Blade on toilet cassette stuck closed

I was giving my loo a really good clean and I seem to have done something to the blade which opens and seals when you use it.

Does anybody have any ideas about what I can do?

I'm off on another trip on Saturday so am desperate for a solution!

Thanks

Chris

Is the cassette in correctly

Yes. I thought that at first. The blade looks as if it's slightly wonky - as if it's kind of come of a "runner". Hope that makes sense!

Empyrean wrote:Yes. I thought that at first. The blade looks as if it's slightly wonky - as if it's kind of come of a "runner". Hope that makes sense!

 I'm new to motor homing so thats about all i know sure another member with more experience will help you out.

Chris,

My assumption is that you have a Thetford C2 cassette loo: please confirm.

It may be that the mechanism which opens the 'blade' has been damaged, or that something has stuck the blade to the underside of the main seal. Have you used an aggressive loo cleaner which might have damaged the polymer seal or blade? As far as I know, the blade mechanism is wholly inside the cassette tank, which is a plastic welded assembly, and therefore once damaged cannot be exchanged.

Be aware that there are two types of C2 blade mechanism. The earlier has the blade slide over horizontally with a tendency for (i) the action to be stiff and (ii) for the seal (P/N 16175 I think) to become deformed and less effective. In the later units, the blade comes over then up against the seal - much better in my view.

My 1995 Harmony had the first style I and about five years ago, by which time other seals had started to fail, I replaced the whole cassette with a "Refresh Kit", for example
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I paid around £80 from Towsure (now about £140 on-line) and I reckon it was money well spent. I even sold the new toilet seat (white rather than cream) on eBay to offset the cost.

Hope this helps,

Bartfarst

It's a Thetford C3.

I've just downloaded an instruction sheet from Thetford which shows you how to replace the blade so I might get a screwdriver out tomorrow!

Failing all, I'll buy a new cassette - at least it will be lovely and fresh!

Thanks for your advice

Further to what Chrisk said, when you put the cassette back in, did you make sure the knob with the yellow stripe was turned as shown in this picture? That is, did you close the blade firmly before putting the cassette back in?

If you didn't, it may well have ridden over the internal slot into which it should slide, and it certainly won't work then. You can probably tell when you try to remove the cassette, and find it's stuck fast.

Don't be too brutal, but if this is your problem you may be able to force the cassette out without breaking anything.

May not help, but worth remembering to close the blade firmly after adding the blue stuff and putting the cassette back in.

Good point Dave. However I'm pretty sure that there is an 'interlock' on the bench part of the loo which prevents insertion of the cassette with the blade knob in any position other than fully closed.

Your photo affirms that if indeed the blade mechanism can be worked on, then one needs to work on it from inside the tank having opened the blade which, if it's stuck closed, may be a non-starter. Then you've got the small matter of the unpleasant environment in which you have to work presumably using tubby screwdrivers blind back up against the top surface of the cassette.

For the sake of a hundred notes in my view it has to be the freshen-up route, particularly as the air admittance button and vent valve will probably start to leak soon anyway. Further on mine the 'sender' for the fill level gauge inside the cassette also failed.

If dumping the old cassette, I'd also recommend you clean and retain the big yellow fill cap and carry it with you as a spare. The day may come when you drop it into some dark abyss from where you have no desire to effect its recovery!


Bartfarst

Very diplomatically put Bart.

Point taken however, and my tugger mate did exactly that when his cassette packed in. Even with the Marigolds he didn't fancy firtling around inside - and although I do a lot of maintenance for him I wasn't about to volunteer that time!!!        

Thank you everybody. I think I'm going for a new cassette as suggested. And the tip about keeping the cap is a good one as I do have a habit of putting things down in the wrong place!

Chris

Just a quick update

I'm now the proud owner of a sparkling new cassette. Fantastic service from Jacksons - ordered Wednesday afternoon and delivered today.

Thanks for your help and particularly for the suggestion of a new cassette - my new one has wheels!!

Chris

Chris,

Well that's interesting: I'm assuming the cassette you have received is from a C4. Please can someone confirm that a C4 has wheels?

Further Chris, have you actually tried it in your van yet, and does it fit OK?

Although I changed mine for a 'freshen-up' kit, I might consider going for the wheeled option if it works. I suffer from occasional bad back and chronic elbow issues so lugging a full cassette is no joke these days!


Bartfarst

Bartfarst wrote: I suffer from occasional bad back and chronic elbow issues so lugging a full cassette is no joke these days!
Bartfarst

That's why I always take my fishing trolley

Frank

Frank,

Fishing trolley - good idea, but no room in the van!

Stuart

Maplins were selling a lightweight folding trolly. It folds flat so would fit somewhere. It was a godsend when we moved house.

All Thetford Fresh up kits now include wheeled cassettes.

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Bartfarst wrote:Frank,

Fishing trolley - good idea, but no room in the van!

Stuart

Mine travels folded and upright against the back doors, with a velco strap around the big door handle to keep it upright.

Frank

Bartfarst wrote:Chris,

Although I changed mine for a 'freshen-up' kit, I might consider going for the wheeled option if it works. I suffer from occasional bad back and chronic elbow issues so lugging a full cassette is no joke these days!


Bartfarst

If possible, much less expensive to obtain an old shopping trolley and remove the loading bag. Or buy a new one for about £15 which is still a fraction of the cost of a new cassette. Simply use a bungee to hold it in place.

Bartfarst wrote:

Although I changed mine for a 'freshen-up' kit, I might consider going for the wheeled option if it works. I suffer from occasional bad back and chronic elbow issues so lugging a full cassette is no joke these days!
Bartfarst

Further to my last, just seen in Robert Dyas, what is described as a 'festival trolley'. Very lightweight, compact with slide up down handle, black at just £9.99. Like a shopping trolley without the bag. Sorry, perhaps Dyas not in your part of UK but something similar available from internet?

Thanks Paramedic: I'll investigate!

Bartfarst

Is it true that the new wheeled cassette has reduced capacity? An important consideration when touring off the beaten track for days on end..
Al

Al, it looks to me like it does: the wheels and handle have to be accommodated into the envelope of the cassette somehow.

Looking at it, if the 'wheel arch' goes all the way across the tank then I'd estimate a 5 - 8% loss. This is likely in my view as the wheels appear to be well inboard. Perhaps someone with such a cassette can advise on this?

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Bartfarst

Apologies for my silence I've been on the road trying out my new loo in the process!

As somebody wrote earlier, all the new cassettes now have wheels - I'm delighted with my wheels and any loss of capacity will just have to be accommodated...

Chris

Empyrean wrote:Apologies for my silence I've been on the road trying out my new loo in the process!
Chris

How did you manage to steer?
Ah yes, I know. You set the van on cruise control. Obvious innit!! 

Ha ha! There's an idea - a commode driving seat. You could be on to something...