The C-Brats Forum Index
HomeForumsMy TopicsCalendarEvent SignupsMemberlistOur C-DorysThe Brat MapPhotos

Jabsco 18590 series macerator sewage pump issues
Goto page 1, 2  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    The C-Brats Forum Index -> Wastewater Systems
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
gulfcoast john



Joined: 14 Dec 2012
Posts: 989
City/Region: PENSACOLA
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2010
C-Dory Model: 255 Tomcat
Vessel Name: Cat O' Mine
Photos: CAT O' MINE
PostPosted: Thu Jun 09, 2016 8:23 pm    Post subject: Jabsco 18590 series macerator sewage pump issues Reply with quote

Hi Brats! A messy lesson for those few with a Jabsco 18590 series black water sewage macerator pump... there are some issues to be aware of which I'll post as a new thread to make future searching easier.
This pump is widely used in trailer boats (which usually have a freshwater sewage rinse system) and sailboats (where saltwater use causes smelly heads, crusting on pipes, corrosion within pumps etc). The pump housing is held together by 4 incredibly skinny bronze tapped rods which corrode in the corrosive environs of human waste and water (esp saltwater). It doesn't take much Net searching to find unhappy buyers who don't get a year before it shows The Initial Early Evidence of Impending Failure (namely, to fly apart spewing sewage all over everything in the compartment when turned on). The bronze rods corrode and break. If you have one, it will likely be mounted under the galley sink starboard side and be plumbed to to the gravity blackwater holding tank and only used when the diverter valve is set for overboard discharge when at least 3 miles out to sea. Jabsco recently changed out the bronze rods with acorn nuts to stainless steel rods with hex nuts, although there may be old models in the retail pipeline.
The macerator pump looks like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Jabsco-18590-2092-Marine-Run-Dry-Macerator/dp/B000O8F9BI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1465514204&sr=8-1&keywords=jabsco+macerator+pump+18590-0000
The old-style skinny bronze structural rods look like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Jabsco-Self-Priming-Sealed-Macerator-Service/dp/B0000AY7W8/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1465514204&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=jabsco+macerator+pump+18590-0000
The stainless retrofit structural rods look like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Jabsco-Older-18590-Macerator-Pumps/dp/B00UKC9Y5K/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1465514204&sr=8-4-fkmr0&keywords=jabsco+macerator+pump+18590-0000
All from Amazon for my conveinience, shop your own fav sites.
BEFORE ever turning on a vintage model not within the 12 month warranty (or even if it is), try turning the acorn nuts with your fingers...if they turn, that bronze rod has broken. I was lucky that only one of the 4 had broken, which allowed a drip leak we could smell but not a sewage slinging festival under the galley sink, where we keep kitchenware etc and you probably do to. I found that boaters more experienced than I advised rebuilding this unit every 1-2 years. For a pump whose job in life is to move sewage, you will very impressed, as I was, at the quality of the gaskets, which are made of very good quality...well, er, ahem...paper. For various reasons including incompatible above -water through hull size I can't replace this pump with a Whale unit. But I'm satisfied with the upgrade and replaced with a new unit (I'll rebuild the old one in the winter as the spare). We also had a minor leak at the diverter valve due to a slightly loose hose clamp when using a Hontoon houseboat pumpout massive pump made to empty 150-gal houseboat tanks. It was absolutely tight to a screwdriver and a Vise grip, but a 5/16 nut driver got another 1.5 turns on it and every other hose clamp down there. Lesson Learned.
I hope any Brats with this unit discovers a broken rod prior to TIEEOIF. It will save you a huge preventable mess.
And get the nut driver.
Happy Boating!
John

_________________
John and Eileen Highsmith
2010 Tom Cat 255, Cat O' Mine
Yamaha F150, LXF150
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
BTDT



Joined: 07 Jan 2011
Posts: 322
City/Region: Grand Lake Oklahoma
State or Province: OK
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 255 Tomcat
Vessel Name: C- Lark Wine Down
Photos: C-Lark
PostPosted: Fri Jun 10, 2016 8:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks and will do
_________________
John & Vicki Clark
C-Lark Wine Down
Tomcat 255
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
localboy



