months.



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[Cheechako]

must be something you are running thru it. Should be a few years anyway.

[Kenomac]

What have you been eating????

[sailorchic34]

Might want to check your hose down stream of the joker valve for calcium buildup. Joker valves should last many years.

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by sailorchic34

Might want to check your hose down stream of the joker valve for calcium buildup. Joker valves should last many years.

That and/or a clogged holding tank vent.

Buy Peggie's book.

[SailFastTri]

If you're using white vinegar you shouldn't let it sit too long. It attacks the rubber and causes it to distort.

[landonshaw]

Thanks for this vinegar comment hadn't thought if that. Getting ready to leave the boat and was going to leave vinegar the bowl. I will just clean when I get back.


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[NakedCity]

I agree with Kenomac. Cut down on that canned corn !

[Cormorant]

Also if you tighten the valve flange down too hard when you install it, that can cause distortion. Back your bolts out a bit?

[thinwater]

Practical Sailor did a review of Jokers and which last longer. Many are interchangeable.

Though at first blush the Jabsco valve seemed best (easier flush, less clogging), Raritan PHII valve lasted much longer. Many have repeated this experience, including me. Fits the Jabsco heads just fine.

Mailport: 03/08 - Practical Sailor Print Edition Article

[Dave Lochner]

Originally Posted by SailFastTri

If you're using white vinegar you shouldn't let it sit too long. It attacks the rubber and causes it to distort.

White vinegar does little to nothing to calcium. Here are some photos of a heavily scaled y-valve. One part is sitting Muriatic Acid (~30% hydrochloric acid), one part is sitting in Heinz white vinegar. The other photos are before and after.

The part in vinegar is showing very little reaction, a few gas bubbles, the one in MA is bubbling away. Gave up on vinegar after a few minutes. The parts in MA were clean in about 5 minutes.

As for the joker valve, over tightening the clamping bolts will distort it and cause it to fail or look like its failing.

[Sinbad51]

Calcium build up is a problem. I always have 2 jokers on board. When I have a problem, I swap it out, soak the removed one in CLR rinse it off and put it back in stock for next time. If that doesn't work, I'd recommend a stool softener.

[boeing1]

I also add a little mineral oil after the vinegar flush

[zeehag]

regular use of vinegar does prevent build up. mine lasted over 10 years before some goof put tp down the hole, at which time i began to experience difficulties--- replaced pump 6 times in 1.5 years--yes is excessive.
now i have bits and parts from these used pumps to replace an entire pump.
turned out the issue was the clogged hoses-- calcium and papier mache. it all comes out well when ye slam the hoses on the dock. breaks up that crusty and solid buildup so it is more easily removed.
seems the septic system in mexico is similar to boating-- uses sani hose, which makes the search so much easier here.
once the hoses are changed out, cleaned and replaced or other wise opened for business, you will find the valves and pumps will last a much longer time.

[peghall]

Originally Posted by Dave Lochner

White vinegar does little to nothing to calcium. .

Distilled vinegar WILL dissolve sea water buildup, but it's more trouble than it's worth because it has to be changed every few hours (something that most people--you included apparently--don't realize, and it takes forever. So muriatic acid, or better yet a product called Sew Clean
Sew Clean ® | TRAC Ecological, is the easiest and beats the socks off removing hoses to bang 'em on the dock and then putting 'em back.

However, like most things, prevention is a lot easier than cure, and a cupful of distilled white vinegar flushed through the plumbing regularly--weekly if you're a liveaboard--will PREVENT mineral buildup. Flush it undiluted all the way through the system...follow with a bowlful of clean FRESH water in about 45 minutes. That's all you need to do.

As for his joker valve, we don't know what he expects of it. A new joker valves will only block slow seepage until enough flushes have gone through it to to stretch the slit slightly...the slit will widen with continued toilet use until finally it ceases to be a slit and becomes a hole. So if his toilet discharge line goes directly up and over a vented loop, it wouldn't take long for water or waste left in the line to start seeping back down into the bowl. The cure: flush long enough in the dry mode to move the water over the top of the loop--which any toilet that's working anywhere NEAR factory specs CAN do.

However, if his joker valve is allowing a flood into the bowl once the joker valve is even slightly worn, something downstream is pushing back....mineral buildup, a blocked tank vent, partial clog.... So I don't think we know enough yet to offer a definitive diagnosis.