Dometic 510h repair - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Neil and Connie · RV-Dreams Family Member

Dometic 510h repair

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

I know you are using a water softener, so it is probably the seal kit. The seal kits are available many places, including Amazon, and doable by someone with some handy skills.

Neil and Connie · RV-Dreams Family Member

That's what I was thinking it most likely needs…but I'll get the repair guy to do the installation for me. I learned a long time ago that plumbing and I don't get along. Electricity…mechanical…carpentry…IT…I'm fine with all of those but a plumber I'm not.

The rig is going on 7.5 years old now and the toilet gets a lot of use since we're full timers…so no real surprise that the seal might need replacing.

Lynn and Ed · RV-Dreams Family Member

Neil,

If you are not already using a dishwasher detergent boosting agent to periodically help remove hard-water build-up on the seal/toilet, you may want to try that before replacing the seal. I clean the toilet with the detergent boosting agent, when the seal starts to leak, and it fixes the issue every time. Similar to you, we also use a water softener, but I also find periodically using the boosting agent in the toilet helpful. However, our toilet seal is 4.5 years old versus 7 years old so YMMV.

We use: https://www.amazon.com/Finish-Water-Booster-Powder-Sparkle/dp/B007Z48F56/ref=sr_1_20_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1545419781&sr=8-20&keywords=Finish

Another similar product: https://www.amazon.com/Lemi-Shine-Dishwasher-Detergent-Glassware/dp/B07CMTVH38/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1545420196&sr=8-3&keywords=lemon+shine+booster

Lynn

arcaguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

If it is indeed hard water buildup (lime) white vinegar might work just fine at a couple of bucks a gallon. I've been amazed at what it does to rusty cast iron skillets & dutch ovens.

Neil and Connie · RV-Dreams Family Member

Lynn...thanks. I will try that product and also the vinegar first, it also removes hard water scale As well...and ive already got that on hand.

-- Edited by Neil and Connie on Saturday 22nd of December 2018 08:48:08 AM

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

I put some vinegar in the toilet once a week. Let it sit, then flush. Also use baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) to scrub the toilet - just enough grit to get things loose and it helps buffer the black tank. Dump some baking soda (I buy the BIG bags at Costco) down each drain to help keep p-traps 'sweet', and always had a thin layer in the cat's litter box.

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

Vaseline will work in the interim. Put some rubber gloves on first.

edit: the newer 510's use a two bolt mount and require an adapter to attach to a 4 bolt mount. Plus only a few suppliers carry the 510 these days. We fixed/cleaned ours when it got gunked up by hard water, which is a reason we now have a water softener in addition to water filters.

-- Edited by bjoyce on Sunday 23rd of December 2018 09:50:55 AM

RonC · RV-Dreams Family Member

Not suggesting you do as I did ... but my RV tech (same guy I use each year when we winter in Texas) ... he told me it was just about $100 difference between replacement of the seal (due to labor costs) and replacement of the whole toilet. His point was that the old toilet spring, pedal rotating point, water valve and bottom gasket are all nearing end of life and replacement of the whole toilet was a better (slightly more expensive) short term choice, but was a much better long term choice. So that’s what I did, just replaced the toilet and didn’t repair the old one. Just adding some info to the conversation. What I did was the expensive repair short term, but I’m hoping it’s a less expensive long term choice (by avoiding the nickel and dime repairs down the line). YMMV.

-- Edited by RonC on Sunday 23rd of December 2018 01:43:43 PM

-- Edited by RonC on Sunday 23rd of December 2018 01:45:45 PM

Cookie Dough · RV-Dreams Family Member

We too have a seal issue, I have tried dishwasher detergent boosting agent, didn't help us. However, I plan to try the other suggestions. Also, got the same statement as Ron did from more than one RV tech.

One thing I was able to fix was the seat being loose. Like in a house, most will have a hinged plastic cover over a screw that can be tightened. Unlike a house reaching the nut on the underside is next to impossible. By pulling up on the area around the screw the nut came into contact underneath, then I just held pressure while tightening the screw. A few minutes on U tube showed me the way.

Neil and Connie · RV-Dreams Family Member

>>

Rubber gloves on first

<<

Yeah...good idea.

Regarding the suggestoin about replacing the whole thing maybe being a better idea...

Probably a good point. Some more troubleshooting has revealed that if I flush then press the pedal up just enough to get the water to start running and then stop largely reduces the leakage...indicating that the shaft and/or ball valve might be slightly worn. I. heckling on Amazon, comptetely rebuilding the lower end is something over $200 just in parts. Haven’t checked the price of a new one... it that might just be the better long term fix anyway.

