We have a thetford cassette toilet, over the past 2 years it has a build up of scale on the sides of the cassette. Is there a cheaper way of removing this muck without having to buy the thetford product, which I'm told from other forums doesn't work.
My thinking is CLR or vinegar and let it sit for a few days.
Your wisdom in this matter would be appreciated, and no toilet humour please lol
Phil C
-- Edited by Phil C on Sunday 29th of March 2015 11:39:43 AM
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Ex RAAF, now retired. EX Electrician/Teacher.
Homebase is Murray Bridge Tourist Park (in a cabin). New Horse.. 2020 Ford Everest Titanium, Jayco swan for touring.
I did ours with CLR with some success but not completely clean. So I soaked it in napisan for a few hrs then actually disassembled it (removed the central slide opening mechanism - easy as it screws in) this left me with great access so I then donned the rubber gloves and scraped the inside then soaked again in napisan and its now very clean inside. This also gave me the opportunity to clean the slide mechanism (it was pretty yuk) properly and lubricate the seals with olive oil. As it had been well soaked it was not as nasty a job as I had anticipated.
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Jenny and Barry
2009 Roma Elegance / 2013 Colorado. Permanent travellers 2011-2015 now just travel for 4-6 mths
Not being the "Plumber" type and not that I'm affraid of getting in the sh** for time to time, just can't come at that type. We had the scale problem to, BUT also had some seals that really needed to be replaced, so wasn't at all looking forward to the job. Then when I priced all the seals separately, I decided that I was better of just replacing the cassette and thus avoided the job that I really didn't want to do anyway, Win - Win.
Cassette Replacement I bought was from here: http://caravansplus.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=5859 With delivery was about $145 but I bought some other stuff too, so $119 for a NEW cassette was well worth it.
Now for the future "scaling" problem may be consider using a non stick brush on coating on the inside of the canister or an anti graffitee coating which could be as simple as a silicone spray much the same as the automotive one used to repell water from spark plug leads. Just an idea.
-- Edited by madaboutled on Sunday 29th of March 2015 12:53:20 PM
-- Edited by madaboutled on Sunday 29th of March 2015 12:56:44 PM
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Steve, Di & Ziggy We named our Motorhome "Roadworx" because on the road works "On The Road Again" Ford Transit with 302 Windsor V8 conversion, C4 Auto, 9 Inch Ford Diff All Lighting L.E.D., 260 Amp/h AGM, 530 Watt Solar + Kipor Backup Gen.
I don't see why it wouldn't work Phil, it's a Thetford toot so I would say a thetford product would have been tested nd found suitable for the seals etc.
I would go for that as a first preference.
I rince mine with fresh water every time I empty it so hope to get long life out of it.
Mmmmm, I stayed away from toot jokes notice Phil. I am feeling a bit sh..y today though. Oooooops
-- Edited by Dougwe on Sunday 29th of March 2015 06:12:15 PM
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TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
I don't see why it wouldn't work Phil, it's a Thetford toot so I would say a thetford product would have been tested nd found suitable for the seals etc.
I would go for that as a first preference.
I rince mine with fresh water every time I empty it so hope to get long life out of it.
Mmmmm, I stayed away from toot jokes notice Phil. I am feeling a bit sh..y today though. Oooooops
-- Edited by Dougwe on Sunday 29th of March 2015 06:12:15 PM
Oh dear, it's off to the naughty corner again Dougwe. Save a space for me, I'll bring the wine and scotch. Hope you are well mate.
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Ex RAAF, now retired. EX Electrician/Teacher.
Homebase is Murray Bridge Tourist Park (in a cabin). New Horse.. 2020 Ford Everest Titanium, Jayco swan for touring.
Buy some citric acid (about 250 gms from memory) from IGA and pour it in with the water up to the top, give a couple of shakes leave for about 2 hours and it's all done
Why bother. It is a toilet holding tank. It gets crappy. Having it spotless inside won't make it work better.
Cheers, Peter
Thanks Peter, I've never thought of it that way. I must be an obsesive clean bean but I like those sorts of things to be as clean as I can get them, but you do make a good point.
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Ex RAAF, now retired. EX Electrician/Teacher.
Homebase is Murray Bridge Tourist Park (in a cabin). New Horse.. 2020 Ford Everest Titanium, Jayco swan for touring.
