As mentioned above, you can simply spray or rub the lubricant on the valve after youve dumped the black tank contents. Vegetable oil will NOT harm those neoprene valve seals. We full-timed in our Sunnybrook for 7 years and on the rare occasions we had a full hook-up site, we flushed those tanks within an inch of their life. Weve never tried it, and do have a couple of concerns. Apply a thin coating of grease to the seals and install them on the flanges. of lubricant. Fix the bolts in it and attach data cables with the main DC power supply of the RV. This is also where we share our favorite RV and camping-related gear and accessories. Another great thing about it is you probably already have everything you need to do it on hand. First, keep the rod well lubricated. Our tanks can be used for black and/or grey water. This photo shows the drain pipe bayonet with the lever just to the left and a long rod dangling with little support. Thermal Package Plus. How do you lubricate RV holding tank valves and cables? That means you can treat both the black and grey tank valves 3 times per bottle. Pretty hard to pull upwards when the compartment ceiling is in the way! Eventually some will need to be replaced when they start leaking. Just wanted to share this tip again in case some have not tried this. I am in campground with blk tank maybe 3/4 full. Some RVers use this next trick on the black and grey tank valves so they can lubricate them from the outside whenever they want. We have started a new forum link for Ask Dave. Have any more questions about fixing RV black and grey tank valves that are hard to open and close? The veggie oil is a gallon jug the cheapest (~$5) stuff from Walmart or similar store. How to Market Your Business with Webinars. Make sure to hold the flanges tight against the valve during this process. Stock #008828C. Thanks for your interest. You can revoke your consent any time using the Revoke consent button. Tighten the provided hardware to complete installation. Please be as brief as possible. We have heard from a number of our customers that speculate this would be the answer to solve their problems once and for all. We're asked often about the proper method to lubricate a sticky RV dump valve. Many trailers will have the handle on one side and a cable running across to the tank. Its also safe for sewers and ok to dump at RV dump stations. RV Lock Replacement. I use the Valve Lub available at the RV store. Make sure to hold the flanges tight against the valve during this process. I suggest using water resistant WD-40 Specialist (click to view on Amazon) on the handles, but it wont work as well on the inner gate part. If you prefer, you can replace the entire valve. These are 15 of our favorite songs/themes/scores that Tod has created for our YouTube channel. If you are going to use grease a on this valve I suggest a food safe grease. A small T-shaped handle allows you to grab the rod and pull back the gate, permitting the contents to flush forth. Remove from the valve with an Allen wrench and stretch to size, use a piece of tape to mark the proper length don't forget to measure the operating length of the inner cable.Remove the entire cable and take it to a table grinder then carefully twist the outer cable while grinding without damaging the inner cable until it's cut off. Great Prices on holding tank dump valves, holding tanks and components. Either down the cable or by putting lubrication into the tank. This works much better for me then the quart of Thetford valve lube. Screw in a 1/4-inch Zerk fitting until the shoulder of the fitting is snug to the valve bodydont over-tighten. The gate valves that open the black and grey tanks start to get difficult to open and close. Thank you! Maintenance is easy and inexpensive. If the RV has three holding tanks, you need a Two Valve Kit plus the Single Valve Kit. so should I leave alone and hope there is enough room for freezing expansion or should I use up room and put a gallon or so in my tank! Periodically agitate the valve with the open or hole end down in the water the idea is to remove the debris that collects in the body of the valve over time as the gate is opened to dump your tanks. Whats the best way to clean an RV waste valve? I do think it is a good idea to occasionally dump some recommended conditioner down both the black and gray water tanks to lubricate and condition the rubber seal that the spade valve slides in and out of. Dont wait until it gets stuck. DO NOT USE the old standby, WD-40. After getting so irritated by the difficulty of opening and closing the black tank valve I cut into the sewer pipe and added another gate valve so I now leave the cable operated black valve open and use the gate valve for dumping tank. Now work the valve open and closed a few times. Access to the valves is actually easy without cutting the Coroplast. Every Saturday and Sunday morning. Is it possible that the application of petroleum-containing grease might cause the rubber seal to deteriorateeventually