macerator failure

[DennisZ]

When I rebuilt mine, besides the expected hair in the blades, I had a cloth wipe of some sort also wrapped up in the blades and it actually formed a cone up into the inlet of the pump. When I finally got that removed and down to the impeller, virtually nothing was left of the impeller except the hub, and it was still working! I used it for the first time since the rebuild last week, it's about 3 times faster.

Dennis

[Up N Flames]

Where is the best place to buy the 70475 Impeller?

[ShapeShifter]

Originally Posted by Steve N Sal

One thing I learned usisng a macerator. Use a WHOLE LOT MORE water when using the toilet then you're accustomed too. That should alleviate any further blockage problems.

Yes, extra water helps.

Last month, we spent a week dry camping. In an effort to save water, and maximize holding tank capacity, we were stingy with the water when flushing. When we finally made it to a campground with hookups, I went to dump. The pump ran for about 30 seconds, and then clogged up. Not relishing the idea of disassembling the pump while it was full of black water chunks, I tried another idea.

I stopped at a home center, and got a garden hose adapter that has two female couplings on it, designed to to connect two male garden hose ends together. I used it to hook my tank flushing hose to the outlet of the SaniCon, and back-flushed the pump. My first attempt didn't work, it pumped for about 10 seconds then clogged again.

On the second attempt, I took off the access panel so I could pinch the grey water bypass hose closed, forcing all of the back-flush through the impeller portion. I let the water run for several minutes until I could see clear water backing up through the clear coupling on the dump valve.

That did it. The clog was cleared, and the tank fully drained. (I should say that before I back-flushed the pump, I did use the tank rinser to put a lot more water in the black tank.

Sometimes you do need to open up the pump to clear out a mess like the one show on the Dane's picture. But this tip might help out those with a less severe clog, and it can definitely help out those who really do need to open up their pump but want to minimize the amount of black stuff in the pump when they do so.

[RonaldNC]

Do you have a picture of the "garden hose adapter that has two female couplings on it"? My macerator just clogged up and I'm dreading taking it apart.

Ron

[ShapeShifter]

Originally Posted by RonaldNC

Do you have a picture of the "garden hose adapter that has two female couplings on it"?

Here you go:


Here's a product page for it: No. GH2 Zinc Female Hose to Female Hose Swivels, Garden Hose Fittings, Brass & Tubular - Watts

I found it at Home Depot, back in the plumbing section where all of the various brass adapters are hanging in little plastic bags. It wasn't with the garden hose accessories. Just about any home center or hardware store that has a good plumbing fitting section is likely to have it.

You could do the same thing with a 3/4" pipe coupling for quite a bit less. But if you go that route, you have to thread the coupling onto the end of the macerator hose, then keep twisting the whole garden hose onto the fitting. Plus you are relying simply on the threads to make a seal, there isn't a rubber washer inside.

While this fitting costs a bit more, both female thread sections spin around the main body of the fitting. So the macerator and garden hoses can stay steady while you just spin the nut on the fitting. Plus it has hose washers for no drips.

You could also make your own by cutting off the female end of a garden hose, and fitting the cut end with another female repair fitting. You'd end up with a short piece of hose with two female ends.

I think the fitting was more than $5 but less than $10. Kind of expensive for a special purpose fitting, but it sure made easy work out of a potentially unpleasent job.

Good luck with your clog!

[Barlow46]

Originally Posted by ShapeShifter

Here you go:


Here's a product page for it: No. GH2 Zinc Female Hose to Female Hose Swivels, Garden Hose Fittings, Brass & Tubular - Watts

I found it at Home Depot, back in the plumbing section where all of the various brass adapters are hanging in little plastic bags. It wasn't with the garden hose accessories. Just about any home center or hardware store that has a good plumbing fitting section is likely to have it.

You could do the same thing with a 3/4" pipe coupling for quite a bit less. But if you go that route, you have to thread the coupling onto the end of the macerator hose, then keep twisting the whole garden hose onto the fitting. Plus you are relying simply on the threads to make a seal, there isn't a rubber washer inside.

While this fitting costs a bit more, both female thread sections spin around the main body of the fitting. So the macerator and garden hoses can stay steady while you just spin the nut on the fitting. Plus it has hose washers for no drips.

You could also make your own by cutting off the female end of a garden hose, and fitting the cut end with another female repair fitting. You'd end up with a short piece of hose with two female ends.

I think the fitting was more than $5 but less than $10. Kind of expensive for a special purpose fitting, but it sure made easy work out of a potentially unpleasent job.

Good luck with your clog!

How about an old washing machine cold/hot water hose? Too Long?

[deSanford]

That is also a good idea Barlow46. Now you can connect it right onto the water faucet. Of course make sure it has the anti siphon adapter on it, and you mark which side you always connect to the macerator drain hose. deSanford

[ShapeShifter]

Originally Posted by Barlow46

How about an old washing machine cold/hot water hose? Too Long?

If you have one sitting around, that would work well!

One advantage to a small coupling like that, is that I could easily toss it in the corner of the wet bay, and always have it ready at a moment's notice.

A longer hose, like from a washing machine, would take up more room and get tangled with my tank flush hose.

[Bumper]

What is this macerator you all are talking about??

[ShapeShifter]

Originally Posted by Bumper

What is this macerator you all are talking about??

Sani-Con System

A sewage pump that attaches to the dump valve, grinds up any solids, and pumps it through a small lightweight discharge hose. It comes with a collapsible hose that extends to about 20 feet, and has garden hose threads on it so you can use a standard hose to extend the distance. It's able to pump a couple hundred feet, and even can pump uphill. Makes it easy to dump tanks under less than ideal conditions. And if it's left in place, it makes dumping a very clean experience where you hands and the surrounding area doesn't even get wet, let alone dirty.

The box mount version is available as a factory option on several models built by Monaco.

[Bumper]

Thanks SS, I appreciate it!

[wa8yxm]

On mine the top blade faces up.. I do not think it matters so long as it's not slicing another part of the unit up.

[RonaldNC]

Thanks!

Ron