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Post Info TOPIC: Thetford Cassette Woes
Long Weekend


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Thetford Cassette Woes
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First, some background. We bought a second hand Sterling in December with an en suite. Prior to that we started with a Swan Camper Trailer, then upgraded to a Jayco Freedom. Including four trips done in the Sterling we have travelled a total of 38,436-kilometres. So we are reasonably experienced in the travelling but not in using an en suite.

A short time ago I posted that our cassette was leaking at the slide control knob. Several people mentioned that the problem could be fixed by installing a new No.1 knob. I have to say at this point that the cassette had been used sparingly (for No.1s during the night) and was only half full when it was emptied. Hence the full warning light did not come on. 

However, because it was an old cassette without wheels I opted to buy a new one with wheels and tow along handle. That was fitted for our last trip two weeks ago. Unfortunately, the warning light did not come on and the toilet overflowed. 

Back home the reed switch was checked with a magnet - the light failed to come on. A check with the multi meter showed that the bulb was blown/dead so a new one was hard wired in place. The magnet check switched the light on. So that part was good.

The cassette was pushed home and buckets of water poured in until full - but the light did not come on. The float was checked and found to be swinging like a pendulum - it was pushed up over the 'rib' - which I presume to be the flange where the two halves are joined. 

More buckets of water but the light again failed to light up when full.

At that point I thought to go back to the old cassette but a look inside found that the float was missing - not rattling around loose but not there! A new float was bought but so far have been unable to fit it - I can feel the place where it goes with just fingers but when holding the float base cannot find the socket.

By this time I was using language that would earn a couple of lines of stars from Cindy!

Anyway, does anybody have any idea as to why the light does not work?

Murray



-- Edited by Long Weekend on Monday 28th of May 2018 03:21:26 PM

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Peter_n_Margaret


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I have ripped all the totally unreliable electrics out of hours, including the pump and plumbed it directly to the normal van water supply.
Look in the hole, you can see the level of the fluid in the tank. Why is a light needed?

Cheers,
Peter

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OKA196, 4x4 'C' Class, DIY, self contained motorhome. 960W of solar, 400Ah of AGMs, 310L water, 280L fuel. https://www.oka4wd.com/forum/members-vehicles-public/569-oka196-xt-motorhome
 

 
BAZZA44


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Peter_n_Margaret wrote:

I have ripped all the totally unreliable electrics out of hours, including the pump and plumbed it directly to the normal van water supply.
Look in the hole, you can see the level of the fluid in the tank. Why is a light needed?

Cheers,
Peter

 X2



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Long Weekend


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Hi Peter,

Not sure of exactly what you mean by plumbing the system into the normal water tanks. The water in the cistern already comes from the normal water supply. 

Anyway, while I was pouring bucket loads of water down the toilet I actually did use a torch to check the level in the cassette. Not sure I would like to do that after half a dozen No.2s though!

Possibly a mechanical counter to count the number of flushes would do the same job as a light - and that would work for free camping also.

Has anybody ever heard of a mechanical 'sheep' counter being used in caravan toilets?

Regards,

Murray

 



-- Edited by Long Weekend on Monday 28th of May 2018 03:19:56 PM

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Santa


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Peter_n_Margaret wrote:

I have ripped all the totally unreliable electrics out of hours, including the pump and plumbed it directly to the normal van water supply.
Look in the hole, you can see the level of the fluid in the tank. Why is a light needed?

Cheers,
Peter

 X3wink



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Santa.

Moonta, Copper Coast, South Aust.
Ron-D


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I dont think A full warning light is nesesaary ,every time you open the little door ,when its needed the level is obvious..



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HandyWalter


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I am also confused about the direct plumbing. Mine uses water from my water tanks. I must admit I am not sure which pump pumps the water to the toilet but I presume its main pump for all my water needs. Perhaps some old vans with toilets had their own water supply. But I am sure all new ones dont.

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Ron-D


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With ours when not on mains pressure ,turn on your 12 volt pump and it automatically pumps water from our storage tanks into the cassette,when on mains the pump is switched off ,and mains pressure takes over...



