Thetford Aqua-Magic V Foot Flush Toilet - Blade Valve Leak

[huskersteffy]

I have a 2016 21C with a Thetford Aqua-Magic V foot flush toilet (not sure what's "magic" about it but oh well). It has worked fine for 7+ years until I recently went out to get the camper ready for a trip. I noticed the toilet was empty (no water seal). I was surprised because that thing has held a water seal for months at a time during winter. At first, I blamed it on the recent hot weather thinking the water must have evaporated. Filled toilet with a couple inches of water but it had disappeared after a couple hours.

Off to the local RV dealer and picked up a new blade seal and floor gasket. Replacement was easy-peasy and replaced the floor seal just because "might-as-well" since I had the toilet off.

The leak is much slower, but still present. Has anyone else had a similar experience? Does the seal just need some repeated operation and time to seat properly against the valve? The blade valve itself looks clean to me with no stuck-on debris.

Thanks.

[davidmurphy02]

I'm not sure when they changed the design of the blade valve in those toilets - in our 2019, the blade valve simply rests on the bottom of the rubber seal, if on occasion something tries to get caught on it and creates a small leak, working the flush valve/blade open and closed several times usually cleans it off and it is good to go.

In our older trailer, the blade valve in the toilet seated in a groove at the bottom of the toilet when it closed. If the flush valve was opened and closed quickly, sometimes a bit of toilet paper or other debris wouldn't go down and could get caught on the edge of the blade valve as it closed and pushed into the groove in the rubber seal, causing a small leak. They used to make an L shaped tool - like a screwdriver with a bent end - to use to scrape around that groove in the seal, with the blade valve held open, and clean out any debris. If your toilet has that groove that the blade valve slides into, you might try cleaning out that groove - it's not necessary to have the special tool, a very short screwdriver or a short angled screwdriver would work fine, just be careful not to drop it.

[rubicon327]

Maybe give this stuff a try. Haven't used it personally but the reviews are favorable. Sounds like it can help even new seals.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002NSU0ZW...kCode=ogi&th=1

[Nigel]

Is the top of the blade smooth? I just had the same issue with an Aqua Magic 4. There were grooves worn in the surface. I sanded them smooth and that worked until I got a new blade (back ordered).

Nigel

[huskersteffy]

Thanks for the replies. After actuating the foot valve 15-20 times and then letting water sit again, the problem seems to have resolved itself. All good.

[TTMartin]

Originally Posted by huskersteffy

The leak is much slower, but still present. Has anyone else had a similar experience? Does the seal just need some repeated operation and time to seat properly against the valve? The blade valve itself looks clean to me with no stuck-on debris.

Thanks.

We periodically add some silicone grease to the seal. Seems to keep it sealed.