Loo Trouble blade won't close

Oh dear Pippah but fear not.  We had exactly the same problem a few year ago. Ours happened late at night at a small site in the middle of Germany; Mrs C was not amused!  What has probably happened is the the rartchet linking the lever to the blade on the top of the cassette has slipped and is not aligned properly.  Just before you proceed spray the blade with silicone to ensure it is not something simple. Can you remove the cassette (I couldn't!!); if you can then skip the first part of the following.   You need to get a long thin piece pf metal (I used the my steady tool the attaches to the drill); now open the cassette door and hopefully you have enough space at the top of the cassette to push the rod into. Use this to push and align the slot on the ratchet to the notch on the little wheel on the top of the cassette that operates the blade - it will be just right of centre and you should be able to see it.  When aligned remove the cassette.  Now get a small mirror and use it to look at the white ratchet mechanism on the top side.  It is white and you will see that the segment from the lever is not catching on a wheel.  Undo the little screw, Realign and check if ok.  It sounds complex but is not.  Good luck.  If this does not work well I'm afraid you may need to speak to Thetford.

Wow Commeyras many thanks for that - mercifully I can miss the first instructions as I can get the cassette out!  I will have a go.  Thank you so much.  

Pippah that's good news.  You just need to get your small mirror and screwdriver out and check the white plastic 'mechanism'. The lever inside the caravan should move freely with the cassette out.  Careful when reassembling to ensure the 'guides' are lined up,  the one on the cassette should be length wise and the white one should match (this will mean something when you look at the mechanism!).   

YouTube is your friend .....  This is the first one I found 

E D

       A Tiff would have put a mirror on the base to show him the screw position ! 

Thanks E D.  That is exactly what I was trying to say!  He made a bit of a meal of it.  Use a mirror!

Thanks EmilysDad that was great I will know what I am doing on Saturday I think - I did wonder if he needed to separate the two bits or could have made it work just by loosening the screw to re-align it all?  Isn't CT great - thank you guys!  

How do you know that I didn't?  😉

I had the same problem with our caravans toilet when we first got it. 👍

E D

      I didn't doubt for a minute you wouldn't......that is what I was trying to say!. The guy in the video was not or had not been a Tiff  I was not aware that you actually had the problem.

E D

       That is what becomes of being a traitor to Lunar,