leading to a mechanical breakdown or possible leakage of holding tank contents? Required fields are marked *. Or you can take off the valve and replace it with a new one. A hole needs to be drilled in the front of the gate valve above the handle. In fact it's easily accomplished by most RV handypersons.if the cable broke while the valve was in the fully opened position, that is! Im afraid Id be very tempted to simply buy a new valve and lubricate it during installation. i tried lubing the cable, pull the valves and installed new seals, tried cooking oil in my tanks before i used them, to lube the actual valve, none of this worked. . You may want to place a bucket underneath to catch anything that might leak out. This website utilizes some advertising services. All seams are solvent welded and have a 1" mounting flange. (also mineral oil does not congeal in cold weather)cheap ire dressing and doesnt hurt the rubber is to wipe them with dish-soap after cleaning..looks nice and makes tire self cleaning during rain storms!!!!!.LOL!!! ,weather-shield package,forced air heated & enclosed underbelly-enclosedheated gate valves,360 radiant bubble foil insulation,radiant bubble foil insulation wrapped tanks-(360=rooffloorfront/rear walls,reflective pvc roof membrane . There is a rubber seal on each side, which should be conditioned at least at the time of storage and a few times during the camping season. For the black tank, just pour down the toilet. You want the dish soap to reach the gate valve at the bottom of the tank. The valves are secured in place by 4 - 7/16ths inch nuts and bolts. I think will go out right now and spray and work the hell out of it and see if it loosens up. Are the National Parks in Oregon Worth Visiting? so jack the fiver up, put down cardboard on the gravel and go to town upside down removing the belly coraply and disasembly of the BRISTOL valves. Can Different RVs Use The Same Door Key? Coconut oil is added to prevent sticking valves, making equipment last longer. It might even be worth purchasing a replacement kit and having it on hand. (I guess Im not a big fan of working with _____. In your case, I suggest that you use the same idea, but pour it into the tanks after you dump the tanks as you store it. or any other ideas why black Valve seems working in that cable moves but nothing out. The valve is located against the trailer frame and just behind the rear tire just above the plastic covering. I've tried spraying the exposed part of the . By Doug Swarts These Are the Best Vans for Vanlife in 2023, The Vintage Spartan Trailer is Still a Hot Commodity, These Manufacturers Let You Create a Custom RV, The Grooviest Vintage Motorhomes You Have to See. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Realizing this was a loosing battle, I cut the sewer line that is already exposed and inserted a ball valve with two rubber couplers. Price: $36,895. Leave a comment below. The RVers are usually referring to the black 3-inch gate valve on their black holding tank. Carol & Jeff Savournin Usta have a '93 U225 36', Usta have a '95 U320 40', Usta have a '02 U320 40' I am quite sure that they tell you not to use WD-40 on them. Any suggestions for enclosed tanks and valves? Thats at least a 40+ year old trick and a great one to suggest to those who havent thought of it. Where Can I Have Packages Delivered While On The Road. If you want to be notified when we post a new video, then click the Bell Icon. Around the Campfire: Who advocates for RVers? Tuesday, February 28, 2023. I'm really having a lot of friction when trying to pull the gray and the black water cables. Keystone RV Forums > Keystone Tech Forums > Repairs & Maintenance: Lubricating dump valves? Learn more. Close the gate and apply a thin coating of grease to both sides. I did not use much and I only worked the rod a little, being unsure if I was performing a useful process. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. With the valve open and actuating rod exposed, wrap a rag around the rod, and grasp the rod firmly through the rag with a pair of pliers. This will not show on your comment but is for us to contact you if necessary. Does the RV Airflow System Actually Work? Occasionally, the valves are buried under the motorhome and controlled by a remote cable, which requires removing basement panels for service. Most important, we want to hear from you so please leave us a comment.\rHAPPY GLAMPING \u0026 SAFE TRAVELS!\r\r\r****************\rVIDEO \u0026 MUSIC\r****************\rVideo \u0026 Editing by Jason Bowles\rOriginal Music by Tod Kimbro\rcopyright 2020 Tod Kimbro \rAll rights reserved.