Macerator pump...

[Levitation]

Well, went to empty the 3 inches of water and RV antifreeze in the holding tank as part of this winter's preparation.. No discharge and breaker trips in approx 2 seconds - arrrrgh....
We have never used the head... The fluid is in there from the previous owner... I don't see any solids through the tank wall so I don't suspect the pump is cemented up... Therefore it likely has a corroded shaft or the seal failed and the rotor is rusted to the stator... Which means I have to make a mess unhooking hoses, and getting it out... double arrrgh...

Ya, ya, I know... I'm a big boy, so stop whining... While I love the boat, the water system has been a nightmare from day one... Bad fresh water pressure pump switch/ clogged faucets /plugged line to the shower head - and now this...

 

[captain's cat]

Dr. D... If it's like most macerator pumps, there's an allen wrench fitting that will let you rotate the pump manually. If it's just frozen up a little, that might free it enough to get it running. JMHO.

Charlie

 

[RProffer]

Have you tried switching the Y-valve?

 

[Levitation]

Yes... before the first attempt.. It appears clear to me that the valve has a lock put position, and I expect that position to be the one to prevent discharge overboard and the other position to be the opposite - but we did try it both ways...

I made the decision to bring the boat back up to the shop and put it in as I had spent a long cold afternoon pressure washing, etc... I will have to wait until I get time to tackle the pump again- which requires moving the boat back out of the shop and out into the South 40 pasture so that nature can take care of the discharge as it does for our chickens, and turkeys, and deer, etc... Hopefully I can get to it before snow fly...

 

[RProffer]

A little hint. On my R21, the drain for the macerator is at the same height as the guide rail on my trailer. You might want to remove the guide rail before running the macerator pump, or else things could get pretty messy.

 

[commander bill]

The discharge on a R25 is not a problem on my trailer and I usually drain and pump out the holding tank a couple of times at end of each season on my pasture also. I then add AF. No chickens just cows and visiting deer.

Since you properly discribe the Y valve it sounds like you may have the same problem you discribed. My waste system has always worked correctly but I have always been parinoid of having to take apart a partially filled system. I have used plenty of flush water, periodically added small amount of liquid soap to toliet, and flushed & cleaned tank at end of season.

However, my fresh water systems has never worked well. Many leaks & pump chatters while turned on with no pressure demand.