Loo Trouble blade won't close
I have a feeling I have done this before - can anyone help. I thought I had closed the blade to empty but then realised I hadn't as it resisted. Now the blade only half opens - can anyone tell me how to return it to normal please. Caravan is 2018 so the usual Thetford cassette Toilet. I suspect it has to do with lining up the button.
Comments
-
Oh dear Pippah but fear not. We had exactly the same problem a few year ago. Ours happened late at night at a small site in the middle of Germany; Mrs C was not amused! What has probably happened is the the rartchet linking the lever to the blade on the top of the cassette has slipped and is not aligned properly. Just before you proceed spray the blade with silicone to ensure it is not something simple. Can you remove the cassette (I couldn't!!); if you can then skip the first part of the following. You need to get a long thin piece pf metal (I used the my steady tool the attaches to the drill); now open the cassette door and hopefully you have enough space at the top of the cassette to push the rod into. Use this to push and align the slot on the ratchet to the notch on the little wheel on the top of the cassette that operates the blade - it will be just right of centre and you should be able to see it. When aligned remove the cassette. Now get a small mirror and use it to look at the white ratchet mechanism on the top side. It is white and you will see that the segment from the lever is not catching on a wheel. Undo the little screw, Realign and check if ok. It sounds complex but is not. Good luck. If this does not work well I'm afraid you may need to speak to Thetford.
1 -
Pippah that's good news. You just need to get your small mirror and screwdriver out and check the white plastic 'mechanism'. The lever inside the caravan should move freely with the cassette out. Careful when reassembling to ensure the 'guides' are lined up, the one on the cassette should be length wise and the white one should match (this will mean something when you look at the mechanism!).
0 -
Thanks EmilysDad that was great I will know what I am doing on Saturday I think - I did wonder if he needed to separate the two bits or could have made it work just by loosening the screw to re-align it all? Isn't CT great - thank you guys!
0 -
No you don’t have to fully unscrew it. Before you remove the tank on the flap opening slider check which way is fully closed so you have a reference. Also buy a stubby philips screwdriver it makes the job a lot easier. Just unscrew until you can move the cog. Have the slot facing forward tighten ( not too much) and you should be okay. Don’t leave it too long otherwise you will get to the point where it is really difficult to extract the cassette.
0 -
Yes thank you - I got that message from YouTube but I am finding the screw very hard to loosen in the first place hence the WD40. I think I have found a better screwdriver now. One was too small - 2 were too long in the handle and so it went on! Then I dropped the business end of one and eventually found it 6 feet from where it fell under the caravan!
0 -
Phew - done it at last - thought it was all fixed but the blade remained closed - (why did I even start this job??) Came inside and watched the YouTube again and had got it right just needed to tighten the screw a bit more! If I hadn't watched the video again I was going to fix it the other way round and that wouldn't have worked either. Feel quite chuffed with myself - not bad for a female born in 1945 eh? Thank you Pa for all those DIY lessons
Thank you CT too!
1