Buy some citric acid (about 250 gms from memory) from IGA and pour it in with the water up to the top, give a couple of shakes leave for about 2 hours and it's all done
+1 but I let it stand for a day or two.
Citric acid from the cooking ingredients aisle in the supermarket.
To try and get out of going to the naughty room Phil, I was wondering if pool chlorine might do the job as it goes through filters and comes in contact with rubber seals etc???? Just a thought.
I tend to agree with P&M in a way cos I just rinse out with water each time I empty mine and seems OK to me. I will keep the peace and agree with you too Phil, just cos ya a mate.
Also and as well even, you could always change from wine to rum and that might help keep it clean also
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DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
I recently had some problems with my cassette too. It was mainly the flap was not operating as smoothly as I would like so I pulled the thing to bits and found that even though we use a napisan type product and I do what doug does(rinsing it) it was still crappy inside.
I bought a product very similar to CLR but half the price from bummings. I poured 2 litres into the tank and filled to the brim with water and let stand overnight.
When I emptied it and looked inside it was spotless and everything is now working fine.
I have added this procedure to my maintenance tasks and will do it every couple of years.
hope that helps and for Doug I am on topic mate!!
frank
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Kathy and Frank currently at Home near Quirindi NSW
Frank, you are a gem. I will get a bucket of that stuff and keep my crapper clean as a whistle. OK Dougwe Rum it is. Frank and I will join you in the naughty corner and mellow together.
Talk about three old farts in a room. Yipes
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Ex RAAF, now retired. EX Electrician/Teacher.
Homebase is Murray Bridge Tourist Park (in a cabin). New Horse.. 2020 Ford Everest Titanium, Jayco swan for touring.
Im like Doug and keep washing my one out till there only seems to be clean water (not game to taste it to check though) comes out. Usually, that means an empty, 1/4 fill, slop it about a little and empty. The repeat that process twice more or stop sooner if the liquid looks clear. On the last shake of water, I shape it left to right quite hard just in case in paper is lodged inside. Apparently tipping it over or shaking it end on end can cause paper to block the gauge which tells you inside how full your wine and rum disposal unit is
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Cheers Bruce
The amazing things you see when nomading Australia
beg to differ peter if you let it get to much scale build up it could break like mine did . and i tell you you don't want the mess i had . keep it clean and lubed it will last forever . also someone on here i won't name names said if you spray the bowl with cooking oil you don't get as many skiddies. so that saves on water and filling the tank to quick.
Im like Doug and keep washing my one out till there only seems to be clean water (not game to taste it to check though) comes out. Usually, that means an empty, 1/4 fill, slop it about a little and empty. The repeat that process twice more or stop sooner if the liquid looks clear. On the last shake of water, I shape it left to right quite hard just in case in paper is lodged inside. Apparently tipping it over or shaking it end on end can cause paper to block the gauge which tells you inside how full your wine and rum disposal unit is
I always rinse ours till the water was clear and periodically give it a good soak but boy, what a shock when I unscrewed the circle containing the slide mechanism. The amount of 'gunk' was surprising.
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Jenny and Barry
2009 Roma Elegance / 2013 Colorado. Permanent travellers 2011-2015 now just travel for 4-6 mths
keep it clean and lubed it will last forever
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Cheers Bruce
The amazing things you see when nomading Australia
keep it clean and lubed it will last forever __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
well most of all the working mechanism of your toilet from the leaver that opens the trap door to the rubber that seals it . its one thing in my van that gates a good clean and lube (i use spray cooking oil) after we have been away i never want another mess like we had after coming home with a full tank and a broken seal again and doing the above makes it all work nice and easy. i even flush the water tank out and run clean fresh water through the flush system . i have had a seased pump and its easy to fix you just need to know how or be savy enough to work out how to fix it . i see pumps thrown away and theres nothing wrong with them .
Since we changed from using the Thetford green stuff in the holding tank to using Napisan, the bottom tank stays pretty clean, I am generous with the Napisan, as it's cheap enough, however I have stopped using it in the top tank because it clogged up the pump, nowadays just use clean water in the top, but give it a flush occasionally whilst sitting at home.
I liked the Thetford pink stuff in the top tank, but it attracts Algie and needs a regular drain and flush, I reckon something like the old radiator soluble oil would be good in the top tank, rather than having to manually clean and oil it occasionally there must be something to add to the flushing water that will do the job. (must be septic safe though.)