I could do it myself...except for my “l don’t do plumbing rule”. so I will either buy the parts or a new one and get the mobile repair guy to install.

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

Some reports say that some new 510's have a modified foot pedal that does not allow you to put press up to add water so people are keeping the old pedal (just the metal part) just in case.

Neil and Connie · RV-Dreams Family Member

bjoyce wrote:
Some reports say that some new 510's have a modified foot pedal that does not allow you to put press up to add water so people are keeping the old pedal (just the metal part) just in case.

I've also not seen the spray attachment on the ones I've seen on the web so far…which you definitely need in an RV installation…between the two of them that might tilt the scale back to repair parts rather than new.

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

We have a 510 in our rig. Replacing the seals isn't a big deal. You just remove the seat and the bowl, replace seals (after cleaning all around the 'ball'), etc., put the bowl back on and tighten the band around, etc. Replacing the 'ball' assembly is a little more work - especially if one is left-handed (as Dave is) and is angry about having to do it. biggrin

We also found that the spring action is helped by (1) taking a Q-tip soaked in vinegar and cleaning out the intake screen (where the water line goes into the toilet) and (2) spraying silicone spray around the spring so you get a good snap back.

Barb

Neil and Connie · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks Barb…does removing the bowl as you've described allow the gasket between the bowl and ball to be replaced or does that require taking the rest of the base apart.

At this point…I'm still working on trying to make sure the ball is fully clean of mineral deposits that might be causing the leakage…visually the bowl to ball seal doesn't really look worn out…no tears or falling apart edges that would indicate it needs replacing.

I could actually do the work myself…it's not really that hard…but I hate plumbing and would rather toss money at the problem and have the mobile tech do it…as I said before I'm fine with just about any other maintenance but I have a distinct hatred for plumbing

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

Neil and Connie wrote:
Thanks Barb…does removing the bowl as you've described allow the gasket between the bowl and ball to be replaced or does that require taking the rest of the base apart.
At this point…I'm still working on trying to make sure the ball is fully clean of mineral deposits that might be causing the leakage…visually the bowl to ball seal doesn't really look worn out…no tears or falling apart edges that would indicate it needs replacing.
I could actually do the work myself…it's not really that hard…but I hate plumbing and would rather toss money at the problem and have the mobile tech do it…as I said before I'm fine with just about any other maintenance but I have a distinct hatred for plumbing

Once the bowl is off you have access to the seals. They are the easiest to replace. And you can’t really see how the seals are underneath until you remove the bowl, at which point put in the new seals!

Neil and Connie · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks again Barb. If the cleaning with the powder Lynn recommended doesn’t work I will order the seals and replace tgem. Although I don’t do plumbing...this repair looks more mechanical than plumbing anyway.

Lynn and Ed · RV-Dreams Family Member

Neil,

If you find the vinegar and/or dish washing detergent booster makes a difference, you may want to follow Barbaraok's suggestion going forward (i.e., regularly using white vinegar and baking soda in the toilet, and other drains). Barb suggested something similar numerous years ago, on an older thread, and I have been following her suggestion ever since ... although not weekly, it likely is part of the reason we are not having an issue with the seal (as well as the vinegar/baking soda has other helpful benefits, such as keeping the plumbing cleaner).

Lynn

Neil and Connie · RV-Dreams Family Member

I already do the bleach and baking soda down the drains trick...not at the same time of course...rinse well between...to keep them from smelling bad. The leakage has stopped for now...perhaps there was some...let’s call it debris...stuck in there that finally washed itself away.

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

Vinegar is different than the bleach. Bleach will not do a thing about mineral deposit, vinegar will. Vinegar will also help buffer the black tank, which keeps the bacteria happy and doing it's job, so everything stays in solution and flushes away. In fact, bleach will kill bacteria.

Bleach is more effective against mold, which is why I have some in the rig to use on 'discolorations that clear up with bleach'. That is literally the term we used at one of the universities I was at when the huge mold scare was sweeping the country. biggrin

Neil and Connie · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks Barb...I knew that but my reply was unclear.

Cummins12V98 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Do your self a HUGE favor and dump that POS and get this!!!

3.5 years full time use, LOVE it!!!

Dometic 320 Series Standard Height Toilet, White
by Dometic
4.4 out of 5 stars 276 customer reviews | 132 answered questions
Amazon's
Choice
for "dometic 320 rv toilet"
Price: $195.31

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

So we should get rid of our toilet that has been working fine for 16 years (it is original equipment) and we've been using for 13 years? Can do a lot of easy maintenance for ~$200 without having to replace the whole unit.

