The blade on my cassette toilet is very difficult to open and close. I realise it has to be a good seal but I am really having to virtually force it open. I have used olive oil as recommended and even WD40 but it gets very stiff soon afterwards. I feel something's going to break soon on the mechanics.. is it adjustable in any way?
Cassette toilet
- Thread starter RonD
- Start date
WD 40 turns to a powery deposit in a recess a turning part rotates in. Ir does frre up moving parts but can end up sticking parts together and making them stiff if left in situe to dry out.
Make sure the cassete is well cleaned inside. We always used Vaselie on the rubber seals of diving torchesand it kep them free and waterproof. I've used it on the cassette machanism on an old caravan and it worked a treat and did no harm to the seal.
Don't forget that it can be difficult to move due to pressure biuild up in the cassette.
Make sure the cassete is well cleaned inside. We always used Vaselie on the rubber seals of diving torchesand it kep them free and waterproof. I've used it on the cassette machanism on an old caravan and it worked a treat and did no harm to the seal.
Don't forget that it can be difficult to move due to pressure biuild up in the cassette.
Damian
Moderator
Ron, if the blade is really hard to operate, do not use the opening mechanism on the toilet as it is a simple fork arrangement which fits over the main mechanism and will break if too much force is applied.
Take the cassette out and locate the round mechanism with the raised centre bar, use pliers if necessary to operate this to open the blade.
Apply a liberal spray of silicone lubricant to the operating meachanism and operate the blade several times.
If this does not solve the problem, you will need to replace the mechanism, parts are available from Thetford for this.
Take the cassette out and locate the round mechanism with the raised centre bar, use pliers if necessary to operate this to open the blade.
Apply a liberal spray of silicone lubricant to the operating meachanism and operate the blade several times.
If this does not solve the problem, you will need to replace the mechanism, parts are available from Thetford for this.
Thanks everyone for the info...Won't bother with WD40 anymore! Damian, I went up to the van the other day and had to open it as you say by removing it I although didn't need pliers. I usually leave it half open in storage. I'll see how a good clean & Vaseline copes in future. What parts to I ask for?
Damian
Moderator
Hello Ron,
You need to determine which model tank you have, the number is usually stamped on the bottom of the tank.
Th eparts you need are
1. Blade
2 Blade Opener
3 Blade Arm
You are going to have to take the lipseal out to have room to work inside the tank, so a new one of those is advisable too.
You can order the parts on line at : http://www.waudbys.co.uk/products/cassette_c2.html
BTW, do wear a pair of latex gloves when doing the job!!
You need to determine which model tank you have, the number is usually stamped on the bottom of the tank.
Th eparts you need are
1. Blade
2 Blade Opener
3 Blade Arm
You are going to have to take the lipseal out to have room to work inside the tank, so a new one of those is advisable too.
You can order the parts on line at : http://www.waudbys.co.uk/products/cassette_c2.html
BTW, do wear a pair of latex gloves when doing the job!!
Since we are on the subject of cassette toilets, i just wondered if anyone had the answer to this;
We have just bought a newer caravan, and it is our first one with a cassette toilet. We have been assured that the toilet works, but when we looked at the toilet, the gauge is showing full, although the actual cassette outside isn't full. Is there a way of resetting the gauge so that it can show green again?
Thanks
We have just bought a newer caravan, and it is our first one with a cassette toilet. We have been assured that the toilet works, but when we looked at the toilet, the gauge is showing full, although the actual cassette outside isn't full. Is there a way of resetting the gauge so that it can show green again?
Thanks
Karen
The best way of gauging how much *****is in the holding tank is to open the flap and have a look.
Damian
Moderator
Karen, what model of toilet is it? Is it a bench type or swivel type and what kind of gauge does it have?
Once this is known, a remedy can be given.
Once this is known, a remedy can be given.
Hi Damien,
Its a thetford cassette toilet, and its a bench type, if thats any help.
Cheers
Karen
Its a thetford cassette toilet, and its a bench type, if thats any help.
Cheers
Karen
Hi Karen, sorry I think their is a way to reset gauge, but I don't know how. Sorry once again. Liz
Damian
Moderator
Karen, the level indicator is on the front of the toilet, covered by cowling, leaving just the red/green indicator window clear.
