Toilet bowl will not hold water

[Kitesontheroad]

This is a new 4 month old 3720RL Montana and the toilet bowl will not hold water. I have replaced the seal and it is better but still does not hold water. This is the new bowl with the ball type trap (or at least new to us) I'm going to have the dealer look at this when we take it in but my question is "Is this a problem with this type of Toilet bowl?" and should I replace with the old slide type Toilet?

[jlb27537]

Welcome, to the world of Thetford... You have a couple of options, mess with it, more than likely the rotating ball part has a broken tit on the right end and needs to be replaced. This is a known problem with a Thetford toilet.

If you call Thetford, they will send you a replacement part. Ask for a ball and seal kit. If you are handy you can fix it in 30 minutes.

The other fix is to replace it with a Dometic 320 or a Dometic 310 toilet.

I took my Thetford apart, replaced the ball and seal and it has been fine every since. About once a month you have to lube the ball and seal with silicone grease or vasoline and all is fine.

Do a search on Thetford Toilets on this forum. The problem comes with how the toilet is shipped. It comes from Thetford with the bag of mounting parts stuck in the opening that the ball closes. The ball is not designed to be stopped in its travel during closing. This causes the locating tit on the shaft to either be broken off or bent which causes the ball to not rotate far enough rearward to seal properly. If you put a new ball in, it will work properly, but if you operate it with a dry seal, use your foot to lift the pedal to help close the ball, you will eventually break the tit off and here you go again.

This is what it looks like with a broken locating tit with the top bowl removed. Note the ball is not fully rearward, thus it will not hold water.



Been there, done that....Jim

[Kitesontheroad]

Thanks I replaced the seal but not the ball cause it looked good. But since I have an appointment at Olathe Ford and RV I'll let them.

[1retired06]

I greased the bowl gasket with vasoline on both toilets . 5 months later still holding water.

[bncinwv]

Vaseline added with a q-tip works wonders! Been there, done that, regularly.
Bingo

[DQDick]

Our 1st Tetford was replaced when the flush control blew apart. The second one did ok for about six months and then started to leak. Called Tetford and replaced the seal, lasted another six months, put another seal in and same deal. Replaced with a Dometic 310 now all is good. I'd at least make them fix it while under warranty, but then plan on a Dometic in your future.

[Eagleback]

First, Do not use Vaseline. Use plumbers grease instead and then fill the bowl with hot water and let it sit and the seal will form to the stop ball, then grease the seal. that would be the first thing I would try before going through the list of possible causes with this toilet. I have had 3 Thetfords and fixed them all with this process.

[bncinwv]

quote:Originally posted by Eagleback

First, Do not use Vaseline. Use plumbers grease instead and then fill the bowl with hot water and let it sit and the seal will form to the stop ball, then grease the seal. that would be the first thing I would try before going through the list of possible causes with this toilet. I have had 3 Thetfords and fixed them all with this process.

Why not use vaseline? I have used it on all three models for the last eight years with no ill effects?
Bingo

[1retired06]

quote:Originally posted by bncinwv

Why not use vaseline? I have used it on all three models for the last eight years with no ill effects?
Bingo

Agree, and a dealership I have great confidence in made that recommendation. Sure has worked for us, wish all fixes were that easy.

[bshgto]

quote:Originally posted by Kitesontheroad

This is a new 4 month old 3720RL Montana and the toilet bowl will not hold water. I have replaced the seal and it is better but still does not hold water. This is the new bowl with the ball type trap (or at least new to us) I'm going to have the dealer look at this when we take it in but my question is "Is this a problem with this type of Toilet bowl?" and should I replace with the old slide type Toilet?

Mine was doing the same thing 2 months out, got tired of having to grease the ball so I put in a Dometic 320 W/ sprayer a much better toilet, DW likes the sprayer.and no reports of this brand flooding the camper.

[bigskyjimmy]

You got that right,been there done that with the flooded 5er,Never again

[Jimmer]

Had the same problem with our new 3582RL. The dealer replaced the toilet and have not had a problem since. With all of the problems with the Thetford I believe I will do the same thing and replace with a Dometic.

[Bornbroke]

I just sprayed the ball of the toilet bowel with furniture polish. The valve closes great and holds the water.

[Eagleback]

The Vaseline contains petroleum products that break down the rubber gasket where the plumbers grease contains silicone. I got this recommendation from an RV repair guy who said he has replaced many gaskets on a lot of toilets not just Thetford from people using Vaseline. and he said that if you use it then there is a chance that Thetford or other company's will not honor the warranty if anything else fails on the toilet. the grease and hot water is his FIRST recommendation and works more times than not. but its just a suggestion if you would like to use it or not, but I have used this method on 3 Thetford toilets and all have worked.

[mduf]

Do you put the grease on the seal and then close the ball and add hot water?
Or do you put the grease with the ball closed? Thanks

[Eagleback]

I added the hot water first then let the water sit then drain the water dried the seal then put grease on the seal with the ball open then I opened and closed the ball a few times.