VacuFlush Generator in basement - comments after service
There are 2 of us fulltiming, so the vacuflush generator gets a lot of use. I find I need to service it every 12 to 15 months as preventive maint, with new bellows (piston), duckbills (1.5 inch, 4 each), and usually new gaskets.
If I don't service it, eventually, when it fails, it pumps raw sewage around the generator. That has occurred twice, once at 17 months from the last service, and once at 15 months from the last service (which happened this morning).
I keep a rebuild kit on hand at all times, so in case of a failure we are ready to fix it immediately. And as PM I will go to a 12 to 14 month cycle.
The S Series Vacuum Pump minor Rebuild Kit (clamp style) contains all the above listes parts, and the price has gone up everytime I do the rebuild. Aquastar distribution is now $197. In the past I always bought from Seacoast or Aquastar.
Ebay has some S Series Vacuum Pump minor Rebuild Kits for under $65. I have ordered one and will compare with the removed parts from my recent service to check the quality. If the quality is not there I will return it and order from Aquastar.
On todays rebuild I had a issue that never occurred before, so this is a notice to others of what to watch for.
In the pic atchd of the generator, the removed black pipe feeds from the generator to the black tank. To get clearance to remove and replace the generator it has to be moved somewhat, and it's easier if one person puts the generator back and another moves the pipe to clear.
My assistant today on the re-install into the basement moved the pipe to far up at first. We got the vac generator back in and hooked up. When we tested with a the first flush, water from the toilet flowed off the top of the black tank.
There are photos atchd of the grommet on top of the black tank that the black pipe fits into. (I lifted those photos from the forum when I did a search today).
Nothing other than friction holds the pipe in place in the grommet, which allows the wiggle room to manipulate the pipe a "little" to get the generator in and out of the basement.
The black pipe came out of the grommet during re-install. Removing the cover over the fresh water manifold gave a small amount of access to top of the black tank. Even with a flashlight there was no clear view, and very little room to reach in. It is hidden behind other pipes and compnents.
It took quite a while to get the pipe re-seated into the grommet. Finally I reached in enough to use a good amount of plumbers grease on the inside edge of the grommet, and the exterior of the pipe exit. Vigorously manipulating the pipe while reaching in to feel the grommet and pipe I finally got it back in.
Clearance from the pipe to the ceiling with the pipe out of the grommet was about 1/4" to 1/2 inch to wiggle it into the grommet. Once in it feels more like 4" or better.
So this is just a word of advice to be careful on moving the black pipe around getting the the vac generator in and out.
This weekend I am going to remove the cover over the fresh manifold once again, and insert a thick piece of soft foam on top of the black pipe to the ceiling, so it will be very unlikely to come all the way out again.
The pic of the pipe inside the grommet is not my coach. I can't even see in there. And the pic of the generator, the direction arrows on the white flexible tubing is not correct. The white tubing is the in from the toilet, and the black is the out to the black tank (I redid the direction arrows to correct it).
Topic: VacuFlush Generator in basement - comments after service (Read 176 times)
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