Ron,
The leaks, if you trace (and assume) that the residue is the path, it appears in my case to be a direct result of "stuff" attacking the paper gaskets, from the inside out, and then leaks along the studs and out the drain cutouts in the bottom of the macerator chamber. I am going to say from experience that paper works well in times of old (carburetors/fuel pumps come to mind) but in today's arena with the wealth of modern materials for gaskets available, paper is woefully inadequate. Because of design of the seals/clearances/mating surfaces/etc., whatever material gasket either has to be very thin, i.e. paper, or pretty compressible. I chose to go with a rubberized fiber that is fairly compressible, roughly 1/32" thick. I also remade the studs out of 316SS since a couple of the brass originals was showing chemical attack, as were the brass acorn nuts so I replaced them with nylock SS nuts. I have checked the shaft seal and since it is acting as a static seal and see no evidence of it leaking on the back side, I won't replace it at this time (FYI it is available at bearing supply houses). I generally leave the gray tank open if staying for more than one day - the by-pass should relieve any pressure except for gravity and leaks should not be happening in the pump. When I sold my trailer I kept the hoses, a premonition I guess. If this doesn't hold up for more that one trip, which is the experience so far, I will too go back to conventional stuff. My waste system is plumbed for either Sani-Con or 90° from it's location is the convention hook up. BIG BUT here, with Sani-Con usage there is always going to be residual water/waste in the outlets downstream from the valves and that is a problem in itself when hooking up slinkies. I therefore consider it only for emergencies as long as the Sani-con is in the system.
As to Ford, I think diplomacy on the part of the better half made the difference there.
L. G.
