Toilet won't hold water

[Larry Tiner]

My daughter just bought a 2-year-old RV. Maiden voyage...
When you step on the flusher, everything works fine, but when you try to hit that 1/2 point to fill a little water in the bowl, water runs right on through. Black gasket looks fine.
Any ideas I can try?


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[cpaulsen]

Does it have the round ball with a reddish gasket around it?? When mine did that....I turned the water off......took a rag and depressed the valve so I could clean that gasket/seal. Worked just great afterwards.

[Larry Tiner]

The gasket is black. But you've given me something to work with. They are asleep right now, but I'll try that when I can get inside. Thanks for the quick suggestion.
I'll update once I can get inside it. I'm afraid I'd have to tear into the commode. I hope this works!


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[Capt. Mike]

Originally Posted by Larry Tiner

My daughter just bought a 2-year-old RV. Maiden voyage...
When you step on the flusher, everything works fine, but when you try to hit that 1/2 point to fill a little water in the bowl, water runs right on through. Black gasket looks fine.
Any ideas I can try?


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Those gaskets and seals tend to get hard and brittle and then leak. After cleaning it, get some RV toilet seal conditioner (available at marine and RV parts stores and sometimes at Walmart) and dump some in to keep everything lubed up and pliable.

[Larry Tiner]

Excellent point! Thanks!! We are out in the boonies --- is there something I could substitute for the tine being, until I can get to a RV repair store?


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[Ford Idaho]

WD-40, the silicone type if you have it would be better or any silicone type lube.

[Larry Tiner]

Thanks! I've got some of that.
This is what I love about this site!! Nice folks always eager to help!
May each of you have a blessed Thanksgiving!!


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[donniedu]

Originally Posted by Larry Tiner

Excellent point! Thanks!! We are out in the boonies --- is there something I could substitute for the tine being, until I can get to a RV repair store?


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Do not use wd40! It can cause thebgasket to swell. Instead get plumbers grease. My guess you have a sealand traveler toilet? If so new gasket is an easy fix.

[Larry Tiner]

I'll gave to check the brand. Would I have to pull the commode to work on it?


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[Ford Idaho]

If the gasket has dried out and shrunk enough to leak then it needs to swell some.

Replacing the gasket is best, but the WD is a temporary fix.

[PhoneDude 8289]

A little mineral oil might help. I used that on the toilet in my old Cougar till I could get a new gasket, the toilet needs to come apart to replace the gasket but thats not much of a job.

[Larry Tiner]

Thanks, guys. I'll update later.


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[bubbles]

If Dometic the manual says to pour some very hot (boiling) water into the bowl and allow to set for awhile and the rubber seal may re-align itself. I have done this and it worked for me. A spray of dry silicone on the seal at sporadic intervals keeps mine pliable.

[Larry Tiner]

UPDATE ---
The commode is a Dometic 310. After cleaning around the bottom inside of bowl, I realized the white arm that goes back and forth to flush and fill is bent. One side sits about 1/8-inch too low. Am I going to have to take the commode out?


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[1l243]

On mt toilet if I fill the bowl I can only push down on the lever about 1/4 of the way if I go past that, the gate starts to open and water will run out...

[bubbles]

Originally Posted by Larry Tiner

UPDATE ---
The commode is a Dometic 310. After cleaning around the bottom inside of bowl, I realized the white arm that goes back and forth to flush and fill is bent. One side sits about 1/8-inch too low. Am I going to have to take the commode out?


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The left side is in a slot. The left side pops into a slot with a rubber washer and is held in place with a screw from the outside where the flush handle enters. There is a cap on the flush handle that pops off with a screw driver and the screw can be seen deep inside. It is a tiny screw (#4 or #6) and short threads. I changed mine to a #8. If it's loose, don't over tighten.

[MC9]

If it is a 310, the toilet does not come apart. Just step on the lever and reach in and pull the gasket out of the groove and check it out or replace.

[Larry Tiner]

Final update:
I held the foot lever open, reached in and tried to bend the flapper handle. So far, it's working.
Once again, thank each of you for your input.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!


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[Rdeemat]

If it's a Sealand toilet I suggest ripping it out and replace it with a quality one. After 3 seal kit replacements it only held water about a month or so. Finally I put in a real household flush toilet. Couldn't be happier with it. Uses 1 gallon of water for a number 1 flush and 1.8 gallons for number 2 flush. Why do they even install those cheap RV junk toilets, I'll never know.

[Mountainmanbob]

Originally Posted by donniedu

Do not use wd40! It can cause thebgasket to swell. Instead get plumbers grease. My guess you have a sealand traveler toilet? If so new gasket is an easy fix.

just what I was thinking when I read this thread

plumbers grease is always the best to use


I put plumbers grease around the toilet sliding seal a couple of times a year

MM