\rOriginal \u0026 copyright free music and/or a combination of is also used in some of our videos. Thats all you have to do. I lubed them with Lucas Red and Tacky grease. Its effective and safe for RV waste systems and holding tanks. drill a hole in the top and squirt a bunch of dry lube in. \rWe're living the RV Full-time life, documenting our travels, and together with our Badass Pomeranian Ziggy, were setting out on the road for some RV Glamping \u0026 Camping getaways. It is recommended to occasionally lubricate the rod with a dry lube such as 3-in-1 spray or CRC. Is It Time to Replace Your Waste Tank Gate Valve? I cacant get underneath due to medical issue.again handle on cable moves but nothing comes out. Last year in Texas I started to squirt a lubricating/penetrating oil into each one of the cables where they pass through the dock center (if that makes sense). Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Kitchen Sink, 3 Burner Range, Refrigerator, Pantry and More! Usually, a 3/4 full black tank wont freeze from a few days of low temperatures. Why Do People Put Pool Noodles on Their RV Slideouts? The veggie oil is a gallon jug the cheapest (~$5) stuff from Walmart or similar store. Any price listed excludes sales tax, registration tags, and delivery fees. RV drain valve lubricant is dumped into the grey and black tank. To properly dump your tanks, Paul recommends the following. The Fragrance-Enhanced Eco-Save has a cherry scent. Make sure your tanks are empty and clean. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Were Jenni and Jesse. 2) spray lube on the valve plungers. Add Thetford RV Drain Valve Lubricant Anyways, Drill an Access Hole in the Stuck Gate Valve, Conclusion About Fixing Sticky RV Grey and Black Tank Valves, Valterra Electric RV Gate Valves (click to view on Amazon), What To Do When An RV Waste Tank (Black/Grey) Wont Drain, WD-40 Specialist (click to view on Amazon). Hopefully, the valve just needed a little space and it opens after just a few turns. It doesnt harm O rings so it should be fine for these valves. RV LED Awning Light Strip: Replace and Do-It-Yourself The team, Matt and Bart, demonstrate the steps for replacing a LED awning light strip on an RV. The RVers are usually referring to the black 3-inch gate valve on their black holding tank. I use a couple bottles of vegetable oil in the black water tank,after flushing well,then open and shut the valve quickly.Never had a problem with sticky valves since. We scratch our heads on that theory. When you dump a tank and the handle is pulled to the open position, simply shoot the stainless rod with a good shot of lubricant spray containing silicon or Teflon. After adding the soap and water drive around to get the waste inside the tank mixing. What to do about sticky valve handles in RV? See Also:What Do I Need To Use Hookups At An RV Park Or Campground? View Details. Then, with the gate valves closed pour 1/2 a cup in the toilet and the sink that is the closest to the grey tank. Let the lubricant sit for a few minutes so it has time to work on the gate inside the valve. Pro Tip: You dont need to use expensive RV toilet paper. If Im going to pull off the valve I would probably replace it unless I am in a location that I must repair. How to Install Cable Operated RV Dump Valve? No anonymous comments. Now "work" the valve open and closed a few times. Like adding water and treatment to the black tank. Takes less than half a second to open and close. Then, grip the metal rod behind the handle with pliers to hold it still and keep it from spinning while you replace the T-handle. Siebenbrgische Spezialitten Erzeugnisse aus der Heimat nach original Rezepten. Living in Florida we don't put the RV into storage but I'll bet it would help if it sits for a month or so too. After a while, it starts to feel like you wont be able to open them at all. If your valves are installed in the tank piping with the handle lower than the 3 9 oclock position when you open the valve the water inside will seep into the valve body (the root cause of sticky valves). Proper maintenance is the best way to keep the gate valves to the RV holding tanks from getting sticky, hard to open and close, or stuck. If the holding tank is full, however, it presents a greater challenge. Some do it 3-4 times a year when the rig is in service as well. My thought is that products like the Thetford one that is mentioned, are a compound that is actually heavier than the water, and they probably sink to the bottom of the tank and collect at the seal. They recommend using 1/5th of the bottle with 4 gallons of water. A little plastic gate rides between two rubber seals (one on the outside of the gate and one on the inside), preventing the stuff from rolling out. I will report back the results. I think I saw a post a few weeks ago about something similar & he used canola oil, & dumped it in the tanks. Oil that is just dumped into the tank while there is any water also in the tank will just float on the surface of the water, like it does in a jar of oil and water on the counter at home. