Those Wretched Jabsco Electric Toilets

[Dockhead]

I now have two of them. After buying two Raritan Sea Eras off Hopcar and discovering that I can't fit them, as I have no access from under the floor without ripping the boat apart, I had to buy a second Jabsco 29200 electric conversion -- the one which makes a noise like a squadron of F16's on full afterburner.

One of them continues to refuse to prime. That is, the discharge pump. If you switch to the "empty bowl" position, there is no prime. On the regular "flush" position (activates both intake and discharge pumps), water goes into the bowl, but not out, although if you let it stand for a while, sometimes it will start working.

A young crewman discovered that if you pull off the little white plastic pipe between the discharge pump (below the motor) and the control unit at the top, the pump will prime and work. When you release the knob to switch off the motor, there is a sharp "hiss" and a little spray of water somewhere.

Something ain't right. It's not the control valve (as suggested by our dearly departed Toilet Lady, much missed already) -- because I swapped that plus the top plate from the other toilet, and it made no difference.

What the h8ll could it be?? A new one is more than 400 pounds or around $650. I would prefer to get this one working, if anyone has a clue.

[foggysail]

That is really too bad. I considered the SeaEra a few weeks ago. Later I elected to go with the Marine Elegance at $400. WHAT A TOILET! It exceeds anything I have ever used on a boat.

[sdowney717]

Is this the one you have?
Jabsco Electric Marine Toilets

I have one of these about 10 years. still works ok. It has had 2 issues.
The motor mounts to the plastic base with 4 SS screws into brass or bronze thread inserts inserted into the plastic. The screws got stuck and when I had to get motor off I cracked the plastic where they are pressed in. I managed to fix that using some plastic welder glue and then greased the bolts with teflon paste used for sealing pipe fittings. After I fixed the screw bushings the pump started leaking against the base. I then used some more teflon paste (make sure you reinstall the flat rubber oring in the recess) and the leak is gone.

If I bought one of these new, I would grease those screws with teflon paste. It is a loud toilet. It has always sucked the seawater fine.

[Ironhorse74]

Jabsco has the best customer service of any company I have ever dealt with. I would suggest dropping them an email.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by sdowney717

Is this the one you have?
Jabsco Electric Marine Toilets

I have one of these about 10 years. still works ok. It has had 2 issues.
The motor mounts to the plastic base with 4 SS screws into brass or bronze thread inserts inserted into the plastic. The screws got stuck and when I had to get motor off I cracked the plastic where they are pressed in. I managed to fix that using some plastic welder glue and then greased the bolts with teflon paste used for sealing pipe fittings. After I fixed the screw bushings the pump started leaking against the base. I then used some more teflon paste (make sure you reinstall the flat rubber oring in the recess) and the leak is gone.

If I bought one of these new, I would grease those screws with teflon paste. It is a loud toilet. It has always sucked the seawater fine.

No, it's this one: Jabsco 29200-0120 - ELECTRIC CONVERSION 12 volt dc / Conversion Kits / Toilets / Marine Toilets / Marine / Xylem JabscoShop - Jabsco & Rule Pumps and more - from the experts

[sailstoo]

Sorry to go off topic but Peggy Hall (the "Head Mistress") has departed us? I missed that. What happened? (I bought her book...very knowledgeable.)

[David M]

I find the Wilcox Crittenden Skipper head to be the most reliable ever made. Its big and expensive but it takes abuse like nothing else. It's probably worth the extra bucks just to keep your sanity.

[hgd137]

Well it looks like your responses have dried up. So I will give you my experiences, while not really providing a certain solution. I also have the same electric pump assessory which you have and have been suffing with simular problems. I find that the pumpout becomes air locked when trying to empty the bowl. It appears that this mostlly occurs when the previous pump out evacuates the bowl where air can be sucked into the pump. As you cited, removing the vinyl hose on top removes the air, you can actually hear it gurgurl. However this is not necessarily the solution. What happens is that some the effluent from the waste is sucked into this tube when you flush and blocks up the top passage where the vinyl hose is attached. I take a pipe cleaner a clean out the passage, which seems to solve the problem. I talked to Jabsco to no avail. I saw some statement in the directions that seem to indicate that this effuent problem can be solved by addind a hose to where the water outputs from the pump and extending it up higher than the bowl discharge line and then return it to the back of the bowl where it is presently attached. I did this but the jury is still out whether it works. I am hoping that the real problem is the recyling of the efluent and if this is stopped the damn thing will work.

[zeehag]

i am sooo happy i am satisfied with my all manual jabsco antique that has been functioning well for over 10 yrs......

[Sailor g]

I'll keep my manual Jabsco too. I count pumping the handle as exercise. I do knee bends and use different arms to pump! I tried the electric attachment once and it was so loud-it scared the pants off of me! It was removed after one try. I like the ease of the manual. Yeah, ya gotta clean the parts and lube it but it's not that bad to do.

[bstreep]

Well, knocking on wood, with 5 years of ownership (they were on the boat), we LOVE our Jabsco electric heads. Just sayin'....