[C320-list] Head tank Smells??

[tharrison at innovations-plus.com]

I did replace the vent hose. 

Take the mirror cabinet off - 4 screws. Wiggle out 

Then take the two pieces of wood in the  shelf. 6 screws 

Then take the board off the 4 screws. This one is a tight fit but take it easy and it comes out. 

The vent is top left . The previous owner cut a little access hole. 

It was not that bad for me to replace the  black hoses with high quality white hoses. 

Tank flips out in a clockwise direction. I cut the hides and ducked taped ends to avoid addition leakage. 

Ted - hull 424
905 430 3365 if you want to talk. - Canada 

Sent from my iPhone

On 2013-10-13, at 9:16 AM, millers1 at aol.com wrote:

> 
> I recently purchased a C320 , 2000, hull  #680, and plan to try and eliminate the holding tank smell and possible 
> problems discussed below:
> What I know:  All the tank hoses appear to be up-graded to the "Black Hose" except for the vent 
>                      hose.  Did the C320 come with black hoses or white?
>                       The macerator will allow leakage back into the tank.  Concur the hull valve should                    
>                       always be shut for compliance.
>                       I have an in tank "rod/float" that provides some info on the fullness of the tank.
>                       Because the tank is lower than the head, the head slowly drains to the tank (the 
>                        head pump "one way valves" are not zero leakage). So the ultimate indication of 
>                       when the tank needs to be pumped is I see the water not draining as fast as normal from the head bowl.
>                       I have no idea how to get to the hull vent outlet or how that fitting works( I have read earlier posts
>                       but still feel it will be an adventure..... Any pictures, guidance on how to get to the hull vent 
>                       connection would be appreciated.
>                       Is the area accessible by removing head cabinets???  From what I have hear so far
>                       I am beginning to think it might be easier to run a new vent line to an area near the present vent
>                       but is more accessible(???).      
>             Ken, keep us posted on your efforts.  It will be a week or so before I take on this project.  I likewise
> will let you know what I find.   
> Other than winterizing the boat the work list is fairly short for the boat.   
> I have noticed a hairline crack in the gel-coat where the "stern sugar scoop" goes vertical with the stern.   
> So when I have looked more closely at it (from inside??), I will ask this site  if anyone has some experience with 
> a fix.
> Thanks,
> 
> Art,     Liberty   #680            
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: kspir4 <kspir4 at cox.net>
> To: C320-List <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
> Sent: Sun, Oct 13, 2013 1:04 am
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Head leaks and cannot empty tank properly
> 
> 
> Thanks Chris.  I've spent a bunch of time on this and found a few things wrong 
> but I think the blocked vent is the biggest culprit and the problem I have yet 
> to resolve.  I have removed the vent hose at the top (at the through hole) and 
> put pressurized water into it.  I could hear the water entering the tank (the 
> hose is clear).  I then reconnected the vent hose at the top and disconnected it 
> at the bottom before putting pressurized water to that end.  The water exited 
> the outside at weak but steady stream.  Unfortunately I also saw some water leak 
> through the caulked seal on the inside near the penetration in the hull (NOT at 
> the hose/hose clamp).  This must be where the smell is coming in the cabin.  
> After that, I hooked up all the hoses and ran the macerator pump.  I went 
> topside and heard faint hissing at the vent and felt a very very weak suction 
> pulling air in.  Also, the water in the bowl still empties as it is sucked out.   
> I think the problem is that the "hole" or slit in the vent at the penetration is 
> too small to let a sufficient amount of air in when emptying the take and out 
> when filling the tank.  The way to fix this is not apparent since the holding 
> tank vent is not like the freshwater and fuel vents back aft - the ones with a 
> screened opening on the down side of the vent.  The holding tank vent is a black 
> plastic knob like piece with a indented section on the bottom quarter that does 
> not have an visible opening (I have pictures that I can email to anyone curious 
> and or think they can help).  Does anyone know if this is a standard vent and, 
> if so, can the opening be made or opened more?  Is there a way to easily remove 
> the vent? (I have tried to twist if off without success). I am thinking of 
> drilling a hole in the plastic cover to let more air pass but that will be the 
> last resort since I don't know if that will make matters worse or introduce new 
> problems 
> 
> Also, I think I may be getting some leak by though the overboard discharge valve 
> into the tank since I found the tank full after sitting  a week after it was 
> emptied.  Has anyone experienced this?  Is there a check valve in the pump that 
> keeps the water from coming in and filling the tank if the valve is left open or 
> the valve leaks by?
> 
> thanks
> Ken Spiro
> Moondancer 
> #1089
> ---- clburti at gmail.com wrote: 
>> It is almost a certainty that your vent is blocked...the liquid coming out is
> being forced out and if the hose clamp is loose or the hose has been forced 
> partially off, liquid will be running down the hose, bulkhead and 
> elsewhere...that liquid is why the aft cabin smells.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Fair Winds
>> Chris Burti
>> Commitment
>> Catalina 320, #867
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> From: kspir4 at cox.net
>> Sent: ‎Tuesday‎, ‎September‎ ‎24‎, ‎2013 ‎11‎:‎37‎ ‎AM
>> To: c320-list at lists.catalina320.com; C320-List at Catalina320.com
>> 
>> Hi Folks,
>> I recently bought a 2006 320 and have had problems with the head from the
> start.  Many of the problems seem to contradict each other and I was wondering 
> if anyone could help.  First off, I rebuilt the Tetford hand pump so I feel that 
> is working properly (flushing water comes in and waste goes out of the bowl).  I 
> have been using KO solution to help promote decomposition but I don’t think that 
> will help until the problem is fixed.  The symptoms (I know many of them seem to 
> be contradictory) of the problem are:
>> 1. Waste smell under settee and in the aft cabin.  I believe it is coming from
> a leak behind the head bulkhead.  I think it only leaks when I pressurize the 
> system with the hand pump.  I do occasionally see some liquid coming down along 
> either the pump out line or the vent line to the bilge near the waste tank.
>> 2. When I use the macerator, it appears to be able to put a suction on the
> holding tank since it will usually draw out a little bit of waste.  However, at 
> the end, it will always empty the bowl of any water that was in it.
>> 3. I have tried to flush the holding tank by putting water in the topside pump
> out access but it will accept no more than a half-gallon before the tube is 
> filled up and causing some liquid drip from the air vent.
>> 
>> I wouldn't think the air vent is blocked since I have some liquid coming out
> when I fill the pump out tube.  If that is the case, why does the bowl empty 
> when I pull suction with the macerator pump.
>> 
>> There doesn’t seem to be any real inspection port to look into the holding
> tank for blockage or channels.  Is the only means to inspect the inside (without 
> remove the tank entirely) to remove the small air vent port and look through 
> that tiny hole? 
>> 
>> Is there an easy way to access the upper hose connections for the pump out
> hose and air vent to see where the drip is comming from and correcting it when 
> found?  There appears to be an access panel above the shelf that is above the 
> medicine cabinet but it looks like removing it would involve removing some 
> factory caulking that seals the head.
>> 
>> Ken
> 
> 
>