Thor ACE toilet clog...revisited 2018

Golfbum18 · 06-07-2018, 10:04 PM

I have read the past comments about the toilet clogs....some going back to 2015. We have a new 2017 ACE 27.2 that of course, has the same problem. Have there been any new ideas, solutions or anything since ti doesn't seem the Thor is doing much to solve this, hopefully owners might be better thinkers than the Thor engineers?????

I have tried differnt paper....some help.....more water....some help.....plunber......solves it every time but you know, it's called waste for a reason and once it's outta me, I don't want to deal with it anymore. I have tried a manual leveling where the front is up just a little to get gravity working for us. The problem is better than it was but anyone find the solution to this crappy problem?

**16ACE27** · 06-07-2018, 10:32 PM

So what exactly is your problem. You can't say it's an ACE problem going back to 2015 because your floorplan didn't exist in 2015, and there are many different ACE floorplans.

A lot of problems are caused by a "poop volcano" because the toilet is positioned over the shallow end of the black tank.

Luckily, our toilet is positioned over a standard black tank that has no shallow area and we have no "clogging" issues.

Tearstone · 06-07-2018, 11:31 PM

We have a similar issue. I just make sure and tell the family to start and finish with a lot of water if they are dropping a deuce. They need enough to float the boat.

Also, when I dump the black tank, I refill it completely with fresh water 1-2 times afterwards to get it as clean as I can. On the ACE you did have this feature as well, try doing that as an extra step in the maintenance of flushing your black tank.

Use a flashlight to look down the toilet and fill up a few bowls full of water to drop it down as you are filling it up. This will help big time.

thor293 · 06-07-2018, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tfryman

So what exactly is your problem. You can't say it's an ACE problem going back to 2015 because your floorplan didn't exist in 2015, and there are many different ACE floorplans.

A lot of problems are caused by a "poop volcano" because the toilet is positioned over the shallow end of the black tank.

Luckily, our toilet is positioned over a standard black tank that has no shallow area and we have no "clogging" issues.

Well, actually he can say that because it has been a problem with any of the Ace's with the curb side toilets. It was a poor design.

99dart · 06-07-2018, 11:50 PM

It sounds like someone found a "poop volcano" in their Wheaties this morning.

Our WS31 has a quick elbow about a foot below the bowl opening. We had the bad luck of discovering the problem in the middle of the night when our 16 yr old G-daughter had the toilet belch back on her bare bum!

Let's just say she didn't use the MH toilet the rest of the trip!

So, now we use lotsa' water and have a coat hanger to push any TP dams on down the tube. My wife isn't very happy about the problem, but not much can be done to remedy the issue.

**16ACE27** · 06-07-2018, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thor293

Well, actually he can say that because it has been a problem with any of the Ace's with the curb side toilets. It was a poor design.

Again; it's not an ACE problem if it only effects ACEs with curb side toilets. I think you'll find there are other model lines that aren't ACEs with curb side toilets that have the same problem.

Golfbum18 · 06-08-2018, 12:31 AM

The problem is the same I've read from post over the years....1 seems to go down but as soon as there's paper involved, no matter how much "other" stuff goes down...a little or a lot, there can be a clog. You run the flush and it goes down to a point where the water starts to fill back into the down pipe. I know it doesn't go straight down because I see an elbow down there.

Golfbum18 · 06-08-2018, 12:33 AM

Thanks. SOunds like it worked for you. The clog is happening somewhere in the line to the holding tank. ONce the blockage is gone, the water runs right down until the next time. Doesn't happen all the time but you can almost count on it once every day or so.

Golfbum18 · 06-08-2018, 12:35 AM

I'm not saying it is or isn't a Thor problem....I'm not looking so much to place blame as I am to have the problem of the clog solved.....ACE or no ACE.

Golfbum18 · 06-08-2018, 12:37 AM

It's not so much the burp or the volcano as it is a clog that will back up the water in the down tube. I won't get a burp until I start the plunger...assuming I have to go that way.

thor293 · 06-08-2018, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tfryman

Again; it's not an ACE problem if it only effects ACEs with curb side toilets. I think you'll find there are other model lines that aren't ACEs with curb side toilets that have the same problem.

Yes you are right Ted, any curbside toilet is most likely an issue. I misread your statement.

