It is especially hard to spray lubricate into the gate valve if your RV uses a handle connected to a cable with the gate valve located somewhere further underneath the RV. 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). I wonder if I can use 303 Aerospace Protectant liquid down the tanks as well. When RV heat is on, cabinets and counters get hot. RV Mirrors; RV Window Parts . Travel Trailer. A plug would work better as you can spray silicon spray into the hole then plug it again. It doesnt harm O rings so it should be fine for these valves. The veggie oil is a gallon jug the cheapest (~$5) stuff from Walmart or similar store. If this valve breaks, it will be much more difficult to open your RV black tank valve, so do what you can to prevent this from happening. Detailed instructions can be found here. Make sure to hold the flanges tight against the valve during this process. Soak the valves in hot water with some detergent, making sure to leave the gates open. Its also safe for sewers and ok to dump at RV dump stations. The lubricant is heavier than water which means it can sink to the bottom. If your valve is getting stuck, you might need to replace it down the road anyway. | Page 5 vinessa vidotto parents. A sticky holding tank valve is a pain in the neck. Please follow these rules when commenting on RVtravel.com. But the goal is just to keep the valve and gasket lubricated a bit. I have keep my valve at the 5:00 oclock position but first spray with silicone been that way since 2013 now 2021. I dont know if this will cure your problem but it wont hurt. I would think that those were two different characteristics to take into consideration. You can lubricate your valves over and over again on a regular basis with this method. This is easy and fairly cheap and could be the best option. I've tried spraying the exposed part of the . This post may contain affiliate links, This post may contain affiliate links or mention our own products, please check out our disclosure policy. All seams are solvent welded and have a 1" mounting flange. The "cable" is a solid core flex rod with a sheath several feet in length winding it's way down to the black tank gate valve. Here's a video showing how how to lub your waste valves. A very simple and inexpensive procedure is used that. Some do it 3-4 times a year when the rig is in service as well. In order to be effective, the lubricant needs to be in contact with the rubber in the valve. You have 24 hours to edit a comment. Only lubricated 2 times but started sticking after all these years. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. We're asked often about the proper method to lubricate a sticky RV dump valve. I had forgotten what a difference this makes, valves work better than new! Thanks for the comment! 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. Your real email is required. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. One gallon of cheap vegetable oil (fry oil) at GFS is about $4.50. I suggest using water resistant WD-40 Specialist (click to view on Amazon) on the handles, but it won't work as well on the inner gate part. Our dump valves are quite stiff. This will not show on your comment but is for us to contact you if necessary. oz. Connect your sewage hose to the dump fitting on your camper. Another help would be if the cables that are in the crawl space were run with as straight a shot as possible, or at least with large radius turns or bends. Manually operated valves require considerable effort to operate, and there may be instances where the valve fails to function as intended. If there is no lube to try, Ill have to give a shot at tearing into the back of the wet bay. This cleans and lubricates not only the seals but the plumbing as well. In addition, after cleaning the tank, i would try to tilt the rig away from the valve to preclude that last bit of water from escaping. 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. What the heck is a ZERT??? These Destinations Will Be Overrun With Tourists in 2023, The Highest Rated Campgrounds in North Carolina, Your Complete Guide to Marco Island Beaches, What People Really Think About Arrowhead RV Campground. 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. Made with a special biodegradable formula, Thetfords gate valve lubricant is safe to use in RV plumbing and holding tanks. Pull the T handle all the way out, spray the metal rod, slide it in, pull it out again, spray the metal rod, slide it in, etc., etc. To our readers: We NEVER have or will sell reader's data. It seems that a shot of lube directly to the valve rod is about the only practical solution, at least from our experience. Run the water until you smell the bleach, then let the tank sit for at least 24 hours after you have drained all the bleach water. Simply remove the valves after the tanks have been emptied and flushed, remove the seals and thoroughly clean the valve. 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. Whats the best way to lubricate a sticky dump valve? 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. The Glamping Guys 6.73K subscribers Subscribe 8.7K views 2 years ago #gaycouple #rvlifestyle. Just wipe all dishes/ pans/skillets out completely with paper towels (first dry, then wet) before washing them. . . Buy an RV, sell your RV, or both? RV drain valve lubricant is dumped into the grey and black tank. Remove the valve from the flanges. First, dump a bunch of dish soap into the holding tank that has a stuck valve. Taking care of your RV black tank valve is a necessary task for RVers. DO NOT USE the old standby, WD-40. 