Holding Tank Pump Out


S

Seas-The-Day

New member
I have a 400 SS. When getting a pump out, the procedure is to draw out the waste material, backflush with water, and then pump out again. On my boat, we could never get the fresh water to go in. It turns out that the level of the pump out location is at or lower than the lowest point of the line going to the holding tank.

I think the best solution is to fashion a threaded extension pipe that can be fitted to the pump out location during the pump out in order to raise the fixed location where the fresh water needs to be poured in.

It also occurred to me that every other 400 SS probably has the same problem. So, is this true, and has anyone else resolved this another way?
 
Your explaination doesnt sound right to me ???

After you pump-out, you turn the waterhose on to flush out the waste tank, water comes out, but doesnt go into your waste tank ???
 
That is true. Water will not flow into the pump out opening. Everything pumps out OK, but we cannot backflush with fresh water.
 
Interesting... sounds like a pressurized situation.

I would try a different marina to pump out (if you can)

Im courious if this is a vacu flush issue as well ???
 
I tried a few marinas, even my dealer's. It is the same at each.
One tech followed the hose from the inside, and determined that the top of the tank is at about the same elevation as the pump out location.

There is one marina with pressurized water integrated with the vacuum hose. There, they have no problem getting water in to the holding tank. Anywhere else, the water just pours onto the swim platform.
 
I seem to remember a 400SS at my marina a few years back that had to do something with his toilet each time he got a pumpout - I'm not much help because for the life of me I can't remember what it was exactly. Could it be that he opened up the ball valve to release pressure from the system??? When I bought my boat I thought I would have to do that too, but I don't.

Side Note: My Marina made just such an extension for their pumpout station - they call it the "Formula Connection". They use it for every recent model Formula that stops by.

I believe the reason this is done is becaue the pump out on some of our Formulas are placed so tight in the lower corner that their standard pumpout connection doesn't work so good.
 
I FLUSH MINE OUT ALL THE TIME. I MADE UP A 1 1/2 IPS PLASTIC FITTING THAT REDUCES TO GARDEN HOSE THREAD. I ATTACH THE MALE HOSE END TO THE FITTING, AND PRESSURE WASH THE INSIDE OF THE TANK WHILE PUMPING OUT THE OVERBOARD.
IN YOUR CASE, JUST TAKE FITTING OFF, AND RE-PUMP FRON THE DECK FITTING.
 
GSENT, you lost me there. Are you saying you take a fitting that fits the pump out and put a garden hose on it. then shoot the water into the holding tank. then remove and attach pump out??
 
STEVE,
I DISCHARGE DIRECTLY OVERBOARD WITH A MACERATOR. I HAVE A SEPARATE LINE FROM THE DECK FITTING TO THE TANK. I HAVE ANOTHER SEPARATE LINE FROM THE TANK TO THE OVERBOARD DISCHARGE.
WHEN PRESSURIZING THE DECK FILL, I USE A 1 1/2 IRON PIPE SIZE BUSHING WITH A 3/4 GARDENHOSE BIB ADAPTER TO FIT THE HOSE. I USE WATER TO CLEAN OUT THE TANK AFTER IT IS PUMPED OUT.
HOPE THIS IS UNDERSTANDABLE.
 
I have a 400SS and am not familiar with backflusing during pump out. In an effort to clean the tank and system completely, I attached a fitting with a gate valve and hose bib directly to the spare 1 1/2 inch fitting on the holding tank. During pump out I run fresh water into the tank and pump till it runs clear. Tell me more about backflushing, I can't picture doing this with my boat without ending up with a face full!!
 
Mine is a 2000 400ss.

The water hose at our marina is just a cut end of the hose (no fitting)

This allows people to slide up to several feet of hose into the pump out fitting.

I put in about 2-3 feet and can fill my wasterwater tank up and backflush.
 
I have 01 400SS and have the same problem, not fun,
End up running a hose to vac flush and running fresh water in it that way!
 
So even though I don't have this problem, here is what I do.

I run the fresh water hose into my head and basically instead of backflushing, I simply "flush" a bunch of fresh water through the system. Then I pump out a second time?

Would this work with you guys with the problem described in this thread ?
 
Just wondering it sound like a vent issue to me. Just throwing it out there.
It happend on our 37 and spiders and gunk pluged the vent.
 
Trace the waste line out to the deck fitting, and you'll see it is higher than the fitting. You can't get water back into the holding tank without it being under pressure or putting down the head.
 
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