Wonder what the old tall ships used on the poop deck!!! Whoops!
Or should that be Whoopsie?
I'm outa here!
Bevan
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Bevan
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We were using the Woolworths brand elcheapo Nappy Soaker (3 heaped caps mixed with about 250ml warm water) in the bottom tank and that was working great. Went to buy some the other week and they where out of stock (must be more Grey Nomads in ballajura than I thought) so I bought some of the White King Laundry Soaker cause it was on special for $5 for a Kilo tub. WOW this stuff is brilliant!, used the same 3 heaped caps but I think I could easily cut down on that as the actuive ingredient ??? Sodium Per???? (too lazy to look at the lable) is 34%. The White King is our new prefered bottom tank dunny chemical.
As for the top tank, because we never run out of it, we just add one cap full of Eucalyiptus Oil to every second top up. That leaves a pleasant smell with every flush.
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Steve, Di & Ziggy We named our Motorhome "Roadworx" because on the road works "On The Road Again" Ford Transit with 302 Windsor V8 conversion, C4 Auto, 9 Inch Ford Diff All Lighting L.E.D., 260 Amp/h AGM, 530 Watt Solar + Kipor Backup Gen.
Except for a few litres of water to rinse out I had not cleaned/heavily dosed our cassette for close to three years using "Napisan" only. So recently added a 2 litres of cheapest "White Vinegar" topping up with Hot Water and left sitting for 3 to 4 hours.
Initially the interior walls just had a Crystalline build up which after this application/soaking the inside was a clean as new not a sign of any residue at all.
Also lubricate all Seals/O'Rings with Olive Oil and we have been using the Thetford C200 permanently for 9 years without a problem.
Hi.We carry a spare casette.After emptying and flushing we put half a cup of HOMEBRAND laundry soaker and a small amount of water,leave until we need to change casettes and flush out.
Sodium Percarbonate, that's the stuff, White King or any of the others all work, we used to buy Odour-Be-Gone tablets until we saw the light. Same stuff. Heaps cheaper in the washing machine stuff.
I like the idea of eucalyptus oil, will give it a try in the top tank.
Steve Di and Ziggy, we lived in Girrawheen for many years, (crime capital of WA) and left in 2001 free and easy, eventually settled on the Sunshine Coast, best thing we ever did.
Sounds like you might be doing the same, Carnarvon is one of my old stomping grounds from when I was a company rep in G'ton for a few years.
Have a great trip, lots to see and do out there.
We will be in Katherine for the show, late July, will we see you there?
Bevan
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Bevan
Friendship is not a relationship with someone whom you've known for a long time, but with someone you trust, under any circumstances.
Sodium Percarbonate, that's the stuff, White King or any of the others all work, we used to buy Odour-Be-Gone tablets until we saw the light. Same stuff. Heaps cheaper in the washing machine stuff.
I like the idea of eucalyptus oil, will give it a try in the top tank.
Steve Di and Ziggy, we lived in Girrawheen for many years, (crime capital of WA) and left in 2001 free and easy, eventually settled on the Sunshine Coast, best thing we ever did. Sounds like you might be doing the same, Carnarvon is one of my old stomping grounds from when I was a company rep in G'ton for a few years.
Have a great trip, lots to see and do out there.
We will be in Katherine for the show, late July, will we see you there?
Bevan
We've now placed a small hessian bag of activated charcoal into the cassette locker to help absorb some smells that can generate in there on hot days, seems to be working. We just sit it near the pouring spout on the cassette then carefully close the locker door.
Bevan we might have been neighbours, we lived in Balga around 1992 - 1995 and then moved to the drug capital (Marangaroo) in 1995 before migrating to Bundaberg (the rum capitol) Qld in 2000 and settling in Hervey Bay (god's waiting room capitol) in 2001. I also worked in Carnarvon (the let's not go there capitol) for a while with Collins Cab's around 1981. Only just found out about the Caravan Club get together in Katherine yesterday but they are booked out but will most likely be in the area around that time.
Regards Steve.
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Steve, Di & Ziggy We named our Motorhome "Roadworx" because on the road works "On The Road Again" Ford Transit with 302 Windsor V8 conversion, C4 Auto, 9 Inch Ford Diff All Lighting L.E.D., 260 Amp/h AGM, 530 Watt Solar + Kipor Backup Gen.