review of jabsco head

[sailboy21]

Originally Posted by saurav16

Does the raritan PHII have to be replaced every few years? Any other issues with it?

I replaced my boats Jabsco with the PHII at my wife's request. It is a good toilet but it is still on the cheap side. Mine has so far lasted 3 years, 1 of which was live aboard, and about 3000 miles of cruising. I haven't had to do any maintenance to it at all. My suspicion is it will die in the next 2-3 years. The little plastic parts are loosening up. I feel like something is going to break, but what the heck? $140 every 3 years or $270 every 6 years?
You could even spend $1000 and have a crapper that lasts the life of the boat, but I say there is something satisfactory in having a new shiny head.

[xort]

sau
you didn't say what your existing head is...

[saurav16]

My existing head is a cheapo jabsco that has to be at least 10 years old the previous owner never used it. The pump is really hard to move and water leakes out of the freshwater hose that supplies the pump.

[SteveInMD]

Maybe I'll give Jabsco another try with the new twist-n-lock system. It would be easiest if I could just switch out to the new style pump though. Has anyone seen the twist-n-lock pump to retrofit a head (which are only a year and half old)?

[sailortjk1]

Steve, Like I said in my first post here, the new Twist-n-locks are a direct retrofit for (I believe) all existing Jabsco's. I did ours last season.

[saurav16]

and the twist n lock solves the issue with the joker valve?

[ohaavik]

Absolutely. The Twist n Lock is simply referring to the pump which can be closed by twisting the handle. I have rebuilt my two heads and replaced pumps (just before the TnL came out...6 months ago) and it's not much of a deal. Though it can be a touch messy as many will agree.

You can get the retrofit kit, bang it in in a matter of 30 minutes and remember to cover the joker and valve under the pump in silicone grease. I don't think the TnL will protect the joker valve though - the risk to the joker is that it inverts in the pipe when the flow is not right and you then get the nasty stuff flowing back.

Being based in the tropics I have learned from older salts that the joker valve lasts longer if protected by silicone grease. Expensive, but apparently one should avoid petroleum products as it will, over time, harden the rubber.

I keep a couple spare joker valves onboard, just in case.

[floatsome]

They all need regular attention, it seems. I tear down and clean out the pump assembly every spring. In spite of that I find myself replacing the toilet every 3-4 years because something breaks, the parts kit is so expensive and people like a new-looking toilet. I got 2 extra years out of a Jabsco once when the pump housing cracked and leaked when I was rebolting it after clearning out a small toy. I sealed it with epoxy. Interesting comment about the silicone grease on the joker valve. I had been using vaseline.

[SteveInMD]

Originally Posted by sailortjk1

Steve, Like I said in my first post here, the new Twist-n-locks are a direct retrofit for (I believe) all existing Jabsco's. I did ours last season.

Great. I've not found an online store that seems to sell the replacement pump only. Can someone point me to one?

[sailortjk1]

Series 29 Manual Toilet Pump

Here ya go.