[C320-list] New Head Replacment

[Dave]

Okay...I'll can the usage report...since still on the hard, can't report 
on a leak, either.

It's a '96 (?) 320, (#445).  Actually went in fairly easily.  My biggest 
concern was removing the old head, without dribbling bad stuff around.  
I left the old exhaust hose attached at the head, and removed the tank 
end.  Using a cutting wheel/Dremel tool got thru the wire reinforced 
hose fairly easily, which then made it easy to remove from the tank 
fitting.  Stuffed newspaper and plastic into the open hose end, and then 
covered the end with plastic and some duct tape.  Also stuffed some 
plastic into the open tank inlet..never smelled or saw any bad stuff.  
Unbolted the old head, carefully removed it and the attached hose, and 
placed it into two, heavy duty garbage bags.  Dragged up, and heaved 
over the side, for two points into the garbage pail.  I filled the old 
Jabsco mounting holes with white Marine Tex.  First time I used the 
stuff, and I'm not in the craftsman category, so there are two small, 
noticeable dimples where the old holes are. More effort would make it 
look better...I'll need to work on that. So much for the removal.

I spent a good bit of time placing the new head.  Required much test 
sitting, measuring, and analysis.  Fortunately, it provided a good place 
to sit and read the instructions.  Also note that the exhaust hose 
fitting needed to be rotated 90 degrees....easily done on the Raritan.  
Then marked the six mounting hole locations and carefully drilled.

Put in place the new exhaust hose, Trident Super Premium (#102) white 
sanitation hose, through the bulkhead hole, and then attached  the head 
end.  Moved the  head into place, lining up the holes.  The toughest 
holes were in the back, with the one under the exhaust fitting the 
toughest.  Used 3M 4200 around the bolts/washers, and installed the head.

Note that I removed the hose that came on the head from the flush water 
pump outlet to the bowl inlet, and used the vented loop hoses for that 
segment.  Also needed a new hose from the raw water strainer to the raw 
water inlet on the head pump.  That's a bit different, as the water 
inlet for the Jabsco is in the rear (as I remember) of the unit, and on 
the Raritan it's on the front.

Finally cut the appropriate length on the tank end of the hose (used a 
hacksaw), put a bit of Ivory soap on the fitting, and on to the tank it 
went (remembering to remove the plastic stuffing first).  Still have to 
do the hose support mounts on the two wooden cross pieces that sort of 
hold the tank in position.  And of course, need to test it, end-to-end, 
once the boat launches.

dave
"Wind Chill"



Scott Thompson wrote:
 > I put that exact same head in my last boat and was very pleased with it.
 >    It's a much better unit than the stock Jabsco, and reasonably priced.
 > How well does it fit in your 320 and what were the difficulties with
 > installation?  It would also help to know how old your boat is, because
 > the head compartment design was changed at some point.  I forget which
 > year that happened, but I know it was before 1999.  Everything I've read
 > about heads suggests that replacing the hoses with high quality
 > materials is as important as anything else you might do to keep
 > performance high and odors low.
 >
 > Not sure I want too detailed a "usage" report, but a report on the
 > installation would be great.

Scott Thompson wrote:
> I put that exact same head in my last boat and was very pleased with it. 
>    It's a much better unit than the stock Jabsco, and reasonably priced. 
> How well does it fit in your 320 and what were the difficulties with 
> installation?  It would also help to know how old your boat is, because 
> the head compartment design was changed at some point.  I forget which 
> year that happened, but I know it was before 1999.  Everything I've read 
> about heads suggests that replacing the hoses with high quality 
> materials is as important as anything else you might do to keep 
> performance high and odors low.
>
> Not sure I want too detailed a "usage" report, but a report on the 
> installation would be great.
>
> Dave wrote:
>   
>> I just finished installing a Raritan PHii head in place of the Jabsco.  
>> Looked at Lavac, but decided that the new pump, location and plumbing 
>> was just gonna be too involved.  Boat's still on the hard, so haven't 
>> had a chance to use it yet.  I thought the tough part was removing the 
>> existing Jabsco, without creating an "environmental spill" so to speak.  
>> that worked out well.  The new head went in without too much trouble.
>>
>> Also replaced the exhaust hose, from the head to the tank.  I looked 
>> inside the hose at the tank end, and it was almost totally closed up (as 
>> I imagine my arteries are becoming) with white deposits.  There was 
>> maybe a 1/4"-1/2" passage.  I suspect that was one reason why pumping 
>> was so difficult on the old pump.  Notes on the web sometimes indicate 
>> that pump rebuilding doesn't work well.  Given what I saw in the hose, 
>> perhaps the pump isn't the only problem...
>>
>> If anyone's interested, will provide a more complete usage report...
>>
>> dave
>> "Wind Chill"
>>
>>
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