Oh crap... waste tank/pump out problems

[TorchRedStang]

I've had my '03 FV 270 for two months. Joker valve was bad and replaced the entire pump assembly the first week I had the boat. All has been working well and the head has limited use. We got on the boat the other day and the cabin smelled terrible. Looked at the head and dirty water had seaped back into the head. Wasn't sure exactly what the issue was and if maybe someone forgot to pump it out. Pumped the head out and ran some fresh water through it last night. Went back today and there was dirty water in the head again. Could a joker valve go out in two months?

I thought maybe the holding tank was full so I went to the pumpout station to pump it out. BIG problem... nothing will come out when I try to pump out. I removed the screw on cover and inserted the vacuum pump into the opening and it seems to be creating good suction but no fluid being sucked out. I opened the hatch and traced the hoses and found a macerator pump. There is no "Y" in the system anywhere. I tried to flip the switch for the macerator pump and it doesn't make any noise but the pump begins to smell like burning electronics.

I would greatly appreciate advice. I need to get the tank empty asap and don't know where to start.

[alswagg]

None of the boat produced had a Macerator only.  The optional system would have had a Y valve installed.  If a Dealer or someone else installed the Macerator only, this will not pass an inspection.  Go back and try to trace the output hose of the waste tank.  Lower hose, white in color 1.5" ID.  Locate the deck waste fitting, and back track the hose and connections.    Sorry to say, you are in for a messy job.   Al

[TorchRedStang]

The hose at the bottom of the tank goes straight into the macerator. It's about 6 inches away. The outlet on the mercerator goes straight up to the pump out fitting on the side of the boat. Is there any kind of valve on the fitting on the tank output? If I remove the hose will everthing in the tank leak out? Just trying to figure out if I can attach the hose for the "waste" pump out fitting directly to the holding tank and bypass the macerator pump. Judging by the unlabeled switch for the macerator pump this definately wasn't a factory setup.

What are the chances that my vent is completely clogged and causing this issue? To unclock it can I just spray some water down the vent line to try and clear it out?

[alswagg]

I dought the vent is clogged but rather the blockage is at the macerator pump.  You cannot suck past a macerator.  The bad news is you will have to remove the macerator to empty your tank.  This will be a messy job.  Even if you are just going to clear out the blockage on the pump, the waste tank hose will have to be removed.   Al

[Tony Walker]

I take it that this is not a standard plumbing hook up for a system that includes a macerator pump.

I like the title of your thread.

Tony
Salt Shaker 342

[TorchRedStang]

Update..  This weekend I went to the pumpout station again and tried opening the hand valve on the head which I read in some other posts helps with clogged vents. I had to cram the nozzle in there as hard as I could to create good suction and it started sucking some waste. After one token I have the tank down to about 1/8th full. Unfortunately I didn't have any other tokens so I couldn't empty it all the way. So... after I get it all the way empty should I just bypass the mercerator? Is there any kind of valve that needs to be installed in it's place? It appears that the hose goes out the bottom side of the waste tank, to the mercerator (which is broken anyways), and straight up to the pump out connection.