Thetford C224CW pump replacement

netcam

Help please! We are away on day 3 of a 20 day trip, currently at River Breamish club site (in the pouring rain) Our manual toilet flush has stopped flushing. It is C224CW, we can see that we can order one like this, take it out and replace it:

https://www.leisureshopdirect.com/water/caravan-toilet/thetford-cassette-toilets/thetford-c220-cassette-toilets-spare-parts/thetford-sc224cw-pump

However, all of the videos online we can find for replacing the 200 series manual flush pumps show screws that need removing. Ours does not have any screws to remove so we are unsure about how to get the old one out.

Also, do you think the club site would mind us having a new pump delivered here? I have had a look and it seems like the best way we could get hold of one is by ordering it on a 24 hour delivery service.

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

 

 

Tinwheeler

My thoughts are that it might be easier to wait until you get home to repair it as the pump might just be seized up. Meanwhile, you can flush the toilet by pouring water down it from an old milk bottle or similar. It’s not a big deal.

You need to speak to the warden re delivery to the site.

Cornersteady

As TW said, happened to us while away and just use a jug or something. It was easily fixed by the dealer and was a seized pump.

The wardens might have details or a mobile caravan engineer if you can't wait? They usually do, or they'll be a leaflet in the information room? And they should let the engineer on site, again they usually do.

netcam

We have asked the site staff and they are happy for us to have it sent here.

But, does anyone know how you can remove the flush/pump part? There's no screws or anything obvious. Don't want to start trying to pry it off with a screwdriver and break it!

Tinwheeler

Nope, sorry, I’m not familiar with that toilet. Have you considered the option I stated?

Cornersteady

If you really want to do it yourself have you tried a Google or YouTube search?

netcam

Thanks, we are doing that at the moment. But really we'd like to learn how these things come apart so we can fix them if necessary.

netcam

We have done lots of googling and can only find videos with the older model which has screws that ours doesn't seem to have. Even the Thetford site has a video with an older model. We've attached a diagram to this post. It looks from videos like it should just come out of the top, you disconnect the water hose, reconnect a new one to the water hose and put the new one in. But we can't see how to get it out as there are no screws. I might try calling Thetford tomorrow. It looks like a simple DIY job if we could work out how to get the old one out.

Cornersteady

Sorry I can't help more, the wardens might. 

If it's any help on ours, which is electric, you get to the pump by pulling off the spongy plastic control panel.

SteveL

Perhaps the circular bit rotates to lock into place. A pair of rubber gloves should provide enough grip to apply gentle pressure.

netcam

We have looked a bit more closely at a picture of it and it does look like it should just come out:

https://caratechcaravanparts.com/products/thetford-manual-toilet-pump-sc224cw-200980?variant=39460480155718&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&utm_campaign=gs-2020-05-16&utm_source=google&utm_medium=smart_campaign&gclid=Cj0KCQjwiIOmBhDjARIsAP6YhSX2UADGvSQJc7d4dz7pXArVFMTSaOVxkOUgomQqmH_lQvdlUtyP0yoaAvMUEALw_wcB

Probably using something like a screwdriver to wedge it out and being careful not to damage the container around it. I can't see any other way of getting it out, even for a service engineer. We are going to try descaling the tank with Puriclean first, A Thetford video suggests scale can stop it working properly. We have also emailed Three Shires Leisure who service it for us and are very helpful and might be able to advise. Think we will order one to be delivered to the River Breamish caravan club site tomorrow. If we need it great, if we get it out and can repair it, we have a spare for when the inevitable happens and it breaks!
 

SteveL

I would have thought those three sticking out lugs (probably a fourth on the back) might engage into slots / grooves and some rotation will be required for removal. Perhaps worth a try before trying to wedge it out.

Cornersteady

I think you are right, we have a similar manual pump sprayer and the handle has to be locked in place before it can be unscrewed, well a small twist. I know it's not the same but the principle might. 

netcam

Thanks so much for all of your advice. Cornersteady and SteveL, you were quite right. We ordered one from Leisureshopdirect and also emailed them for advice. We received this response:

To remove the pump , it will need to be pulled up as if to flush then turned anticlockwise and it should unscrew and just lift out .

Hope this helps anyone else if they search for a solution to this in the future. We will let you know how we get on when it arrives.

 

netcam

Update - we fixed it.

First we cleaned the tank with Puriclean as advised on the Thetford website in case there was scale preventing it was from working (and it looked like there was some black gunk in there from the filler outside). Then we emptied the tank fully.

Then we went inside and followed instructions given for removal. It was so simple, pulled up flush handle then turned flush handle gently but firmly about 1/4 turn anticlockwise. This unlocked it and we could pull it out.

All that was wrong was that the plunger bit and come out of the pump, probably from over vigorous pumping by us. We managed to push the plunger bit back in by lining it up and clicking it into place, it was quite stiff and needed one of us to hold it and one to push. Then we put the flush/pump back in, making sure it was lined up so we could turn the flush handle clockwise 1/4 turn so it finished in the right place.

Really hope this can help others with the same issues.

The replacement we ordered for supposed next day delivery was delayed so we have cancelled the order. We are so glad we researched this ourselves and now know how it all comes apart and we can fix or replace it if there are future issues. It certainly was not a job we would have needed to pay anyone to do and we would much rather fix minor issues ourselves if we can.

Thankfully Three Shires Leisure are now doing our servicing and did a brilliant job of a warranty repair on our water tank, resealing it and adding a drain tap like motorhomes have, which is working really well for us. They also added a switch for the taps so we can open them and disconnect them from battery for storage. So we will rely on them for anything we can't do ourselves.

Tinwheeler

Well done!

Incidentally, using pink flushing fluid can be a cause of black gunge.

netcam

Thanks. We have actually been using Elsan green with a bit in the flush tank. We read the same and having cleaned the tank have decided to just use water now. We'll also give the tank a clean with puriclean when we store it like we do with our fresh water tank.