Joined: 30 Sep 2006
Posts: 4656
City/Region: Lake Stevens via Honolulu
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: 'Au Kai (Ocean Traveler)
Photos: 'AU KAI
PostPosted: Fri Jun 10, 2016 9:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Although we don't use ours a lot in The Sound, we have used it in Canada where the regs are...uh...less stringent. Getting an extra one on board has always been on the list. This just made me put it up higher in priority. Thanks for the "heads up" (pun intended).
_________________
"We can go over there...behind the 'little one'....."
Wife to her husband pointing @ us...from the bow of their 50-footer; Prideaux Haven 2013
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Pat Anderson



Joined: 02 Nov 2003
Posts: 8551
City/Region: Birch Bay, WA
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Daydream
Photos: Daydream and Crabby Lou
PostPosted: Fri Jun 10, 2016 11:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Score another point for the Airhead composting toilet!
_________________

DAYDREAM - CD25 Cruiser
CRABBY LOU - CD16 Angler (sold 2020)
Pat & Patty Anderson, C-Brat #62!
http://daydreamsloop.blogspot.com

Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Jake



Joined: 31 Jan 2012
Posts: 171

PostPosted: Fri Jun 10, 2016 1:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Question regarding the end of the OP. How tight is too tight for a hose clamp? I didn't know if screwdriver tight is max or okay to go a littler tighter with socket wrench or nut driver? Probably depends on type of hose/connection. How about the typical engine hose connection?

Jake
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
localboy



Joined: 30 Sep 2006
Posts: 4656
City/Region: Lake Stevens via Honolulu
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: 'Au Kai (Ocean Traveler)
Photos: 'AU KAI
PostPosted: Fri Jun 10, 2016 2:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A nut driver will tighten hose clamps tighter and more easily than a flat head screwdriver. We are not talking about a ratchet which will provide you extra torque. We are referring to a "screwdriver" handle with a nut driver head.

On most installs, you will not be able to over-tighten them; they will brake or the worm will jump out of the slots. However, I have seen some cheap clamps cut into cheap fuel lines due to poor quality controls which created sharp edges on the band. Lousy quality = you get what you pay for. I always double clamp by connections too.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
nimrod



Joined: 15 Jul 2008
Posts: 268
City/Region: Mount Vernon
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 1996
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: 'Berta's Boy
Photos: 'Berta's Boy
PostPosted: Sat Jun 11, 2016 1:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

checked the macerator on my tug.... Yup, one brass stud was broken. Glad I caught it, thanks for the heads up.

jd
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
localboy



Joined: 30 Sep 2006
Posts: 4656
City/Region: Lake Stevens via Honolulu
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: 'Au Kai (Ocean Traveler)
Photos: 'AU KAI
PostPosted: Sun Aug 28, 2016 7:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Since the cabinet was pretty empty for the Smart Gauge install, no time like the present to repair the macerator, right? Yeah, well getting it out was not as easy as it could be. See here: http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?set_albumName=album2553&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php

Now it's out and apart. No broken brass studs. But, I just ordered a rebuild kit. The paper gaskets were toast and the impeller was in need of replacement. Not the kind of job I wanna do again, but clorox and water does wonders. Iplan to mount it 1" higher this time.

Rolling Eyes
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
thataway



Joined: 02 Nov 2003
Posts: 20778
City/Region: Pensacola
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: thataway
Photos: Thataway
PostPosted: Sun Aug 28, 2016 11:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I suspect that the Jabsco macerator pumps are used for economic reasons or space issues.. An other option is the Dometic SeaLand diaphragm pump. These do not seem to have many of the issues, which the Jabsco do, but take up more room. This keeps the pump motor up out of water in the bilge.


Jabsco and Whale also make similar type of pumps, but may have some of the same issues as the inline Jabsco used on the stock boats where the mounting is dependent on the motor body.


_________________
Bob Austin
Thataway
Thataway (Ex Seaweed) 2007 25 C Dory May 2018 to Oct. 2021
Thisaway 2006 22' CDory November 2011 to May 2018
Caracal 18 140 Suzuki 2007 to present
Thataway TomCat 255 150 Suzukis June 2006 thru August 2011
C Pelican; 1992, 22 Cruiser, 2002 thru 2006
Frequent Sea; 2003 C D 25, 2007 thru 2009
KA6PKB
Home port: Pensacola FL
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Will-C



Joined: 21 Aug 2007
Posts: 2476
City/Region: Temple
State or Province: PA
C-Dory Year: 2008
C-Dory Model: 23 Venture
Vessel Name: Will-C
Photos: Will-C
PostPosted: Mon Aug 29, 2016 11:42 am    Post subject: Jabsco 18590 series macerator sewage pump issues Reply with quote

The best part about switching to a diaphragm type waste pump is that they can be run dry without doing any damage. In conventional impellor type pumps the impellor if run dry can be damaged pretty quickly.
D.D.

