Cruisers Forum
Main Forum => General Discussion => Topic started by: skipper on October 27, 2013, 02:51:11 pm
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Right where the sani con hose comes out of the pump and makes a 180 degree turn and goes into the sani con housing where the rest of the hose is stored, I have a very small pin hole leak that sprays yuck a surprisingly long way. There is quite a bit of pressure on that hose. Has anyone tried to patch one of these hoses? I'm sure it would have to patched from the inside. I guess sani con would be the contact for a replacement hose? I thought about shortening the hose by about 4-6" to get passed the leak, but I'm not sure how the hose is connected to the fitting. Thanks, Mark
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Mark
Sani-con System from Thetford Corp has a 1 year warranty. Here is a link for the Thetford warranty.
http://www.thetford.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=Iwj5AnvO82s%3d&tabid=597&mid=1545
The hose should be covered under warranty. We have worked with Thetford in the past and they have been very easy to deal with. Their number is 1-800-543-1219
We worked with them twice and they sent the parts right to the house. We only had to give them the date of purchase, make amd model.
FYI Price for the hose is $72 on Amazon.com.
Barry
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I am not quiet sure where the hole is your talking about,, I had a roadtrek with sani hose, developed leak, cut the leak spot out, reconnected with 2 inch piece of pvc and hose clamps... also that new tape they have that self seals, wonder if that would do the job,,,
good luck
sparky
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You know what causes it. PC has some unprotected screws right in that area and if you pull the hose it punches a hole into the hose.
Can't remember how I fixed it.
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You know what causes it. PC has some unprotected screws right in that area and if you pull the hose it punches a hole into the hose.
Can't remember how I fixed it.
The "bushing" that the hose passes through to storage had two sheet metal screws within a half inch of the hose on mine. I changed to machine and nylocks.
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Working off Sparky's comments, I think I have a solution. I found the hole was about 1/2" from where the hose attaches to the pump. I cut the hose just beyond the hole. I still wanted to use the connector on the end so I pulled on the hose metal reinforcement and yanked it out of the connector leaving the remains of the hose. Next I took a razor blade and reamed out the rest of the hose. Then I pushed the good section of the hose back in and snugged it down with a hose clamp and reinstalled on the PC. I'll thoroughly test it tonight and see if it holds up. I certainly don't want it to come apart while pumping poo poo.
If you use a pvc pipe, you will probably need to go from the 1" nominal diameter to 3/4" to get the hose to go over the pipe. I have every size around the house but 3/4".
PC uses sheet metal screws to hold the gasket where the hose runs through the fiberglass and they do have sharp pointy ends. However, the hose shouldn't ever come in contact with the screws if care is taken during installation.
The hose failure appears to be a manufacturing defect. Mark
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I actually had several pin holes in my hose. Called Kermit with that issue, and several other small things (my 2910 is only 10 months old) and he sent me a whole new ensemble, no questions asked. I love this company.
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It seems that Kermit isn't aware of this yet, or hasn't fixed it, but I also encountered a pinhole in the Sanicon hose this trip. As lghjr has said: "The "bushing" that the hose passes through to storage had two sheet metal screws within a half inch of the hose on mine. I changed to machine and nylocks."
This is exactly the problem, and I used the same solution. Gonna give Kermit a call on this one, as it is an easy fix, but horrible problem.
- Mike
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There is an on-line video showing Earl demonstrating the Sani Con system on a newly built 2552. The hose is now being routed into the middle of the compartment. That should prevent the pin hole problem on new coaches.
Maybe you can see the video here:
http://www.phoenixusarv.com/u?id=2014-Phoenix-Cruiser-2552-10622
Our 2552 has those sheet metal screws, so I plan on changing them also.
--Bruce
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Previously to owning the 2013 PC 2350 we had a 2007 Roadtrek 210P and I had lots of problems with the macerator hose. It was crammed (literally) into a very small storage area and subject to some severe bends and road heat the way it is designed. I love the design on the PC. I have fixed pinholes with RV GOOP, by cutting and using PVC flex pipe connections, and hose replacement. It was such a problem I carried stretch tape, GOOP, connections, etc. for emergency repairs.
By the way: if you have a hose get really bad when you are on the road, pull into Lowes or Home Depot and buy an outdoor water landscaping pond hose. Twenty feet long, less than twenty bucks, same ID as the regular macerator hose. Not nearly as good a hose but flexible and will work. When I sold our RT, it had this hose on it and it had given us good trouble free use for three years. The design is similar to the supplied and proper hose but not as flexible and not the quality but in an emergency, works just fine. Those of us that have been sprayed are very sensitive and mindful about this hose :lol
Paul
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Question, where are these sheet metal screws that are causing this problem. Looked on my rig today and didn't find any con the vicinity of the hose.
