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artrosch · 01-28-2012, 12:14 PM

We have a Dometic/Sealand SD510 toilet. I've had the thing apart a couple of times when the bowl failed to hold water. Again, the same thing has occurred.
I had a spare seal set, barely used, in excellent condition. I thought installing it would solve our problem. It didn't. Toilet bowl still leaks water. Now I am very suspicious of the ball. My wife (bless her heart) has displayed a tendency to clean the accumulations of hard gunk on the ball with a razor blade. Scrape scrape. My next step is to order a replacement ball, but this being weekend, I have no tech support to phone. Does anyone know if the following link is the correct ball to order? Ball, Shaft and Cartridge Kit 318162 - Environmental Marine Services, Inc.

Our 510 is an ordinary gravity-drop commode going down to our black tank, nothing fancy. There aren't a lot of replacement balls from which to chose,
and this one looks like the correct item. I could learn more if I wanted to take the toilet apart again, but my back hurts, I'm tired and after the third attempt to "correct" the seal placement, etc, I'm not quite ready for another dis-assembly. Thanks.

slickest1 · 01-28-2012, 12:28 PM

I hear you, I went down to get parts for mine and they had whole new toilets on sale that day.$200 and no more problems.

wa8yxm · 01-28-2012, 04:50 PM

I just replaced the ball on my model 111, yes, you hvae to get the right ball for your model and there really is only one source, though some stores give a discount..

I need to replace the seal next.

On the 111, the ball kit included the following

New ball, New BRASS shaft (Original which broke was plsstic) new spring cartridge (The thing that goes on the outside end of the shaft) and all new screws.

To replace it you have to remove the toilet completly, That is not only the bowl from the pedistal but the pedistal from the flange and floor, turn pedistal upside down, remove a screw, Remove spring cartridge (You have already removed the valve I hope) tap end of shaft to shove it into the pedistal, remove it, remove ball replace w/new ball, position shaft, replace screw, replace spring cartridge and lever, replace screw (the one for the cartridge) replace pedistal on flange, apply flush valve and replace 2 more screws, Replace seals and bowl and finish assembly.

missourijan · 01-28-2012, 04:56 PM

Don't know how similar the 510 is to the 210 but after replacing the seal twice, the 210 still would not hold water for more than a week. We gave up on it.

Ernie Ekberg · 01-28-2012, 04:57 PM

Unless you take the commode out and put it on a table, outside, and then clean all the stuff around the ball, and the ball itself, it will leak. I had to take a scraper, some bleach and made sure there were no high spots on the ball and any area that comes in contact with the rubber seal. Crummy job, yup, but unless you have the bucks for a new commode, this bit of PM is worth it.

bldrbob · 01-28-2012, 06:56 PM

I didn't have to remove the entire toilet to change the ball.The toilet did develop a leak around the shaft that would fill the spring cartridge and cause sticking.After three floods from a sticking pedal I replaced the entire unit.

Bob and Inga · 01-29-2012, 05:55 AM

Have you tried the vinegar cleaning trick? I read about it on another forum, when ours stops holding water we pour some vinegar in it and let it sit. It make take several tries, but it cleans the ball enough to make a water tight seal.

Bob

artrosch · 01-29-2012, 11:25 AM

I'll start with the vinegar. God, the removal of the whole pedestal? To change the ball? S...t! I should think that removing the spring cartridge, unscrewing the brass shaft (while someone makes sure the ball doesn't drop into the black tank) would suffice. That is, assuming that the ball can fit through the hole. Ouch! This may be worse than I thought. To complicate matters, we have signs of rot at the base of the pedestal and may as well replace the floor! I don't know how I can afford that.
Thanks for you help. I'll keep you posted as to the vinegar purge.

artrosch · 01-30-2012, 11:32 AM

Found a good site with instructions. The ball can be removed without tearing down the pedestal. I think the vinegar is showing some progress.

rgvtexan · 01-30-2012, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by artrosch

Found a good site with instructions. The ball can be removed without tearing down the pedestal. I think the vinegar is showing some progress.

Would you please post the link to the site?

artrosch · 01-31-2012, 01:13 AM

I can't find the link! I've been going through my browser history and I've lost it.
I use Chrome and I wrote into the URL box something like "replace ball on Dometic/Sealand
SD510 RV toilet". I'll find it. There were two excellent instructions.

artrosch · 01-31-2012, 01:14 AM

BTW, the vinegar has apparently worked. We've had water tight bowl for the last
24 hrs after I applied vinegar about twenty times and let it sit until it leaked away.
Thanks!

chaunclm · 01-31-2012, 02:31 AM

Replace the Dometic with a Thetford. The Thetford has a much more robust ball seal than the Dometic. I am a big guy and I went through the Dometic seal about every 6 months, but with the Therford I have been using it for two years and it is working fine.

Aria Classic (w/ and w/o Water Saver)

Good luck,

kencon · 01-31-2012, 05:02 AM

I am not sure about the model numbers, but mine has a two part clamping ring that holds the top and bottom together. It also is where you take it apart to replace the ball or rubber seal. If you don't make the clamping rings two parts touch each other on the front side of the toilet, it will not hold water. Been there, done that.