On the underside of the cowling are 7 screws, undo these and remove the indicator and check it is free to move, if not, it needs a new one, if it can be moved, a spray with silicone spray will help it. If it is replaceable, replace it , if not renew it.
The part number is 16171-62 and is called " C2, C3, C4 Level Indicator"
On the underside of the cowling are 7 screws, undo these and remove the indicator and check it is free to move, if not, it needs a new one, if it can be moved, a spray with silicone spray will help it. If it is replaceable, replace it , if not renew it.
The part number is 16171-62 and is called " C2, C3, C4 Level Indicator"
Damian
Moderator
Having just re read the service manual, and looking at the diagrams, I think there may be an error in the manual, and should read 2 screws, not 7 as printed.
Thanks Damian,
I will get my husband to check this out. Will let you know if its done the trick!
I will get my husband to check this out. Will let you know if its done the trick!
Hi
Its me again, have sorted the gauge out but!.....the toilet will not flush, have tried everything we can think of,any ideas anyone?please
Karen
Its me again, have sorted the gauge out but!.....the toilet will not flush, have tried everything we can think of,any ideas anyone?please
Karen
Taking it that you have filled the unit from the outside with water and toilet fluid used for flushing the toilet you should here the pump when you press the flush and the handle has to be turned manualy to empty the bowl.
Unless you have the vans 12volt electrics on the pump will not work to flush it. So check the electrics.
Unless you have the vans 12volt electrics on the pump will not work to flush it. So check the electrics.
Just a note from your friendly resident petroleum chemist:
Don't use petroleum hydrocarbons (WD40, liquid paraffin, or vaseline) - these cause natural and synthetic rubbers to swell - and if the seal wasn't tight to begin with, it will be once you've given it a good spray with WD40 or a smear of vaseline.
The correct lubricant for natural and synthetic rubber is a silicone oil, or a close second being a vegetable oil like olive oil.
If you have used a petroleum product on a rubber seal - then be prepare to replace the seal.
Robert
Don't use petroleum hydrocarbons (WD40, liquid paraffin, or vaseline) - these cause natural and synthetic rubbers to swell - and if the seal wasn't tight to begin with, it will be once you've given it a good spray with WD40 or a smear of vaseline.
The correct lubricant for natural and synthetic rubber is a silicone oil, or a close second being a vegetable oil like olive oil.
If you have used a petroleum product on a rubber seal - then be prepare to replace the seal.
Robert
I've used vaseline on the cassette toilets for years and never had a problem withe the seals as and they work a lot better than silcons that are useless around wet equipment and better than Olive oil that just washes away as well.
I've no idea what the seals are mad of but vaseline has been the most effective, may be it's not rubber!
Hi
have done all that, changed fuses yesterday as well, but cant even hear pump working.If battery charged should do it i guess so stumped now really!!
thanks
Karen
have done all that, changed fuses yesterday as well, but cant even hear pump working.If battery charged should do it i guess so stumped now really!!
thanks
Karen
Hi Karen, We have the same problem as you, hubby checked fuses, we have fully charged battery, hubby fitted a new pump, it worked for 1 day, then it's stopped working again, we cannot hear the pump working, so we are stumped as well, so I will keep looking on this post to see if somebody can help us. Liz
Hi Karen just posted our toilet problems under Chit Chat to see if anybody out their can help us. Liz
Hi Liz, There could be several problems with your toilet pump, firstly you say your husband changed the pump, worked for a day then stopped? have you checked the fuse again? if it's blown the chances are water has got into the electrics (not sealed properly), there are two switches that need checking, one sits in the blade receiver the other under the pump switch rod,if these are o.k. then there is an electrical connection between the body of the toilet and the rear wall witch can corrode and cause problems, failing all of that some caravan models have an additional fuse in the wiring loom usually behind the power supply unit.see the Thetford web site for a schematic drawing to identify parts.
Thanks Metz, I have copied and pasted what you have said, because our van is not here, its in somerset we hope to go to van in a few weeks time, so I will take your instructions with me, hubby did check the fuse again, but it still did not work,so we just gave up with it, but now we will try what you suggested. I hope Karen has made a note of this as well. Thankyou again, Liz
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