Denny
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I can hardly believe that our Sani Con hose started squirting waste water out of a pin hole as I was emptying the sewer tanks this morning. I am very lucky with the timing of this in two ways:
1. It was the final dump at the end of our trip so I'll be able to fix it before we go out on a month-long trip in two weeks, and
2. the black tank was already cleaned out and the gray tank was in process of emptying so it didn't get stinking nasty.
The pin hole was not caused by the "sheet metal screws" that we've been talking about. (Those are located just outside of the Sani Con storage bin where the hose comes in from the macerator pump. Those two little screws a hard to see, but I can feel them almost touching the hose just outside of the storage bin.)
Our pin hole is about 12" inside of the bin and is just touching the ground while the pump is running. I'm stunned that this happened the day after I had posted a comment on the pin hole issue. I've always been very careful to protect the hose. I spread out a drop cloth on the ground under the hose before I start the dump process to keep the hose from bouncing around on the gravel, sticks, glass or whatever that might puncture the hose. I carefully stow it in the storage bin when the job is done.
I don't know what else I could do to prevent this sort of possibly catastrophic event. We've carried an extra hose with us during the year we've owned the rig, but I didn't expect to need it so soon. I'll add some of the emergency repair items that Paul mentioned to my tool box in anticipation of another event.
--Bruce
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Bruce:
Wow, that IS coincidental!
I've thought about putting a drop cloth of some kind on the ground like you do, but haven't gotten around to it. When that hose expands and then contracts it picks up pebbles, wood, sand, etc. Good idea!
Not sure what else you, or anyone can do beyond what you've done. The obvious ways the hose can fail are exterior materials puncturing it, materials going through the hose puncturing it, age, over pressurization....can't think of anything else besides a bad hose.
Since we use ours exclusively, we now carry repair parts and a spare hose.
- Mike
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Bruce, that is incredible!
You know, I have actually considered several ways to slightly restrict the output from the pump in order to reduce the pressure on the hose. Easiest would be to restrict by reducing the diameter of the output at the pump going into the hose. That could be done with a couple of pvc connections of a smaller size at the pump. Then, the amount of discharge would be reduced thus reducing the pressure to avoid the sprays and as much stretching. My fear is the backpressure on the pump would not be good for it over time. I even thought of reducing the voltage at the pump down to 9-10 volts, but that can cause its own problems.
So, I always make sure the valves are open and the hose is in the disposal receptacle at the dump station before I turn on the pump so as to eliminate ANY restriction or back pressure when I turn it on. By the way, I carry one of those water pond hoses I mentioned in my earlier post in the spare tire area of the PC. It fits fine there and if I need it, I got it. You can buy 3/4 inch and 1" hose for this purpose and the 1" is what you need.
I discharge at home into my sewer clean out trap which is a hundred feet from where the PC can be parked. I bought a hundred feet of 3/4" heavy duty garden hose at Tractor Supply a few years ago and keep the hose for that purpose......only that purpose of course! The fact these little pumps will shoot sewage a hundred feet speaks to the pressures involved and gives greater appreciation for leak potential in that little thin hose.
Paul
Paul
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Today I replaced the Sani-Con hose with a new one. At the same time I also replaced the little pointy sheet metal screws located near the hose.
It took some time and thinking about what steps would be required while working in the small space in that area, but it all came out well.
I used two 6-32 x ½” machine screws with split washers and nuts in place of the sheet metal screws. I needed to drill out the screw holes a little to get the machine screws in place.
I found the pin hole in the leaking hose about 12” inside of the storage bin. It was in the seam of the hose and looked like it had just split apart there. So I’m thinking that it was a manufacturing defect at that point that did not stand up to the pressure inflicted on it during dumping. Because of its location, the hose could not have been punctured from outside.
I've been considering trying to mend the hose as you folks have suggested, but now feel like it would happen again. We do carry a standard sewer hose that we use for gray water during an extended stay that we could use for the black tank too if the need occurred.
Thanks for all the suggestions,
--Bruce
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I wonder if there is a tape you can carry for emergency repair?
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When the pinhole appeared in my hose I made a temp repair using a liquid type tape, let it dry and then applied another coat. I then wrapped that with a bit of fusion tape. It lasted a couple days before I could acquire a new hose.
- Mike
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I don't want to sound dumb, but what is fusion tape?
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Jim
Fusion tape is generally a self bonding, self fusing silicone/silicone rubber tape. It is non sticky to the touch and needs no tools/heat to make it work.
