thetford toilet

Traficlady wrote:
………….  I have to close the lid to open the valve otherwise it can splash as the valve opens.

………….

Nora

Nora,

The problem is that the automatic vent valve is not opening.

Check out the Factsheets and you will find where I have stripped down the one on our Thetford Toilet to show everyone how it works.

You can see that the valve is very lightweight so it will fail to drop to the "Open| position if there is any obstruction or internal pressure.

I notice that you use the word "can" which usually means that sometimes it doesn't splash back.  There is a reason for this!   

When people empty the cassette the natural reaction is to rinse it out with cold water, swirl the cold water around inside, empty the cold water out and then PUT THE CAP BACK ON AND TIGHTEN IT UP!

The answer is DON'T tighten the cap at this stage!

What happens with the cap on and screwed up nice and tight is that the cold air inside the cassette warms up and creates a small amount of pressure inside the cassette.  The vent valve is already kept closed by the spring mechanism so when you replace the cassette in the toilet the catch that should open the vent valve operates to release the spring but the internal pressure keeps the vent valve closed.

It is operating as if the cassette is full and this means that the next time you open the main valve to drop something into the cassette the air in there has to go somewhere and because the vent is still closed it comes up and at you as a blow-back.

So:

o  After emptying and rinsing out the cassette DO NOT tighten the emptying cap.

o  "Shuggle" the cassette when you return it to the compartment to ensure that the vent valve drops to the "Open" position.

o  Only tighten up the emptying cap AFTER the cassette is back in place and the vent valve is open.

Hope this helps.  It's not nice getting your own back with a chemical toilet!     

Best regards,
  
Ian

PS

This is the Factsheet:

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

We seem to have lost the photographs but here are a couple to show how it operates:

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Dutto wrote:Nora,
The problem is that the automatic vent valve is not opening.
Check out the Factsheets and you will find where I have stripped down the one on our Thetford Toilet to show everyone how it works.

Ian, The toilet in Nora's van is not a Thetford, its a Fiamma - totally different to the Thetford.

Frank

boxerman wrote:

Dutto wrote:Nora,
The problem is that the automatic vent valve is not opening.
Check out the Factsheets and you will find where I have stripped down the one on our Thetford Toilet to show everyone how it works.

Ian, The toilet in Nora's van is not a Thetford, its a Fiamma - totally different to the Thetford.

Frank

Frank,

Surely it has a vent valve??   

If so it will operate in the same or a similar manner;    and if not then what a heap of ordure!!   

Best regards,
  
Ian

Just to add. i have lots of blue. We bought a large one years ago. Only use a little as we empty often.

Mike

I've got about 10 years supply of blue and pink, bought when Halfords sold it at half price and buy one get one free a couple of years ago.

I have a gallon of the blue stuff somewhere in the shed. It was given to me when the Hiflex lab closed (cheaper to give it to me than pay to have it officially disposed of). I don't use it, I switched to 'green' products shortly after aquiring it and never used any.

One wonders what a laboratory for testing high pressure hose was doing with toilet fluid? praps best not to dwell on that for too long   


Frank

Dutto wrote:

boxerman wrote:

Dutto wrote:Nora,
The problem is that the automatic vent valve is not opening.
Check out the Factsheets and you will find where I have stripped down the one on our Thetford Toilet to show everyone how it works.

Ian, The toilet in Nora's van is not a Thetford, its a Fiamma - totally different to the Thetford.

Frank

Frank,

Surely it has a vent valve??   

If so it will operate in the same or a similar manner;    and if not then what a heap of ordure!!   

Best regards,
  
Ian

I don't think it does. It's complete ...... well, what you said really! It doesn't have a gauge on it either so I have to guess when it needs emptying! I'm stuck with it but I think having a Fiamma toilet would put me off buying a van in future.

Nora

Traficlady wrote:

Dutto wrote:

boxerman wrote:

Dutto wrote:Nora,
The problem is that the automatic vent valve is not opening.
Check out the Factsheets and you will find where I have stripped down the one on our Thetford Toilet to show everyone how it works.

Ian, The toilet in Nora's van is not a Thetford, its a Fiamma - totally different to the Thetford.

Frank

Frank,

Surely it has a vent valve??   

If so it will operate in the same or a similar manner;    and if not then what a heap of ordure!!   

Best regards,
  
Ian

I don't think it does. It's complete ...... well, what you said really! It doesn't have a gauge on it either so I have to guess when it needs emptying! I'm stuck with it but I think having a Fiamma toilet would put me off buying a van in future.

Nora

Checked on t'Internet and can only find what I would class as "Porta-Potti" designs for Fiamma; and they don't have vents anyway.     

I thought it would be a cassette style toilet.  If it is, it was probably designed by a woman!       

Best regards,
  
Ian

It is a cassette toilet but quite different to a Thetford. The blade opens by pulling a handle on the front.

Nora

Traficlady wrote:It is a cassette toilet but quite different to a Thetford. The blade opens by pulling a handle on the front.