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Get exclusive tips and tricks to save your money and time in the RV lifestyle! Coconut oil, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, olive oil will all help. The black and grey tank valves should no longer be sticky. Remove the bolts securing the valve. tried the dump the soap lube down the toilet and the shower. Last update on 2023-03-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API, Your email address will not be published. When you feel the inner body of the valve is clean, remove and blow the inner valve body to remove any excess particulate that air pressure may loosen. I use Liquid Wrench on all my cable ends once a year. Drain Tanks and Unbolt Waste Valves. IN CONCLUSION Holding the piping/flanges apart, insert the valve between the flanges being sure NOT to move the seals. See Also:Best Septic Safe RV Toilet Paper Brands Reviewed. Its called, Youve got no place to go if your holding tank valves wont open.. I believe in the spring I'm going to add the valterra dump gate to the outside edge of the dump tube for both the gray tank and the black tank dumps and not use the OEM valves except when it's below freezing (then I'd dump the lower valves that are below . We're so happy that you found us out there in the Youtube world!\rIf you like our channel, then give us some sub love and please subscribe. If you can get it open, dump your RV. The 19th Hole: Featured RV-Golf Resort Eagle Nest Resort/Polson Bay GC, Get Free Weekly RV LIFE Updates in your Email Inbox, Decluttering Your RV: Make The Most Of Your Small Space, Passport America Discount Camping Club Is Still Going Strong, The BestCounty Park CampgroundsFor RVers. In order to be effective, the lubricant needs to be in contact with the rubber in the valve. Where to Find the Best RV Couch Replacements, Walmart Alternatives for Free Overnight RV Parking, Dog Camping Tents Your Pet Will Actually Love, Dow Corning 111 O-Ring Silicone Lubricant (5.3 oz. Sorry for the late reply. My valves are due for a little lube too. On ours, it took putting about 1/2 gallon of oil in each tank and running it through twice to get them loosened up real good. However, there are products made specifically for this purpose. Drain Master.com If there is no lube to try, Ill have to give a shot at tearing into the back of the wet bay. It might still be pretty hard to open but hopefully, enough of the lubricant was able to get inside the valve to loosen it. I'm concerned that they spoke of UV protection, but not lubrication. Safe travels, Once a year I dump some vegetable oil down each waste water tank as well as use the usual supplied straw that comes with every can of spray lube and force some lube by the handle end of the cable. NPS calls out YouTube and TikTok users. You have 24 hours to edit a comment. 2022 RVTravel.com All rights Reserved. The RV Proctologist gave my tanks and valves a good cleaning but the gray is still difficult. Mine are easy to get to. That doesnt mean things wont break or crack, but do what you can to prevent such issues from happening. You can go ahead and add a lubricant. Current Projects. Holding the piping/flanges apart, insert the valve between the flanges being sure NOT to move the seals. Once you insert the new valve, replace the bolts. Just replaced all three pull cablesturned out to be a relatively simple jobat least that's what DH saidLOL! how to record directors salary in quickbooks Accept X What Do I Need To Use Hookups At An RV Park Or Campground? The system I am familiar with uses molydinum in suspension. RV waste tanks have valves that hold the liquids inside the tank until you are ready to dump. Then when done with gray valve, removed oil from trap and used it down the toilet for the black tank valve. Remove the bolts securing the valve. Wait as long as you can before trying to open the stuck black or grey tank valve again. One way to unstick your RV black tank valve is to put Dawn dish soap and water in your black tank and then drive around. Thetford makes a lot of RV products, including toilets and portable holding tanks. Free shipping on orders over $100! 3 bedroom house in south east london. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "abc43f8af58a96ad9450bbba6d3f65dc" );document.getElementById("bf0ddd2115").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Welcometo The Camping Nerd. Eco-Save Original Formula is a cleaner and odor remover that's said to be safe for all RV holding tanks. On our old travel trailer, I even ripped off the plastic handle to the black tank valve trying to get it to open. 4 What to do about sticky valve handles in RV? Theres a parallel to the old You dont miss your water until your well runs dry tune. Thought about lubricating, but they were five years old. This works well . Recommended for use in waste holding tanks, black and grey water systems. Because the valve needs to be connected at the base of the holding tanks, these cable gate valves are used so the handle can still be by the waste outlet where you connect the sewer hose. Its time to replace it. We've been camping a long time and in several different kinds of camping units having dump valves but have never heard this tip before! Now turn the handle counter-clockwise by hand to remove it, and screw a new one on firmly.