-- Edited by Ron-D on Monday 28th of May 2018 05:10:29 PM

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Peter_n_Margaret


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Many have "top tanks" and a separate pump for flushing water. Some have no "top tank" and get the flush water from the main van tank directly.
Either way, a "bottom tank" electrically activated level indicator light seems an overkill, especially as they all seem to be unreliable.
Cheers,
Peter

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Ozzie_Traveller


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G'day all

We've had our MH for 15 yrs and in use for much of each year - so we have 2- cassettes, the toilet is used for everything and they last 3-4 days before needing emptying.  Neither activates the red-light at 90% full ... we know from the noise and can easily glance down into the open cassette how it's going
Like Peter, I have not bothered with trying to fix / reactivate little things like 'red lights' - rather I just enjoy my travels

ps - I have found it's cheaper to buy a complete new cassette than trying to buy multiple components [seals, knobs, etc.] and attempting a repair
Phil



-- Edited by Ozzie_Traveller on Tuesday 29th of May 2018 07:57:14 AM

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SouthernComfort


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When I used to rely on the light there were occasions when it would come on to tell me the thing was full at the least convenient time i.e. in the middle of the night - sods law!! If you don't' want a trip to the dump point at 3am, best to check the level before retiring. Easy to do. Even though my light works, I never wait for it. I would find the light indicator more useful if it triggered at 3/4 full to allow a margin for awkward times.



-- Edited by SouthernComfort on Tuesday 29th of May 2018 04:00:20 PM

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Tony

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 The moral: Focus on the Facts

 
TheMonties


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Our first vans bog had its own built in flush tank, which I liked but the pump was prone to seizing if it stood dry and unused for a few months. Our second drew water from the main tanks which I wasnt a fan of, mostly due to the crapper flush being connected to a potable water source.
Good maintenance practice for any type of cassette though is a periodic Thorough clean and lubricate any seals with a light Silicone based grease, replace any seals at the First sign of leakage.
Thetford include (so they say) a lubricant in their flush tank additive to keep the tank seals pliable, wet and sealing, I call it the Stinky Pinky because of its colour, and you can buy it in a squirty bottle for the systems with main tank flush, I usually dilute it 50/50 with water, the wife says Im a tight arse but I know Im just thrifty :)

Im the same as the other respondents though with regard to black tank levels though, a snappy look down the hole around dinner time will let you know if theres enough room in there for the overnight bang and crash or whether a quick jolly over to the dump point is in order.

Two Very big things to remember though, is dont trust the electrical indicators on the bog, and be sure to tell youre partner When youve removed the cassette for emptying!

It wasnt so funny when I had to clean it up, but that experience is still good for a giggle on occasion.

Cheers!

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Onedodger


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Santa wrote:
Peter_n_Margaret wrote:

I have ripped all the totally unreliable electrics out of hours, including the pump and plumbed it directly to the normal van water supply.
Look in the hole, you can see the level of the fluid in the tank. Why is a light needed?

Cheers,
Peter

 X3wink

 X4



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Moonraker


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Onedodger wrote:
Santa wrote:
Peter_n_Margaret wrote:

I have ripped all the totally unreliable electrics out of hours, including the pump and plumbed it directly to the normal van water supply.
Look in the hole, you can see the level of the fluid in the tank. Why is a light needed?

Cheers,
Peter

 X3wink

 X4

 X5, has the penny dropped yet!!! 



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dazz49


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Maybe you could make up a dip stick for the cassette. Half .three quarter and full . Cheers

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Long Weekend


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Been off line for a couple of days.

The consensus seems to be to not rely on the warning light so I'll forget about making it work and simply empty the cassette every two days. (Before we bought our van talking to others about on board toilets they seemed to indicate that a cassette would last two people for three days.)

Anyway, when I checked the original cassette I found that the float was missing - not just loose but completely gone. So, apart from a blown bulb it wouldn't have given any warning anyway.

Murray

 



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Santa


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Long Weekend wrote:

Been off line for a couple of days.

The consensus seems to be to not rely on the warning light so I'll forget about making it work and simply empty the cassette every two days. (Before we bought our van talking to others about on board toilets they seemed to indicate that a cassette would last two people for three days.)

 

Murray

 

 Morning Murray,

Sounds like the way to go, 3 days sounds about the mark.

Our policy is to make use of a dump point whenever we pass one, a few minutes emptying out gives you peace of mind knowing you wont have to worry again for a few days.smile



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Santa.

Moonta, Copper Coast, South Aust.
Santa


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dazz49 wrote:

Maybe you could make up a dip stick for the cassette. Half .three quarter and full . Cheers

 Guess you could call it a sh*t stick, Yuk.no



-- Edited by Santa on Friday 1st of June 2018 12:42:28 PM

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Santa.

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Tony Bev


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I read somewhere that one reason for the float, (which triggers the light), going out of whack, is that we vigorously give the cassette a shake, before emptying it

As everyone usage is different, we all get in a routine of empting the cassette, every so many number of days, and therefore not worrying about the light



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