Nora

Nora,

The title of this Thread is "Thetford Toilet".       

I refer you to my previous Post.      

Best regards,
  
Ian

Post deleted (by me)

Nora

Traficlady wrote:Post deleted (by me)

Nora

Well done!     

Did hubby help you?     

Best regards,
  
Ian

Do you have a problem with my posts? I wish my husband had been able to help me but as he died 6 years ago I'm afraid I had to do it all on my own.

Nora

Nora,

I have no problems with anyone's posts; we are all different.

My comment was meant to be (and still is) what is called "a joke".

I am obviously no more aware of your personal circumstances as I am of the personal circumstances of most of the other people on this Forum; but that doesn't preclude anyone from making light of people's Posts.

Check out my own query on Hearing Aids as an example; and in that case the people were well informed that I am going deaf!!

I am sorry for your loss and I apologise if I caused offence; it wasn't intended.

Best regards,
  
Ian

My experiences with Toilet chemicals.

Nineteen years of using either Thetford Blue or Elsan - neat - in a Thetford C2 loo of the early variant with the 'just across' blade, rather than the 'across and up' blade.

No problems other than changing the vent valve and press to dump valve once, and the main seal approximately three times and now, as on previous postings, upgraded to a new tank with the 'across and up' blade provided in a Thetford Freshen-Up kit.

Always used the minimum quantity necessary, less in cool/more in warm weather.

Have tried 'green' Thetford but just doesn't perform as well as trad blue in hot weather.

Have a German fried who swears by the use of 'Schmierseife' or liquid 'soft soap'. Very cheap from the discount household stores in Germany such as Schlecker. Might work in cold climes, but it's never worked for us in a warm to hot European summer.

Both functions always carried out with the blade open. Makes your eyes smart with the formaldehyde fumes when fresh, but I can live with that for the sake of economy between dumps. Never had any stinging splashbacks!

Bartfarst

Hi,

We have a Symbol with a Thetford cassette toilet.

When I go to empty the cassette I notice that there is an amount of blue flush chemical on top of the cassette as though the slide valve In the base of the toilet bowl is leaking.

I wonder if anyone else has experienced this problem and how they sorted it.

I have emailed Thetford a couple of times but they appear most unhelpful.

Dave.

Yes Thetford are useless. They don't answer the phone either.

daveH wrote:Hi,

We have a Symbol with a Thetford cassette toilet.

When I go to empty the cassette I notice that there is an amount of blue flush chemical on top of the cassette as though the slide valve In the base of the toilet bowl is leaking.

I wonder if anyone else has experienced this problem and how they sorted it.

I have emailed Thetford a couple of times but they appear most unhelpful.

Dave.

Hi there,

The slide valve isn't in the bowl; it actually sits in the cassette.

The seal is revealed when you push the cassette home and it has to seal both ways;

o  Upwards to prevent the cassette liquids from splashing up and out when the blade is closed.

o  Downwards to hold liquid in the bowl until it is dropped into the cassette.

I suggest that, with the blade closed, you put about 2cm of "El Cheapo" olive oil into the bowl and let it sit there overnight; then let it drop through to the cassette and slop around in there as you drive around.  (The oil will float on the top.)

If that doesn't do the trick you probably need a new seal.

Hope this helps.   

Best regards,
 

I always do a quick open and close of the valve before removing the cassette for emptying, since otherwise there is often some residue from the last flush which would have run down from the sides of the bowl after the valve was closed.  

However this would be either clear or pink, depending whether you use the pink flush fluid or not, rather than blue.  Unless you're putting blue in the flush tank . . . ?

Thanks guys for your helpful replies, I'll try Dutto's advice on putting olive oil into the pan and let it sit there overnight - this could form part of an annual service schedule?

Thanks

Dave

Thanks Roger,

I think my mistake was not opening and closing the valve before removing the cassette, there's always a little water left in the bowl - I thought the valve was attached to the bowl and would hold back the water  but I was wrong, thanks for your help.

Dave

daveH wrote:Thanks Roger,

I think my mistake was not opening and closing the valve before removing the cassette, there's always a little water left in the bowl - I thought the valve was attached to the bowl and would hold back the water  but I was wrong, thanks for your help.

Dave

Dave,

We've all been there; even after someone has reassured us that the bowl is empty!     

BTW the blue stuff shouldn't be used in the flush tank!     

Best regards,
  
Ian

One other tip that I have found from experience.  When you winterise or if you have a gap of more than a week or two between trips LEAVE THE BLADE OPEN. If you leave it closed then it csn be quite difficult to open again.

Thanks for lots of useful info guys - last question- why should I not use blue stuff in the flush tank?

Thanks

Dave

Hi there is no law against it. But its strong and you only need a small amount say 50ml for a full tank of effluent.
Keep swilling with it will give a coating in your toilet pan.Not to be recommended.
Just use water and if necessary a rinse aid/deoderiser.

regards

Mike