Electric Head Problem....

dollarbill · Post by **dollarbill** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 4:11 pm

I have a Raritan Electric Head.... notice a few weeks ago that the pump started to lose steam and now finally nothing happens when you push ye olde head button...

So I am going to start with the least expensive and easiest first... it could be the button/switch... after all it is a 1978 Express 30...

I am going to buy a meter this weekend and test the power to the pump... how do I do that???

And... jumping ahead here... if it is the pump... my mechanic has said that runs about $150 to change out... THEN he also said... Go Green and get a manual head... for as little use as it gets you get a nice new throne for around the same money... just hook up the lines...

Although I am not real big on the handle type and would like to have the foot pump model... are their any for a marine application??

Thoughts. Ideas. Tell me I am stupid??

ready123 · Post by **ready123** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 4:16 pm

It could be the vacuum switch that has failed and it does not know it has not built up vacuum...

If you want to go really green go composting head and use no holding tank or water to flush.

captainmaniac · Post by **captainmaniac** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 5:17 pm

I don't think the Raritan original heads are vacu-flush... just pure electric. I had the switch go bad on mine a few years back (simple switch replacement), then had the motor jammed... too much toilet paper had been used and it had worked its way into the pump impeller and jammed it up solid. Had to remove the pump, clean it out, and reinstall. NOT a nice job...

And yes - you can probably swap it out for a brand new head for $150, but don't hold your breath about plumbing being 'plug and play'. The inlets/outlets are likely in different positions than on the existing head, and the hoses may be different diameters... Find out what you are getting into before you jump. $150 for the head is good, another 3 hours labour to get it plumbed and usable makes it less of a deal.

Tuck · Post by **Tuck** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 8:05 pm

i got's bad news for ya brother. it sounds exactly like what happened with me just a few weeks ago.

do you hear the solenoid click when you hit the switch? if you do, then there's a VERY good chance your actual unit (the head base...what the bowl sits on and houses the impellers) is deadskie. could be the impeller(s), but again, if it's like what happened with me, chances are the motor's finally assumed room temp.

i noticed my unit was getting a little louder than usual, and then started loosing power, so to speak. one day, all of a sudden, it just went kaput. i knew that's what it was 'cause i would hear the solenoid click when i hit the button, and the light would slightly dim...telling me the switch/wiring was good to go. called my experience boat guy in and sure enough, it was deadskie.

luckily for me, he happens to keep the EXACT part needed as a spare (he repairs a lot of high end, old boats that use this same part, and always keeps a spare.) unluckily for me, at HIS cost, it still set me back 600 george washingtons.

hope it's something else...

let us know.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 9:42 pm

sounds like it could be the motor ( there is no vacum on your head) , I Would never go back to a hand pump head , when you don't use then the seal dry up and leak , and they just don't work as well . in the long run I bet the elctic head will end up costing less at it will last longer

ready123 · Post by **ready123** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 10:09 pm

dollarbill wrote:Thoughts. Ideas. Tell me I am stupid??

I have just pulled my 1978 Vacuflush which was working fine and am replacing it with a composting head... all parts still available.
I have the bowl, vacuum tank and pump for sale... all that is needed are new hoses and a holding tank to have a working system.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 10:26 pm

He has a Raritan Electric Head not a vac head

ready123 · Post by **ready123** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 10:44 pm

I'm suggesting he buy my system

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 6:16 am

I maybe different but the thought of buying used head , after all you know where it has been LOL

ready123 · Post by **ready123** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 6:50 am

prowlersfish wrote:I maybe different but the thought of buying used head , after all you know where it has been LOL

How different to when visitors aboard use your brand new one?
Some people are always fooling themselves into a comfort zone

Tuck · Post by **Tuck** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 6:53 am

ready123 wrote:
prowlersfish wrote:I maybe different but the thought of buying used head , after all you know where it has been LOL
How different to when visitors aboard use your brand new one?
Some people are always fooling themselves into a comfort zone

what difference does it make?

i mean, really? as long as you clean it once a week, it's safe to mix drinks in and eat ceral out of when anchored out, regardless of who's used it, right?

am i wrong? should i not be eating out of my pooper?

g36 · Post by **g36** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 7:19 am

if you do have a crown head that the lower base unit is due for a rebuild you might consider another new head. they are about $600 for rebuild. i started looking around and did this when mine (a 1978 version) that i know had been rebuilt 3 times at least(from previous owners papers) went out i purchased this new raritan head. a raritan marine elegance got the household style bowl and is a much simpiliar design. works very well way better than the old own did. evacuates the bowl in a vortex just like at home. (its not a vaccum style) its the way the pump sucks the water out a new design from them. and its a brand new head for less than buying a rebuilt lba. installs easily just an option

http://www.defender.com/ProductDisplay?id=1448427

Tuck · Post by **Tuck** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 7:26 am

g36 wrote:if you do have a crown head that the lower base unit is due for a rebuild you might consider another new head. i did this when mine a 1978 orginal that i know had been rebuilt 3 times at least(from previous owners papers) went out i purchased this new raritan head. got the household style bowl and is a much simpiliar design. works very well and its a brand new head for less than buying a rebuilt lba.

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?pat ... id=1448427

yeah, but do you eat out of yours too?

am i the only one?

g36 · Post by **g36** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 7:29 am

tuck knowing you.......might be

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 11:58 am

ready123 wrote:
prowlersfish wrote:I maybe different but the thought of buying used head , after all you know where it has been LOL
How different to when visitors aboard use your brand new one?
Some people are always fooling themselves into a comfort zone

But you have been sitting on this one

Its just a bad job pulling out your old used head then but in a used one , makes the job twice as bad

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Electric Head Problem....

Electric Head Problem....

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