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. It is not really magic, but it is cheap, eco-friendly and it helps. After getting the oil in the tanks, work the valves open an closed several times to work the oil into the gate seals until they slide easily. RV Daily Tips. This is where RV drain valve lubricant comes in handy. - 89-8282 . How to Fix & Lubricate a Sticky Hard to Pull RV Holding Tank Dump Valve - RV Hacks, Tips & Tricks! (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!!! I think will go out right now and spray and work the hell out of it and see if it loosens up. As a side note, the cable can get messed up sometimes. If the rod gets stuck, or the handle breaks, you have a decidedly difficult issue. New cables work MUCH better than the OEMS ever did. Wish I could find something that is good durning cold weather. \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. If would be great if there were some sort of a way to add grease or some other such lubricating stuff under pressure to make the cables work easier. Mix it up by driving around some, then open and close the valve a few times keeping as much mixture in the tank as possible, then let it sit overnight. This photo shows the drain pipe bayonet with the lever just to the left and a long rod dangling with little support. Oh, for goodness sakes we have a 2000 Sunnybrook travel trailer and when our grey/black tank dump valves become harder to pull, we simply spray the metal rod connected to the T handle with silicone spray (NOT WD 40). Click to visit Daves forum. . Likewise, to prevent gunk buildup and maintain pliable seals, you can pour vegetable oil down the drain and allow it to coat the RV waste valve. Make sure to lubricate the valve blade and put a leak-free gasket around it. So make sure you dont undo the bolts too much. As part of our winterizing process, I decided to pour vegetable oil into the gray and black water tanks and work the dump valves to lubricate them. The system I am familiar with uses molydinum in suspension. They dump it into the tank & it works pretty good. Every Saturday and Sunday morning. Once the hold is drilled put the nozzle straw that came with the can of lubricant into the hole and spray lubricant inside the gate valve until its filled with lubricant. You can revoke your consent any time using the Revoke consent button. I am quite sure that they tell you not to use WD-40 on them. Pro Tip: You dont need to use expensive RV toilet paper. Make sure to do this lightly. First, go to your sewage line where you dump the gray or black tank. 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. First, keep the rod well lubricated. A quart bottle treats a tank eight or nine times. Either down the cable or by putting lubrication into the tank. I have heard both ways over the years, might depend on where you are from. 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. By continuing to use our site, you consent to accepting cookies. Just make sure the tanks are empty! Check out these RV Toilet Paper Alternatives Youll Wish You Used Sooner. If you prefer, you can replace the entire valve. Let the lubricant sit for a few minutes so it has time to work on the gate inside the valve. By visiting our site, you agree to our privacy policy regarding cookies, tracking statistics, etc. Some people recommend that you should never leave the gray valve open either, as it can allow odors from the parks sewer system up into your RV. Were Jenni and Jesse. Keystone RV Forums > Keystone Tech Forums > Repairs & Maintenance: Lubricating dump valves? This will then lube the valve seals. went to drain black water tank and handle came out with the cable nothing drained so i pushed cable back so did the end of the cable come off, the gate ? 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. Extreme Thermal Package R-52 (roof, floor and behind . After adding the soap and water drive around to get the waste inside the tank mixing. Do You Have to Be an Escapees Member to Stay at Escapees RV Parks? I do lube the pull handles. He said that usually the issue isn't the cable, but the gate valve & rubber seals. This website utilizes some advertising services. Extend or open the rod and valve and apply the proper lubrication to the rod and run it in and out. Screw in a 1/4-inch Zerk fitting until the shoulder of the fitting is snug to the valve bodydont over-tighten. Then remove the screw and fill the valve with lubricant while the gate valve is open. Hope it helps. A password will be e-mailed to you. How to conquer the fear of breaking down in remote areas, Lawsuit could upend operations of Recreation.gov, Montana moves to save some campsites from filling up with out-of-staters, Fact-checking, ethics & corrections policy. If you plan to attempt this we highly recommend you put the hole in the thickest part of the valve which is the TOP or where the SS shaft comes out of the body when you pull on it. The Fragrance-Enhanced Eco-Save has a cherry scent. The RVers are usually referring to the black 3-inch gate valve on their black holding tank. 