_________________
Chevrolet The Heart Beat Of America
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
BrentB



Joined: 15 Jul 2006
Posts: 4419
City/Region: Greenwood
State or Province: IN
Photos: BrentB
PostPosted: Mon Aug 29, 2016 11:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

porta potty for us

back on topic
Bad design and kudos for sharing and helping others

_________________
Brent Barrett
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
rogerbum



Joined: 21 Nov 2004
Posts: 5922
City/Region: Kenmore
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2008
C-Dory Model: 255 Tomcat
Vessel Name: Meant to be
Photos: SeaDNA
PostPosted: Mon Aug 29, 2016 1:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I had Jabsco macerator pumps on my fish boxes and bottom line - they sucked. I was replacing the pumps almost every year and of course they were in a difficult to access area (even after I had some additional access ports installed). I replaced them with Whale Gulper Grouper pumps and never looked back. The Whale pumps have run fine for 2+ years and I hope they will continue to run as well. I certainly would have replaced them each once if they were the Jabsco macerator pumps. They don't pump out as quickly as the old pumps but they do last longer and that's the experience of many on the net.
_________________
Roger on Meant to be
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message AIM Address
cmetzenberg



Joined: 04 Jan 2014
Posts: 367
City/Region: Santa Barbara
State or Province: CA
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 255 Tomcat
Vessel Name: Kanaloa
Photos: Kanaloa
PostPosted: Tue Mar 24, 2020 4:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well my Jabsco 18590-2092 made it about three years. This is the second of these sewage pumps i've had to pull. Right now it is tripping the breaker and I have no idea why. All the electric motor shops are closed cause of corona so i guess i have to replace it. I bought some POS off ebay that was supposed to be some cheap made in china replacement for this; cheap is right, it wont even pull a vacuum.
So what should I replace this with? thoughts?

_________________
Conrad Metzenberg

07' Tomcat 255 "Kanaloa"
87' Boston Whaler Guardian 17 (BlackFlag, 03-14)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
thataway



Joined: 02 Nov 2003
Posts: 20778
City/Region: Pensacola
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: thataway
Photos: Thataway
PostPosted: Tue Mar 24, 2020 6:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The shaft has a slotted end. There may be a rubber cap over it. If you can get aa screwdriver on the end, and give it a turn, often this will free up a stuck impeller.

I have a good motor, but several of the brass rods had corroded, so it is only the motor and impeller. If you want the motor, it is yours, along with the other parts. (It came off a SeaLand head, but should be the same motor--I bought the whole head assembly for my son at a Hontoon auction. I put a new motor and macerator on the unit I gave to him.)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
cmetzenberg



Joined: 04 Jan 2014
Posts: 367
City/Region: Santa Barbara
State or Province: CA
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 255 Tomcat
Vessel Name: Kanaloa
Photos: Kanaloa
PostPosted: Tue Mar 24, 2020 6:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

thataway wrote:
The shaft has a slotted end. There may be a rubber cap over it. If you can get aa screwdriver on the end, and give it a turn, often this will free up a stuck impeller.

I have a good motor, but several of the brass rods had corroded, so it is only the motor and impeller. If you want the motor, it is yours, along with the other parts. (It came off a SeaLand head, but should be the same motor--I bought the whole head assembly for my son at a Hontoon auction. I put a new motor and macerator on the unit I gave to him.)


Hi Bob,
I already pulled the pump Sad . The shaft spins fine. I re assembled it. Issue persists. Their is something wrong with that motor. That's most generous of you. How much do you want for it?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    The C-Brats Forum Index -> Wastewater Systems All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Goto page 1, 2  Next
Page 1 of 2

 
     Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum



Page generation time: 0.0995s (PHP: 84% - SQL: 16%) - SQL queries: 33 - GZIP disabled - Debug on