Old Macerator Advice Sought

Carl Stouffer

Well-known member
Jan 15, 2009
4,688
380
83
Tucson, Arizona 85718
Kathy and I have had our coach now for almost 12 years and have taken an average of ten trips, ranging from a couple of days to a week amd a half, per
year. It came to us with a Jabsco macerator that we have been using that whole time. I have disassembled the macerator several times to clean hair
out of it etc, but it seems to be getting weaker on the pumping, sometimes needing to have the shaft turned by hand.

We are about to retire this Summer and are planning an extended cross country trip in the Fall, including a stop to attend the GMCMI convention in
Rapid City. So, we will be using the macerator a lot more. It has given me trouble during the hot months in the past, but has always gotten the job
done.

Do electric motors lose their power after a while, or is it just a matter of lubrication on the bearings etc? My question is, should I do another
"overhaul" or just replace it and be done with it. I suppose I could do both and keep the old one as a spare.
--
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles,
Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
 
Permanent magnet D.C. electric motors do indeed lose their field strength
over time. The fix? Replace em.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Oregon

On Thu, Jun 18, 2020, 7:10 PM Carl Stouffer via Gmclist <

> Kathy and I have had our coach now for almost 12 years and have taken an
> average of ten trips, ranging from a couple of days to a week amd a half,
> per
> year. It came to us with a Jabsco macerator that we have been using that
> whole time. I have disassembled the macerator several times to clean hair
> out of it etc, but it seems to be getting weaker on the pumping, sometimes
> needing to have the shaft turned by hand.
>
> We are about to retire this Summer and are planning an extended cross
> country trip in the Fall, including a stop to attend the GMCMI convention in
> Rapid City. So, we will be using the macerator a lot more. It has given
> me trouble during the hot months in the past, but has always gotten the job
> done.
>
> Do electric motors lose their power after a while, or is it just a matter
> of lubrication on the bearings etc? My question is, should I do another
> "overhaul" or just replace it and be done with it. I suppose I could do
> both and keep the old one as a spare.
> --
> Carl Stouffer
> '75 ex Palm Beach
> Tucson, AZ.
> Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive,
> Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American
> Eagles,
> Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
Carl- I had my 1st macerator for about 8 years?? It had a hard life as it caught and was tore out twice in it’s life. I have now flipped it
and tucked it up better.

I thought it had died, and due to time constraints i bought a replacement rather then doing any more troubleshooting.

Turns out the wire had broke inside the loom, and it was an electric problem. But that thing had 8 years of road spray, ect.. and in the new one
went.

Yes the new one sounds better and seems to work better. I would replace it.

I also feel good 10awg wiring is key. Run it like a high amp device where you run 10awg and a relay.

It is also
My opinion I think my 1” hose puts less wear and strain then some people who reduce to a 3/4”.

Hope
To see you in Rapid city. If you have extra time and gas. Midwest club has a rally the weekend before lined up at a steam tractor show more
toward the north east corner of south dakota. Vip treatment for our club i understand.

--
Jon Roche
75 palm beach
EBL EFI, manny headers, Micro Level, rebuilt most of coach now.
St. Cloud, MN
http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
 
Thank you Jim and Jon, both.

I do have it wired through a relay with 10awg wire protected by a self resetting circuit breaker. It just doesn't seem to have the oomph it used to
have. Like I said, on a few occasions, it would not start at all until I got under and turned the shaft with a screwdriver.

I guess I will replace it.

We have the trip pretty well planned out, going from here to Salt Lake City, then The Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, Devil's Tower, then Rapid City. We
will then continue east and end up in Lebanon County, PA for our usual Fall visit with relatives before proceeding back home by a more southerly
route. If your pre-rally was on the way, Jon, we would love to attend, but it won't work out on this trip
--
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles,
Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
 
Make sure that you really ave the voltage at the motor that you expect. Voltage drops can be anywhere besides that 10 ga. wire. If you grounded the
macerator to the the steel frame of the coach, the voltage drop could in the ground return back to the battery where the real ground is the aluminum
frame of the body. Problem could be in the crossover jumpers.

You will be very unhappy if the new one you install does not run any better than the existing one. Then you still have to troubleshoot it
electrically. Check the voltage at the motor when the motor is turned on and under a load.
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
 
Expanding on Ken B's comments: Don't just check the +12 VDC at the motor's
input. Also check the voltage from the Ground lead to the actual ground.
If that's more that a fraction of a volt, the connection needs attention..

Ken H.

On Sat, Jun 20, 2020 at 10:14 AM Ken Burton via Gmclist <

> Make sure that you really ave the voltage at the motor that you expect.
> Voltage drops can be anywhere besides that 10 ga. wire. If you grounded the
> macerator to the the steel frame of the coach, the voltage drop could in
> the ground return back to the battery where the real ground is the aluminum
> frame of the body. Problem could be in the crossover jumpers.
>
> You will be very unhappy if the new one you install does not run any
> better than the existing one. Then you still have to troubleshoot it
> electrically. Check the voltage at the motor when the motor is turned on
> and under a load.
> --
> Ken Burton - N9KB
> 76 Palm Beach
> Hebron, Indiana
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
> Thank you Jim and Jon, both.
>
> We have the trip pretty well planned out, going from here to Salt Lake City, then The Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, Devil's Tower, then Rapid City.
> We will then continue east and end up in Lebanon County, PA for our usual Fall visit with relatives before proceeding back home by a more southerly
> route. If your pre-rally was on the way, Jon, we would love to attend, but it won't work out on this trip

Carl,
If your planned route is not through Indianapolis and Columbus, but is through northern Ohio, please get back to me at matt 7three2three at gmail dot
common, I may have some ideas to adjust your plans.

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan
OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
 
Thanks Ken and Ken, I will check the ground and make sure it is correct.

Matt, our route will take us through Sioux City, down to Hannibal, MO, then Kathy wants to go to Springfield, IL. So we will be traveling through
Indianapolis (where my nephew and his family live) and Columbus. I think we're heading up to Akron from there and across PA on the northern route on
I-80 over to 322 down to Harrisburg.
--
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles,
Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member