When doing the blackwater dump at our site, the toilet drained, but slowly. I was pretty sure the Slide-EZ valve was not closing all the way.
So, after we got home, I removed the toilet - not an easy task, I discovered. The left slide was jammed and there is very little space to work it loose. I discovered that there was a "plug" accumulated between the bottom of the valve and the "skirt" in the hole at the top of the blackwater drain in the floor of the TrailManor - confirmation that the toilet couldn't drain properly once the Slide-EZ valve was opened. I soon had confirmation that plumbers really do earn their money!
Then, I managed to drop one of the slide screws into the toilet bowl. In the next half hour, I got a lot more familiar with the entire toilet than I had originally intended. Finally, I was able to get the screw out and flush/clean the entire toilet assembly - inside and out - something I discovered needed to be done anyhow. Given the high cost of the toilet, I am disappointed that there is not a cassette or other means of disassembling and/or cleaning the inside of the toilet. The wire mesh "filter cone" is a sludge trap that will only accumulate solids and contribute to odors.
I called my RV dealer to see if they had a replacement flange seal. Using the part number from my Electra Magic Owner's Manual, they said their suppliers and alternate suppliers have zero, in the whole US. I called Thetford and found out they had changed the part number from 24304 to 33364.
Thetford Customer Service also said there is a Slide-EZ valve "Service Repair Package" available, so that we can rebuild the valve, instead of having to replace the whole valve - providing the existing valve is not cracked. The part number is 09872 and cost is $16.91, instead of $45.23 to replace the whole valve. I ordered a repair kit, since I will probably need it in the future. The parts should be here in a few days.
In the meantime, I have thoroughly saturated the Slide-EZ Valve with silicone spray, as recommended elsewhere in this forum. This loosened some old deposits, and now the valve seems to be working as good as new.
I hope this helps some of you deal with some of the problems of keeping the toilet in good working order. It appears that we are going to have to remove, thoroughly clean, and re-install the toilet after every season - and, the two of us don't place the demand on it that a family of four or more could. And, we use the right supplies, to minimize problems!
Finally, I appreciated the courtesy of the Thetford Customer Service representative, but it seems to me that they only have one person. What happens when that person is sick or takes a vacation? That's a rhetorical question.
I'm sure many of you have experienced the same - or similar - problems with the Thetford toilet. When all is said and done, those of us who have used a Thetford Port-A-Potti Model 160 found that unit a whole lot easier to clean and maintain. And, it didn't cost nearly $500! In either case, we wouldn't care to give up the convenience in the middle of a very dark, rainy night in bear country.
Happy Camping!