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Topic: Headhunter Toilet Weak Flush (Read 2955 times) previous topic - next topic
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Headhunter Toilet Weak Flush

Yahoo Message Number: 79937
Our Headhunter toilet works good when hooked up to city water, but the flush is so weak when unhooked and using the coach water pump that it's very unwise to use for dry camping.

I've been told that the problem is with the "Accumulator Tank" but I don't know how to confirm this. Any ideas or experience with this kind of " weak flush" problem?

Magna Haven #6239

Thanks,

Paul Thomas

Re: Headhunter Toilet Weak Flush

Reply #1
Yahoo Message Number: 79940
Hi Paul,

You might want to check the coach water pump to make sure it is producing enough pressure to "prime' the accumulator tank.
If the city pressure is priming the tank enough to produce a strong flush, then one would think .. the accumulator 'should be' ok.
It is my understanding that the flush is 'all' accumulator driven and not dependent on system pressure.

Just a thought.
Russ

05 Intrigue
11883

Re: Headhunter Toilet Weak Flush

Reply #2
Yahoo Message Number: 79941
The accumulator tank has a check valve that could be leaking allowing pressure that would normally be stored to backup into the rest of the system.
Our tank has a pressure guage in the line suppling flush water to the toilet. This guage should not show a pressure drop when water is used by fixtures other than the toilet. If the pressure shown on the guage drops then I would suspect a bad check valve.
Hopefully the tank on your coach also has a pressure guage.

Norm

2004 Intrigue 11773

Re: Headhunter Toilet Weak Flush

Reply #3
Yahoo Message Number: 79942
The Headhunter book has directions for setting the tank pressure. We had to adjust ours a couple of years ago. It requires an air source if you need to add air to the tank. Our problem is that the campground we are in only has 30 psi and we have to use the coach pump to charge the accumulator tank.

Regards,
Bob

'05 Intrigue 11872

Re: Headhunter Toilet Weak Flush

Reply #4
Yahoo Message Number: 79953
I do not have an accumulator tank on my Allure but I have several on my boat. You should check the set up instructions and the pressure setting of the pumps cut in and cut out. With this you look for a Schrader valve on the top of the accumulator tank and having switched the pump off and opened the faucets to eliminate any residual pressure in the lines, you check the pressure at the Schrader valve and this should be as per the tank suppliers instructions; so many psi different to cut in or cut out I cannot remember which but check the tank manual. Inside the tank is a bladder and air pressure outside this bladder creates a sustained pressure in the lines and reduces the problem you refer to.

Michael Slater

2008 Allure 470 31683

Re: Headhunter Toilet Weak Flush

Reply #5
Yahoo Message Number: 79965
Thanks to all for the helpful replies. The pressure gauge on the line at my accumulator tank apparently failed, the sight glass has water in it and the gauge stays at 15 psi regardless of whether being on city water or not. I suspect the pressure from our pump could be our problem. My hose bib pressure gauge reads about 30+ psi when connected to the water bay convenience faucet with water pressure coming from the coach water pump. Can someone tell me what the pressure should be for a good water pump (and a good flush)?

Thanks, Paul Thomas, '03 Magna #6239


Re: Headhunter Toilet Weak Flush

Reply #7
Yahoo Message Number: 79970
I had the same problem a couple years back. The toilet manufacturer said the air pressure in the tank should be set at 5 psi lower than the cut-in pressure of the water pump. Since that can vary, you need to determine the cut-in pressure for your installation.
Jim Biestek

'04 Intrigue 11783

Re: Headhunter Toilet Weak Flush

Reply #8
Yahoo Message Number: 79981
Assuming you have the Headhunter pump as well. It is a 3 stage pump. It should be 60 psi. If it is 40 one stage has failed. You can get pump parts from headhunter pretty reasonable.

Mikee

 

Re: Headhunter Toilet Weak Flush

Reply #9
Yahoo Message Number: 80127
I'm sitting at Oregon Motorcoach Center right now with the exact same problem. Had it before, that time it was a split PVC line going to the accumulator tank (which is what the RV/Marine people call it, in residential plumbing it's called an expansion tank). It's about a 3 gallon tank, in my 2003 Lexa it's right next to my electrical hose reel in the electrical bay on the driver's side.
Now I have a bad air bladder in the expansion tank, there's water on the wrong side (basically it a bladder inside, which is connected to the water supply, and pressurized air outside the bladder, which will supply pressure to the water inside the bladder). Trying to find a replacement which they don't (at least currently) have in stock.
The way to tell there's an accumulator tank problem is to look at the pressure gauge while flushing - it's high when the pump motor is running but then drops (in my case to ~10psi) after the pump stops, so the accumulator tank is not holding pressure.
Pressure (either city or pump) is required to pressurize the tank - ie. force the water into the bladder, pushing against the resistance from the internal pressure. If you don't have pressure to start with, you won't be able to 'accumulate' any. This can be seen easily with the pressure gauge attached to the fitting that the tank is connected to.

Jim

2003 Lexa