Therefore drop down sink

[Nick Kirby]

Afternoon everybody,

I have a problem with the thetford drop down sink in the wash room of our Elddis Sunseeker motorhome, the drain hose has come of the back of the plug hole fitting. Has anyone any suggestions of putting it back on? The fitting is inside the sink and won't come out of the hole where the hose passes through, it appears to me it was all assembled before the 2 halves of the sink are stuck together.

Many thanks

 

Nick

[Derek Uzzell]

(Unfortunately) I suspect that your analysis of how the wash-basin is made is correct - 2 halves stuck together after the plug-hole fitting has been fixed into the upper half.

 

This advert

 

http://www.chelstononline.co.uk/used-motorhome-elddis-autoquest-130-motorhome-8984

 

has photos showing the basin raised and lowered, but it’s not obvious (to me) how the drain hose attaches. If you can’t get the hose back on to the fitting, or separate the basin’s two halves, you may have to perform judicious surgery. (Without seeing the proiblem it’s hard to offer an educated suggestion.)

 

Are you sure the unit with the basin in it is a Thetford product? I can see that the toilet is a Thetford C400 model, but I think the plastic unit above the toilet is more likely to be made by another company and designed to match the Thetford toilet. For example

 

http://www.grassroutesleisure.co.uk/products/538/tip-up-wash-basin-for-thetford-c402

[Tracker]

I've never had one of they so am unsure, but it looks as if the moulding for the tap to fit into may possibly be separate to the main moulding and if it can be lifted or prised off you might be able to get your hand down the back far enough to re-attach the hose?

 

If that fails or is a non starter the other choices remain to take out the entire panel or to cut an access panel and maybe you can see from the plughole location where that would need to be?

 

I don't know if Elddis have a customer care adviser that might be able to help - worth a phone call or email surely?

[Nick Kirby]

Thanks for that Derek, yes it's the picture in the motorhome advert, not the second link you posted. In the picture of the wash room, on the left of the raised sink , where it hinges, the is a hole, the hose exits the main body of the fitting and passes into the sink just below its hinge point, it can't be seen in any pictures. As you say it could be some judicious surgery of some type.

Nick

[Nick Kirby]

Think you may be right Tracker, email or phone call to Elddis

Nick

[everhopeful]

I've had one of these sinks and the very same problem. It can be fixed without splitting the sink in two - but it aint easy.

 

Remove the sink by applying sideways pressure on one side, whichever looks like the hinge pin is shortest, until the pin comes out of its hole. Remove the centre screw from the plughole, which leaves the inner part floating around inside the sink. Fiddle this inner bit around until the pipe spigot is poking out of the pipe hole on the left hand side and if you are lucky you will be able to reconnect the pipe in this position. Feed the inner plughole thing back into position as you realign the sink ready for reinsertion of the hinge pin. Getting the pipe / trap aligned so that the trap sits flat when back in is a bit hit and miss, but don't leave it too far out of alignment or it will force itself off again. Refitting the inner trap part with the screw and top part is best achieved using string and ingenuity!

 

The worst bit is finding a way to hold the inner plughole thing whilst you push the pipe back on, but with an assortment of pliers and copious swearing it can be done. I also applied extra glue and fastenings to stop it falling off again. You will need someone to hold the sink whilst you reconnect the pipe.

 

Some have resorted to splitting the sink but until you've at least had a go this way it is fraught with danger.

 

Best of luck

[Derek Uzzell]

Nick Kirby - 2016-02-28 7:23 PM

 

Thanks for that Derek, yes it's the picture in the motorhome advert, not the second link you posted...

 

The 2nd link was just an example.

 

Elddis evidently used a Contessa-branded unit in your Sunseeker. It is (apparently) still available and advertised on this Australian webpage that carries a photo of the unit’s rear that may be of interest.

 

http://caravansplus.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=8904

[George Collings]

Looking at that last Pic Derek found It looks like there might be a snap in catch at the bottom of the rear housing below the hoses. I suspect the front cover plate clips on in two places at the top and the snap on fitting holds it at the bottom. With the cover off it appears you can get at the hose fitting.

 

So gentle prising with a thin instrument might open things up.

 

I collect worn out plastic kitchen tools as they are decent quality plastic and file or f grind to make tools for jobs like this as they are much kinder to plastics them old knives or screwdrivers.