Macerator Pump quits...

[Interstate42]

We have a 2009 Interstate that came with an installed macerator pump, a Flojet I think. It reminds me of that nursery rhyme about the little girl with a curl in the middle of her forehead: When she was good, she was very, very good. When she was bad, she was horrid.

When it's working, it works like a charm, but every so often it quits without warning. We've increased the water ratio, use the recommended tank additives, don't run the pump excessively without a cooling-off break, vacate the tanks every week whether we use them or not... and have still had to return the rig for repairs at least 8 times in the past 18 months.

The shop has taken the pump apart, replaced it, replaced the tank valves, replaced fuses, checked the wiring... and it'll work for a while, but then (when we're 3 days out, and miles away from an authorized dealer...) it craps out again. Any suggestions for making this thing work like it's supposed to would be most welcomed!

[xo1rider]

This is not going to answer your question but....

I had a 2008 Sprinter Class "B" motorhome by Roadtrek with a macerator. I traded it for my current Airstream trailer. Among the things I did not like was the macerator system. Everything you describe was my story including a sheared shaft on the pump making it useless. Try pulling into the shop with a full black tank and a broken macerator.

The gravity flow tanks on the trailer make me smile each time I don't have to deal with the macerator.

Don't know but can you convert to gravity?

[ZoominC6]

K.I.S.S.......if it isn't broken, why fix it? Not your answer either.

I'm amused when my Airstream friends feel they have to mess with a perfectly good system....gravity evacuation......and replace it with something mechanical. Oh well.

[AirsDream]

Yeah, sorry to hear of your story. I was considering one of those pumps - there are certain advantages - but your story and others like it I've heard have convinced me: I'm stickin' with gravity. It never seems to break down or go offline.

[xrvr]

Too heavy tp can cause a stoppage. On the early Interstates there was a lever of sorts near the tank to manually dump. Never used it but my dealer pointed it out to me because my pump appeared not to work at times. I thought it was some kind of vacuum or temporary stoppage because usually after I drove awhile and tried the pump again it would work. Another reason I sold the unit. The lever or bolt?, I can not remember was not easily reached. Jim

[xrvr]

Also my wife reminded me that it seemed if the seat was down it was likely not to work. Also try using the flush lever when someone uses the pump. it has been awhile but this all we seem to remember. Cannot hurt to try. I liked my Interstate and my wife cried when I sold it because I thought it had too any little nitpikky problems. Then I got a trailer, we all make mistakes! Jim

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by Interstate42

... it craps out again

Reading through the reviews on marine sites like West Marine and Jamestown Distributors, where these pumps are used more often than in RV applications, well, the reviews are uniformly negative. The pumps work great for a while and then they fail.