‘96 272 Sailfish macerator pump location

[Palmolotte]

Where is the holding tank overboard (macerator) pump located on a ‘96 272 Sailfish? Thanks

 

[ScottyCee]

Inside the under-helm berth under the hatch. In the tank itself.

 

[Palmolotte]

Thank you. Do you know if there is anything to try to get the pump going again, short of pulling it from the tank? The fuse is good and there is power to the control panel and tank wire connections.

 

[Andrew93]

There is a writeup somewhere where someone abandoned the in tank macerator in place and added an external one with a y valve through the pump out port. I think there was one specific to a 272 Sailfish I saw somewhere but this link is the same idea

Groco pump -simple macerator retrofit- 265 Express

Mine crapped out in my '04 265. I considered getting a Groco replacement but $500 for a lousy design was not appealing to me, so I looked for alternatives. After inspecting the arrangement, the first thing I determined was that better access was required- the existing 5 x11 hatch was...

www.greatgrady.com

 

[Palmolotte]

Appreciate your help. I looked at the pick and looks pretty straightforward. I’ll see what kind of space I have.

 

[ScottyCee]

Rebuilding mine was easy. It had seized, and was very dirty - looked like a throwaway but it actually cleaned right up. There’s a thread with some pictures of that process. I would assume it would be a lot easier to get it spinning again then it would be to re-design. Ymmv...

 

[Palmolotte]

I hear u, not sure I want to handle/clean crap. Do u know if reversing power wire connections will reverse rotation. Wondering if going back n forth With rotation might free it up.

 

[ScottyCee]

Ya. Mine wasn’t that kind of dirty. The motor had seized. I don’t know about polarity and direction but I doubt that work work to free it up. Wear gloves. Lol

 

[glacierbaze]

Most macerator pumps have a small rubber boot on the end of the motor, which covers the end of the shaft. There is a screw driver slot in the shaft fof the purpose of freeing a stuck shaft.

 

[Palmolotte]

Thanks. Looks like I would still need to remove it from the tank to get to that rubber boot, which I’d like to avoid if possible. So far, it’s pointing to investing in a hazmat suit!

 

[glacierbaze]

Even if the macerator is in the tank, it is hard to believe that it is being used as a submersible pump, rather than having its own space. I just replaced my external macerator, and the motor end did not strike me as submersible, but I wasn't looking for that.
Someone who has been there give us the dirty truth.

 

[ScottyCee]

Definitely submerged. I'm telling you was ready to throw it away, but this one works perfectly now. The shaft had seized, but otherwise it was fine. it may have been replaced at some point, as the bearings don't seem 20 years old...

 

[glacierbaze]

Be careful! Losing your sense of smell can be a symptom.

 

[Palmolotte]

Decided to pull the pump out today and it was relatively easy, other than getting the discharge hose off the elbow fitting. It’s a ‘96 so after 24 years being clamped and not mush room to get a good grip, had to cut the hose off the fitting. The pump looked cruddy and the shaft was seized. I let it sit inverted with a few drops of mouse milk oil for 10 minutes then took a drill w/ 11mm socket to the shaft bolt at the macerator blade. Got it to turn right away and then reinstalled it. Appreciate everyone’s responses.

 

[ScottyCee]

Good work sir!!

That wasn't so bad, was it? 8^)