Thetford cassette hatch won’t close

[SallyM]

Am at Dunnet Bay campsite near Thurso, and the blade mechanism on Thetford cassette C-200 model has jammed so that hatch won’t fully close. I also cannot empty cassette.
Can anyone suggest best course of action, or recommend somewhere I can take it for repair.
All advice suggestions gratefully received, thank you

 

[Bustup15]

Am at Dunnet Bay campsite near Thurso, and the blade mechanism on Thetford cassette C-200 model has jammed so that hatch won’t fully close. I also cannot empty cassette.
Can anyone suggest best course of action, or recommend somewhere I can take it for repair.
All advice suggestions gratefully received, thank you

Are you sure the cassette is slid fully home as this would stop the slide mechanism working correctly

 

[Riverbankannie]

I agree, try shoving the cassette right in and then try to close the blade (hatch) fully. Your problem happens sometimes if you try and remove the cassette without the blade being fully closed. I have had it but a bit of wriggling things can sort it.

 

[Lenny HB]

Yippee a toilet thread.

I expect some paper trapped around the mechanism, get your hand in there and have a fish around.

Happened to us a Christmas we were at a friend's farm at the time so not too bad. Got the cassette out and had to carry it very carefully to empty it. When I took the mechanism out it had been forced out of the guides it slides on, 5 min job to put it back.

 

[Riverbankannie]

You are also in a good place to seek help from others on the campsite, never be afraid to ask around, it shouldn’t need to be taken for repair anywhere
Good luck

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[CazPaul]

Can you get access to get some lubrication in, olive oil is good or silicone spray.

 

[Nanniemate]

Have you put the slide cover on the wrong way easily done and a bit fiddly to get the cassette back out it it has been pushed in

 

[Landy Andy]

Doesn’t the entire shutter/blade section come off once turned about 20 degrees.

 

[RobbyMClark]

Any luck getting sorted?

 

[nicholsong]

Any luck getting sorted?

Probably got hand stuck in the hole so cannot reply.

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[TheBig1]

A thorough clean and lubricate with silicone spray will solve the issue. If you keep trying to force it when stuck, a tiny lug of plastic shears off and you will need a new "blade" because the cassette will then not open or close at all.

Servicing is extremely easy if done regularly. Modern cassettes, you use the slide over cover and use it as a lever to turn the mechanism, to line up the arrows. Then lift out and give it a good clean under a running tap. Then spray everything that moves, and the rubber seal and reassemble. A 5 minute job, but you might want to wear gloves. It stops these issues happening and helps prevent unwanted smells

With older cassettes, it is achieved by undoing 6 screws to remove the mechanism, but the tool less version is much easier to fix on site

Always fit the slide over cover in the direction away from the handle. So as the cassette is pushed in, it slops the cover allowing the cassette to continue to slide in, so opening the top.

If you are not carrying silicone spray as part of your essential kit, a good dose of silicone furniture polish will work as a temporary fix

 

[TOT]

You can see where this thread is leading......... again....
...... needs more fibre...............

 

[peterc10]

Did you try opening or closing the flap while you were sitting on the toilet? In that case the cogs on the mechanism can jump and stop the flap moving. Happened to me twice. I didn't learn after the first time. Sod's law meant it was full both times.

It needs a bit of levering from the outside to free the cassette. Once out you then have to adjust the cogged wheel back to its original position. First time it happened I managed to fix it myself but it took an hour or so. Second time I managed to find a caravan repairer local to where we were and persuaded him to fix it before he started work in the morning. Took him about 10 minutes.

 

[RobbyMClark]

Can't be that desperate!!!
Wrote the thread then disappeared hope not stuck in the crapper!!!

 

[Off da Grid]

Make sure the screw that holds the opening mechanism under the toilet is tight.
I found a screw where the cassette goes while preparing the van for the year , couldn’t figure out where it had come from.
Wasn’t until the second day on the first trip out this year that the flap got stuck at 4 in the morning..
On investigation the screw had fallen out, an easy fix once we’d figured it out.