Head Help

[jamescio]

I just purchased a "new" used Ericson 30+ sailboat. Unfortunately there are no owner's manuals etc. I am having a problem with the head...In the flush position the wilcox crittenden marine head is not pumping water. It does remove the waste from the bowl; What am I doing wrong? What steps do I need to fix the problem.

Any assistance is appreciated.

[Boasun]

See if there is a rebuild or gasket kit for it. Usually instructions come with them. If not you may have to take it apart, remembering where each part came from and make your own gaskets.

One minor detail: Did you check to see if the correct valves are open?

[freddy4888]

check to make sure the the head intake seacock is open before doing anything else

[USCGRET1990]

If the valve is stuck and your in the water, don't force it too much or you could end up doing an emergency haulout!
Been there, done that, threw the damn T-shirt away... ;-)

[sailingdog]

trace the hose from the piston pump to the through hull... and make sure the valve for the through-hull is open.

If it is using a gate valve, the valve may be in the open position, but not actually open the gate.

If you want to check it, loosen the hose clamp at the through hull, and remove the hose, and put it in a bucket of water. Then, when you try pumping the head, it should draw water from the bucket. You might want to have a woodeln plug handy, just in case the through-hull is open, and it is the pump that is having the problem, rather than the through-hull valve.