Hi. I think my unit has the original 'Aqua Magic' toilet. The bowl does not hold any water. I was reading here that a good soapy scrub of the bowl + drain cover can bring the seal back to life. There is also 'seal lubricant' that can be poured in? Otherwise, am i looking at replacing the seal, and what is involved? Thanks!

The problem is usually caused by the valve closing on tp and trapping some in the channel in the seal. It can be cleaned out with an L-shaped tool that Thetford used to sell. You can make your own out of a coat hangar or heat and bend the tip of a screwdriver. Just make sure there are not burrs or real sharp edges. After softening with water, the tool can be run around inside the groove in the seal to remove tp residue.

An acid brush bent to 90 degrees right at the end with 2/3 of its bristles cut off was my preferred tool. I made a wood handle for it, even. Shortening the bristles made the remaining ones stiffer to do the job without the risk of any seal damage from a metal tool.

The groove can be kept clean with regular use of a large bottle brush sold at restaurant and bar supply stores.

Coconut oil is a good lube. RV stores sell a lube. Petroleum products will swell and deteriorate the seal.

The seals do get old and hard, and can be softened with a product sold for that purpose in oleo struts of aircraft landing gear. I did that to mine once. Care must be taken to avoid getting the product on the plastic.

quote:

An acid brush bent to 90 degrees right at the end with 2/3 of its bristles cut off was my preferred tool. I made a wood handle for it, even. Shortening the bristles made the remaining ones stiffer to do the job without the risk of any seal damage from a metal tool.

Very good! What about a hard toothbrush + rubber gloves?

quote:

Originally posted by MGmobile:

quote:

An acid brush bent to 90 degrees right at the end with 2/3 of its bristles cut off was my preferred tool. I made a wood handle for it, even. Shortening the bristles made the remaining ones stiffer to do the job without the risk of any seal damage from a metal tool.

Very good! What about a hard toothbrush + rubber gloves?

If the result is good, the tool is good. .........Clausewitz, vom Krieg