Dropped bottle cap in toilet.

[golftrek]

Help, I accidentally dropped a small plastic water bottle cap in our Thetford (or Wilcox Crittenden) Headmate toilet. It has gone into the discharge pipe leading from the bottom of the bowl and I cannot reach it with my hand. How is the best way to get it out? Or can I just flush it down and pump it out when we do the next pump out?

Thanks!

Jo Ann
Banjo
2008 R 25

 

[Stella Maris]

I would not flush it as it will/could damage the macerator blades on the pump. Try making a small hook out of a coat hanger and see if you can move it out to where you can reach it.

If you can at least see it, you can go down to a auto parts store and buy a small tool that opens at the end to pick up small parts that you have dropped in out of the way places.

 

[golftrek]

I have tried the coat hanger and a plunger without any luck. There is a Drain Plug at the end of the Waste Arm coming from the toilet. If I could remove the Drain Plug I might be able to reach the bottle cap. Does anyone know what kind of tool is used to remove the Drain Plug? Something similar to the tool we use to move the outside transom cap for waste removal but that is slightly too big. Any ideas where to get a tool to remove the DrainPlug?

Thanks again.

Jo Ann
Banjo

 

[Stella Maris]

How about a small shop vac? You may be able "vacuum" it out.

 

[golftrek]

I will try the shop vac!

The tool I need to remove the drain plug is called a spanner but I have not been able to figure out the size.

I called the manufacturer but they were no help. I have also called the local dealer and left a message.

Jo Ann
Banjo

 

[golftrek]

Got the bottle cap out! As per your suggestion we used a wet vac. It was not enough to just vacuum out the toilet bowl. We had to remove the 3 screws on the back above the elbow and then use wet vac to vacuum the cap put of the valve. Thank you for your help. Jo Ann

 

[Gin]

Congratulations are in order! Plus, it resulted in a good tip for future mishaps for the rest of us.

 

[baz]

Well done. 🙂 I will keep this technique in mind for when this happens on our boat. 😉