-- Edited by Barbaraok on Tuesday 1st of January 2019 11:09:00 AM

Cummins12V98 · RV-Dreams Family Member

If PAYING someone as you mentioned YES I would get the 320. I have owned both and the 320 is MUCH nicer toilet.

olderthandirt · RV-Dreams Family Member

The toilet bowl chronicles. You gotta love it!!

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

Cummins12V98: I have to humbly disagree. The 510 is a low rise porcelain toilet, the 320 is a standard height plastic toilet. The 320 would be too high for many of us as a replacement and being plastic, would scratch easily, while porcelain can be scrubbed on.

Rickl · RV-Dreams Family Member

🍿🍺

RonC · RV-Dreams Family Member

Rickl wrote:
🍿🍺

Ha ... and agree.

RonC · RV-Dreams Family Member

bjoyce wrote:
Cummins12V98: I have to humbly disagree. The 510 is a low rise porcelain toilet, the 320 is a standard height plastic toilet. The 320 would be too high for many of us as a replacement and being plastic, would scratch easily, while porcelain can be scrubbed on.

Not taking sides here, but the 320 (which is porcelain with a sturdy seat) is offered in both standard height and low rise.

-- Edited by RonC on Tuesday 1st of January 2019 12:19:56 PM

-- Edited by RonC on Tuesday 1st of January 2019 12:21:08 PM

Cummins12V98 · RV-Dreams Family Member

May want to do some fact checking before commenting if you disagree with someones statement. Before replying i DID look this up, see below.

Cheers to the others that blindly chimed in!

"With an enameled elongated seat, residential height, and a lustrous high-fired vitreous china bowl, the Dometic 320 RV toilet makes you feel right at home. The ergonomic height offers easy accessibility for people of all ages, and the fully enclosed rim delivers a full-circumference flush that cleans the entire bowl every flush."

arcaguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

OK here's what I see, everyone seems to be talking about high-rise, standard height, ergonomic height and low rise, none of which provide any useful information to me. I have just measured the toilets in my house, which I consider to be "standard" height as I wouldn't have them if they were the same height as the toilets in the handicapped (for lack of a better word) stalls at public restrooms. From what I measured the height from the floor to the top of the porcelain it about 13.5 inches which equates to a Dometic 321. However please note that the Dometic web site also states that the 321 is 15.5 inches high which is what I measured the seat height at on my "standard" sticks and bricks toilet, but see the discussion below about the hump in the back. The Dometic web sit also states that the 320 is a "standard" 18 inches tall which I take to mean that standard has now been changed from what it was 50 years ago when my toilets were made. The same description for the 320 states that the product is 19.75 inches high, but maybe that's to the top of the little hump on the back. My guess is that it is. In my world the long and the short of it is, if you're happy with your current toilet's height, buy one that height, if you think it's too short buy the taller one, or maybe the best solution is fix what you have and be fat, dumb and happy and maybe save a little money. They do say that ignorance is bliss and God knows in that case I should be as blissful as they come.

-- Edited by arcaguy on Tuesday 1st of January 2019 10:09:24 PM

Cummins12V98 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Top of my 320 seat is 18 3/8" and the top of the "HUMP" is 19 3/4". IMHO, much more comfortable than the shorter ones. All three of my toilets at home are Handicap elongated bowl. The 320 has an elongated bowl also.

Cummins12V98 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Just a FYI a standard chair seating height is 18" so one can compare what 18" feels like. For some it's a much easier height to set down to or get up from.

-- Edited by Cummins12V98 on Thursday 3rd of January 2019 06:59:41 AM

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

I guess I have the 320 mixed up with the other cheap Dometic that the RV place wanted to sell me, which was all plastic. At the time there was no low rise version, but now there is a 321. Truthfully I really don't care since I would need an adapter kit to fit the 4 bolt if I had to replace it since all new Dometics use the 2 bolt pattern, including newer 510s. The 510 and 321 are low rise since they are put on a pedestal so the seat height from the bathroom floor is about standard height. The pedestal keeps all the mounting hardware above the floor level.

I changed out my old 510 in 2010 since I broke an internal part by mistake and it was easier to replace the whole unit. If I had not broken that internal part I suspect we would still be using that same 510 today. We did put a new toilet seat on last year when the old hinge cracked, a standard 16" one you can buy anywhere including a $6 one at Wal-Mart. I do have spare parts of the toilet, since spring kits and water valves like to die when you are a long ways from parts stores.