360SS Vacuuflush Access

[Alanna Mo Cree]

My vacuuflush has been cycling and then stayed on. Supposedly the duck bills were replaced about two years ago. I managed to get to the two on the inboard side of the pump, but the two between the pump assembly and the tank require the pump to be removed. This seems to require maintaining a one handed push up under the exhaust to get the screws off. I managed to get three of the four, but the fourth, besides being in a place that is impossible to see, is blocked by the pump motor. Anyone have any tricks?

I tried to go through the space by the generator, but I can't seem to get my body between the generator and the steps to get in that area. I've thought about trying to go through the vent where the blower ducts run, but that is on the side of the boat without a dock and seems too deep to reach that way anyway.

My suspicion is that the replaced duck bills were the two that are fairly easy to get to, and the others are going to be well overdue to be changed.

[bud37]

Fun heh.......
Handy tools are very bright light, mirror and long 1/4 drive extensions with universals for screw driver and socket attachments.

[pepmyster]

Funny you're talking about this. We are going to be in the same situation. There are traps in the floor behind the fridge. Try that to see. Please post your results. Where and what duck-bills did you get?

[Alanna Mo Cree]

Access behind the fridge is to the top of the fuel tank. I know because I was in there running an nmea backbone a few weeks ago. Not sure if it is original, but one of the access panels on mine was permanently affixed. I took out all the screws and still almost snapped the plywood trying to pry it out since I thought it was just swelled from heat/humidity. After finding out the radar mast was bolted and 5200'd or something, I don't trust any of the access items any more.

I ended up getting to it by the brute force method. Bright lights and mirror helped. Temporarily removing the blower ducts is a good idea too. Once I could get past those I could at least see what I was doing.

I replaced the duckbills with ones from Amazon. They were iFJF only because I could get those in one day vs. the Dometic ones that would take longer. We'll see how long they last.

[pepmyster]

Nice! Really not looking forward to that one. What size were the duck bills?

[Viper]

If both the inlet and outlet are on the sides of the pump, they should be 1.5" valves.

I hope the Amazon ones are good quality, I wouldn't want to do that twice in the same season!

[Alanna Mo Cree]

Agree on hoping they last.

There is a kit that includes the four 1.5" duckbills, bellows, and O rings for a little over $100 USD or as much as almost $200 depending on where you get it. If I had planned it ahead I would have gone that route. The trick is not getting it too early and forgetting where I put it when I need it