JamieGeek · 06-08-2018, 01:17 AM

I know this would be a potentially costly solution ($500 for the toilet + installation costs) but it could be a permanent solution: how about a Macerating replacement Toilet.

Edit: here is the manual for it (pdf).

Edit 2: Looking at the installation instructions above it looks like it would be an easy swap out of a standard toilet--you'd just have to find a 12V source somewhere for the electric motor.

**16ACE27** · 06-08-2018, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Golfbum18

It's not so much the burp or the volcano as it is a clog that will back up the water in the down tube. I won't get a burp until I start the plunger...assuming I have to go that way.

Well most RV toilets don't have a downtube or pipe into the black tank, the toilet basically sits on top of the black tank.

I did help someone last year with a fifthwheel whose toilet used a downtube through a storage compartment down into the black tank. Seems that solids had formed a volcano directly below the tube causing a blockage right at the tube entrance into the tank. That may be your issue as well.

Bob Montgomery · 06-08-2018, 02:46 AM

I am wondering if you drop in black tank treatments each time after you have dumped your tank? In three years the only problem with our 2016 Ace 29.3 is the black tank fills too quickly and there are only two of us.

svt cobra · 06-15-2018, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tfryman

So what exactly is your problem. You can't say it's an ACE problem going back to 2015 because your floorplan didn't exist in 2015, and there are many different ACE floorplans.

A lot of problems are caused by a "poop volcano" because the toilet is positioned over the shallow end of the black tank.

Luckily, our toilet is positioned over a standard black tank that has no shallow area and we have no "clogging" issues.

Your lucky

Bob Montgomery · 06-15-2018, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tfryman

So what exactly is your problem. You can't say it's an ACE problem going back to 2015 because your floorplan didn't exist in 2015, and there are many different ACE floorplans.

A lot of problems are caused by a "poop volcano" because the toilet is positioned over the shallow end of the black tank.

Luckily, our toilet is positioned over a standard black tank that has no shallow area and we have no "clogging" issues.

Actually, the did have a 2015 A.C.E. I almost bought one.

Bob Denman · 06-15-2018, 05:49 PM

Thetford has a new product out: the "Tank Blaster".
They discuss it a bit in the July, 2018 issue of "Motorhome" magazine.

Golfbum18 · 06-15-2018, 08:28 PM

Generally, this is not a tank problem but a "route-to-the-tank" problem. THere is no problem in draining the tank or anything like that....the clog occurs before the crap..literally gets to the tank. The solution I found...or at least the improvement is simple...flush the crap first.....then the paper you use afterwards needs to sit in about half a bowl....not tank but the commode bowl for 10-15 minutes. Gives it a chance to break down and then flush....we haven't had a problem since going with this. It's just common sense when you look at it but it's something that seems to solve an problems with clogging

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Montgomery

I am wondering if you drop in black tank treatments each time after you have dumped your tank? In three years the only problem with our 2016 Ace 29.3 is the black tank fills too quickly and there are only two of us.

Golfbum18 · 06-15-2018, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by svt cobra

Your lucky

I don't know exactly where this line of thinking began but I was not trying to "blame" ACE for this....I don't care who's to blame....I was looking for a solution. I only brought up the fact that if ACE knew of this problem and didn't solve it but remanufactured this problem into every unit it produced, then it IS their problem. I bring this up only after it appeared to some (one) that I was trying to asses blame. Don't give a good sewer clog about who's to blame...I was looking for a solution to a problem that seems to be very familiar to a lot of ACE owners.

JohnR13 · 06-18-2018, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Golfbum18

I don't know exactly where this line of thinking began but I was not trying to "blame" ACE for this....I don't care who's to blame....I was looking for a solution. I only brought up the fact that if ACE knew of this problem and didn't solve it but remanufactured this problem into every unit it produced, then it IS their problem. I bring this up only after it appeared to some (one) that I was trying to asses blame. Don't give a good sewer clog about who's to blame...I was looking for a solution to a problem that seems to be very familiar to a lot of ACE owners.

Just gonna throw my 2¢ worth in. In our 2015 Palazzo, the curb-side toilet backed up twice on our last trip, similarly to the discussion here. Had to use a broom handle to clear it both times. I like the suggestion made about flushing the solids first, then letting the paper sit in the bowl awhile before flushing it. We'll try that next.

J

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