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Yep, what Barry said! (exactly)
- Mike
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Update on the fix:
As Barry suggested previously, I called Thetford Customer Service today re the leaking hose. All I needed to tell them besides describing the leak was to give them the serial number on the Twist-On unit that we have and the date we purchased the PC. Since we are still within the one-year warranty period, they agreed to send us a new hose.
I call that great customer service!
--Bruce
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Thanks to those on this forum and this thread I have been alerted to a real problem---the sheet metal screws that could pierce the hose.
I checked our 2350 today and sure enough, one of those little screw ends was almost against the hose and would be with only a little vibration or movement of the hose. SO, I twisted the hose from its existing position where it connects to the pump, adjusting it about 15 degrees to move it away from the screw. Then, I cut two pieces each about 1/2 inch long of insulation from a #12 wire and forced the little piece of plastic insulation (which is now is just a small piece of tubing) over each screw end. They fit very tight and I suspect will be there from now on. I was packing for a trip and didn't want to take the time to replace the screws with small stove bolts.
Paul
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I sent Thetford a email asking about a temporary emergency repair. It is scary being out and have to dump and stuff squirting all over the place. This is their reply:
"Well when the hose breaks or has holes in it we, as you said, suggest replacing the hose itself. But if you were looking for a temporary fix you can use any type of tape or glue that would stick to the hose. Personally, I would suggest using super glue or hot glue to seal it, if you were looking for tape I'd suggest duct tape or masking tape".
Kind Regards,
Consumer Service
Thetford Corp/Norcold Inc
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I have been confused as to the pin hole so many of you deal with. Is it where the hose comes out from the hose storage compartment? Or is it located somewhere else?
If located by the pump, could you file down or replace the screw as some have mentioned, cut off the bad part of the hose (the last 2" or whatever) and re-clamp it?
Does anyone have a picture of the sharp screw and the damage it has caused? I will have to look at ours and see if we too have this "sharp screw" condition. We have not yet had a hole in our hose and it has been 7 years now.
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Ron,
The hose leaks seem to be happening at various points. I found the leak in our hose about 5” inside of the storage bin in its relaxed state (about 12" from the end of the hose where it connects to the pump). It was in the seam of the hose and looked like it had just split apart a little there. That part of the hose would never make contact with the ground during normal operation even when it was fully extended. So I’m thinking that it was a manufacturing defect that did not stand up to the pressure inflicted during dumping.
Others have had punctures in the hose just outside of the storage bin. The hose in ours goes through a hole in the end of the storage bin. The hose is encased in a small plastic bushing there that protects it from the edge of the hole in the bin. The plastic bushing is held in place at the end of the bin by two small screws--sheet metal ones with sharp pointed ends. Some hoses have been punctured by contact with one or both of the sheet metal type screws. While I was replacing our leaking hose I replaced the sheet metal screws with short machine screws and nuts that have no sharp points that could puncture the new hose.
I'll try to post two photos of ours:
One shows hose in storage bin going out to the pump. Ours had a leak about 5" inside of the bin.
The other shows the hose coming out of the bin. The sharp machine screws use to be on each side of the hose (where you might now see the machine screw heads).
--Bruce
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As a precaution, I also replaced the self tapping screws with stainless steel machine screws and nylock nuts after reading all the posts.
For an alternative, an easy fix is to buy small plastic caps called Screw Protectors. I bought a bag of 4 pieces at Lowes for about $1.00. Buy the size that fits 1/4" screws. They fit snugly over the tip of the self tapping screw and eliminates the sharp point. I used one of these on a screw that was protruding upward in the propane compartment. I jabbed myself several times on the screw before the fix - less painful now.
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Thanks for the pics and detailed explanation. I know your situation better now, and will see if I have simply been "Lucky So Far".
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A few hose issues aside, has anybody had much of a problem with the Sani-Con pump itself. We've never had a macerator in any of our 4 RV's.
Listening to the hose issues, I think we'll carry an extra hose with us if/when we get a PC.... 2o2
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We've had no trouble with the macerator pump during this first year of owning our PC. We had never owned an RV with one before and really appreciate having it now.
A nice feature with the way it is connected to the PC is that you can simply bypass the macerator if it were to fail to operate. Just connect up a standard style sewer hose to what is known as the "emergency" dump valve at the rear of the coach and dump in the old fashioned gravity flow method.
In fact, we carry a 15' hose to connect to dump gray water regularly when we're in an RV spot for more than a couple of days. Since we only use it for gray water it never gets stinky in the storage bin. Here is the one that we use:
http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/rhinoflex-swivel-rv-sewer-kit/44151
When it's time to dump the black tank we just whip out the little macerator hose in place of the big one. Love it!
Bruce and Sharon
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I already have that hose sitting out in the RV barn leftover from our previous class C. Used it once for grey water. That setup for dumping both ways is a super! idea.....