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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. Any suggestions for enclosed tanks and valves? If the holding tank is full, however, it presents a greater challenge. To treat the typical tank, 3 to 4 ounces of the mild, perfumed treatment is sufficient. The BestCounty Park CampgroundsFor RVe Where Can I Have Packages Delivered While On The R Don't Miss Carolina Pines RV Resort In South Carol Know How To Prevent A Space Heater Fire In Your RV, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GDErKY05-8&t=1s, Traveling with a person on kidney dialysis, Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1. I would do this as I was waiting for the tanks to dump not sure but I think they are starting to work easier. Lubricating your RV black tank valve should be part of your regular maintenance checklist. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. It not only gets lubricant all over the gate valve but on the walls of the holding tank as well which helps stop waste from sticking to it. If that T character breaks, opening the valve is tough. Carol & Jeff Savournin Usta have a '93 U225 36', Usta have a '95 U320 40', Usta have a '02 U320 40' Any price listed excludes sales tax, registration tags, and delivery fees. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. WD can work its way into the seal at the end of the rod shaft and gum it up, making it extremely sticky. You want the dish soap to reach the gate valve at the bottom of the tank. They have 4 tanks, 5 if you include fresh water. The sloshing around of the liquid will not only clean the inside of your tank, but it can get down into the valve and loosen whatever residue is there. For the black tank, just pour down the toilet. Its called, Youve got no place to go if your holding tank valves wont open.. Many trailers will have the handle on one side and a cable running across to the tank. The company specializes in RV waste systems, and its RV drain valve lubricant is the best way to make it easier to open RV black and grey tank valves. Empty and clean your tanks by filling the tanks 2/3 full of water then dumping, repeat until the clear view fitting at the sewer ground inlet runs clear and free of particulate. What are your likely plans for 2023? What to do about sticky valve handles in RV? 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). U got silicone greases too. It works for a while, then I put more in. Hope this helps. Thought about lubricating, but they were five years old. I would try adding a few gallons of water and more black tank treatment to try and break up whatever is clogging the tank. 2014 Ford F450 King Ranch CC PSD LB DRW 4.30 Moonroof 6.7 auto Navigation Sirius/XM sony radio Air bag suspension with tank and monitor Transfer Flow 75 Gallon tank with Monitor Reese 25K hitch/goose hitch 2009 Elite Suite 36RSSB3/4 #5008 Thetford makes what they advertise as a valve lubricant. Next, remove the valves from the flanges that hold them in place in the piping. For example, internal tank sensors require drilling through the sides of the RV holding tank at precise locations. Were asked often about the proper method to lubricate a sticky RV dump valve. You can go ahead and add a lubricant. The gate valves that open the black and grey tanks start to get difficult to open and close. Little did I know theres actually a simple fix to this issue that will also help keep the valves opening easily in the future. Whether youre a newbie or seasoned RVer, with all of the gunk and grime in your RV black tank, you might have to deal with a stuck valve at some point. If you are going to use grease a on this valve I suggest a food safe grease. Any petroleum based lubricant can cause seal damage, cracking and swelling. Menu and widgets Now work the valve open and closed a few times. Tuesday, February 28, 2023. drill a hole in the top and squirt a bunch of dry lube in. Russ. See Also:What Do I Need To Use Hookups At An RV Park Or Campground? Login; Register; Home; Shop by Categories. Are the National Parks in Oregon Worth Visiting? But for those who would like to know more, heres how the job has been explained to us: With the valve closed, in the area immediately adjacent to where the stainless-steel actuating rod comes out of the holding tank valve, bore a 3/16-inch hole through the plastic and into the cavity. Forest River recalls some trailers for fridge fire risk, ST-type tire speed ratings One mans opinion. Give our video a thumbs up to like, share on your social media, and tell your friends. I will do this with only about 2-3 gallons of water for sloshing and just before a trip. 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! for each tank. Plug the hole using a small screw so no waste water comes out of it when the valve is opened. 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. Fix the bolts in it and attach data cables with the main DC power supply of the RV. Your email address will not be published. Thetford makes a lot of RV products, including toilets and portable holding tanks. Everything You Need to Know About Camping at Zion National Park. RV Sanitation. It may not display this or other websites correctly. It might even be worth purchasing a replacement kit and having it on hand. Remove the bolts securing the valve. DO NOT USE the old standby, WD-40. The contents inside the valve dry out causing the valve to stick. Once you detach the valve, clean around the seals and gaskets. We travel full time in our RV and write about what we learn and share our experiences. All that goop in your black water and gray water waste tanks is held in place by the tanks dump valves. Dave recommends applying silicon to the shaft, rather than WD-40, which will clean the grease and rid of the natural oils that help the valve slide fluidly. But if youre in a tough situation with an RV holding tank valve that wont open when you need to dump your RV its a simple trick you can try. But unless the choice of lubricants is one that will go into suspension with water, the lube will simply float on the top of the tank water and hang out there until you finally dump the tank. Happy camper. View Details. I lubed them with Lucas Red and Tacky grease. WATCH VIDEO I will report back the results. When you spray your slide-outs with lubricant each month, go ahead and spray your black tank valve as well. Usually, a 3/4 full black tank wont freeze from a few days of low temperatures. Again, its an easy fix, if done properly. For the black tank, just pour down the toilet. It is recommended to occasionally lubricate the rod with a dry lube such as 3-in-1 spray or CRC. How to Install Cable Operated RV Dump Valve? They work good now. If damaged, replace. Valterra Cable RV Holding Tank Dump Valve - 1-1/2 inch, Valterra TC172. Both valves are at the back of the tanks near the end of the dropped frame. Find the exact marine boat parts you need online. Dont wait until it gets stuck. Keep both the grey and black dump valve closed until one or both tanks need to be emptied. here is the latest on the stuck valves. This short video will show you how to easily lubricate your RV dump valves without having to disassemble the plumbing pipes and valves. no go! 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! Tuesday, February 28, 2023. Simply install the valve between your RV's sewer pipes and mount the handle on the end of the cable in a convenient, easy-to-access place. Why? If you want to edit a comment click the gear icon to the right of your comment and choose edit, or delete. Thats what campground bathrooms are for. You can then refill the holding tank as usual. Snaked the lines, drilled a hole, baking soda vinegar trick, and everything else under the sun. I'm concerned that they spoke of UV protection, but not lubrication. If you dont have Thetford RV drain valve lubricant on hand another thing you can try to lubricate the RV gate valve thats stuck closed is dish soap and water. Eventually some will need to be replaced when they start leaking. First order of business was to drain the tanks and give the black tank a good flushing before unbolting the valve. Enclosed and heated dump valves; Docking station: easy winterization, Hot and cold spray port, black Tank flush, pull valves for tanks; Large tinted windows with 80/20 UV prohibitor; E-Z LUBE Dexter axles; Dexter Nev-R-Adjust brakes; Hickory Springs radius triple steps with 9" riser (no pinched fingers) Dometic "One-Touch" electric awning with . They did work but were very hard to pull out and push in. Once you detach the valve, clean around the seals and gaskets. I am in campground with blk tank maybe 3/4 full. Hopefully, everything was ok over the holiday. The RVers are usually referring to the black 3-inch gate valve on their black holding tank. Do not use WD-40 as it will remove the lubricant that came with it and is inside the housing. Doug is the founder of Drain Master.com Inc., Hollister, CA, which sells as well as installs Drain Master, Waste Master, 360 Siphon, HepvO and other RV waste-related products. ABS Polymer adhesive and fittings are also available. Dear Dave, By adding a Zerk fitting (grease fitting) to the dump valve assembly, they pump grease into the cavity around the steel rod. 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. There is no way to get lubrication to this seal. IF possible, reposition the valves so the valve body is above the 3 9 oclock position so the water that seeps into the valve body will drain back into the bottom of the pipe. As you can see in the photo, it has a plastic gate or spade that slides in and out of the dump hole. For the gray, took the trap loose under the bathroom sink, emptied out the water, reconnected it and poured the vegetable oil down it. For the gray, took the trap loose under the bathroom sink, emptied out the water, reconnected it and poured the vegetable oil down it. thr handle works but it is out but nothing coming out. Make sure not to tighten the bolts too much, or you risk cracking the flanges. In some cases the 1.5-inch gray valve gets sticky over time especially if the RVer is not using his RV full time. Realizing this was a loosing battle, I cut the sewer line that is already exposed and inserted a ball valve with two rubber couplers. Its safe to grease the seals as well when you position the valve back on the flanges. When I recover from surgery getting the MH ready for use is top of my list. This can get kinked or rusted and make it hard to open and close the valve, as well. I use Liquid Wrench on all my cable ends once a year. Terry and Jo2010 Mobile Suites 38TKSB32008 Ford F450 2019 Ford Expedition Max as Tag-along or Scout Our photos on Smugmug, Bill Joyce, 40' 2004 Dutch Star DP towing an AWD 2020 Ford Escape HybridJournal at http://www.sacnoth.comFull-timing since July 2003. Driving around with the lubricant in the tank will help it sink to the bottom faster. 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! Use Thetford RV drain lubricant regularly and make sure you are using RV black tank treatment and plenty of water after dumping.