how to lubricate rv holding tank valves and cables

What are your thoughts on lubricating waste tank valves? I have heard both ways over the years, might depend on where you are from. Like adding water and treatment to the black tank. I would do this as I was waiting for the tanks to dump not sure but I think they are starting to work easier. 2022 RVTravel.com All rights Reserved. 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. WATCH VIDEO Stabilizer Jack Replacement Do-It-Yourself When it is time to replace your RV stabilizer jack, follow Matt and Bart as they demonstrate how easy it is to do this yourself. 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. RV Holding Tank Dump Valves. Holman RV is not responsible for any misprints, typos, or errors found in our website pages. but does require access to the gate valves which are inside the coroplast in most cases. An initial plus first or last name is the minimum, we're all friends here. Eco-Save Original Formula is a cleaner and odor remover that's said to be safe for all RV holding tanks. Some RVers use this next trick on the black and grey tank valves so they can lubricate them from the outside whenever they want. What Do I Need To Use Hookups At An RV Park Or Campground? The RV Proctologist gave my tanks and valves a good cleaning but the gray is still difficult. To install, remove the broken waste valve and seals from your holding tank. Current Projects. On our old travel trailer, I even ripped off the plastic handle to the black tank valve trying to get it to open. This will then lube the valve seals. Russ. 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. 5 Regrets of RV Camping in a National Park. Refill the tank, then run the water again, until the smell of bleach is gone. Also never put any solids or organic matter down our kitchen sink so our grey tank stayed odor free. This can get kinked or rusted and make it hard to open and close the valve, as well. 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. Keystone RV Forums > Keystone Tech Forums > Repairs & Maintenance: Lubricating dump valves? Now work the valve open and closed a few times. 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! Next, remove the valves from the flanges that hold them in place in the piping. Are the National Parks in Oregon Worth Visiting? Eventually some will need to be replaced when they start leaking. Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2. To properly dump your tanks, Paul recommends the following. All tanks are available with a 3" spigot fitting and 4 level sensors installed. It is the most popular high-quality rubber protectant, so it should function in a similar way to the cooking oil/baby oil. I followed the suggestions on the forum and added a gate valve at the end of the sewer pipe. New cables work MUCH better than the OEMS ever did. Have any more questions about fixing RV black and grey tank valves that are hard to open and close? 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. How to Fix & Lubricate a Sticky Hard to Pull RV Holding Tank Dump Valve - RV Hacks, Tips & Tricks! 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. gauges not work so guess. Pro Tip: There a several methods for cleaning your black tank, find out which method is right for you. Its called, Youve got no place to go if your holding tank valves wont open.. For use on Nissans, Toyotas and other OHC engines. Can you fix it yourself, or will you have to spend money hiring a mobile RV tech? Who Owns Loki Expedition (Formerly Basecamp)? 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. This will then lube the valve seals. Maybe others will chime in soon. 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. Is there an additive I can add to the valves to lubricate the seals? Some RVers who have been flummoxed by sticky valve handles have gone a step further than the simple advice to lube it every now and then. You use 4 fl. Regardless of this potential revenue, unless stated otherwise, we only recommend products or services we believe provide value to our readers. The cable should be secured within 24 and have 6 of straight cable coming out of the valve housing. 3 bedroom house in south east london. Once you detach the valve, clean around the seals and gaskets. It is not really magic, but it is cheap, eco-friendly and it helps. 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. Please follow these rules when commenting on RVtravel.com. Replace it if it cracks, or if any part of it breaks off. american ninja warrior tryouts 2022 locations. Pump the cavity full of grease and the theory says youll keep the actuating rod freely operational. I would try adding a few gallons of water and more black tank treatment to try and break up whatever is clogging the tank. Replacing a BAL Accu-Slide slide-out clip-in style wiper seal, New lube product coming soon for CP4 pumps. - 89-8282 For example, internal tank sensors require drilling through the sides of the RV holding tank at precise locations. tried 2# new 3 #blk valves last mo, both are sticking (hear rubber dragging on pull leaver shaft. RV Daily Tips. They may help keep the gate itself lubricated between the rubber seals. The valves are secured in place by 4 - 7/16ths inch nuts and bolts. there's no adjustment for the RV sewer dump valve cables. Realizing this was a loosing battle, I cut the sewer line that is already exposed and inserted a ball valve with two rubber couplers. The RVers are usually referring to the black 3-inch gate valve on their black holding tank. This led me to put zerk grease fittings on each of my gate valves. Thats all you have to do. I wonder if I can use 303 Aerospace Protectant liquid down the tanks as well. You must log in or register to reply here. Were asked often about the proper method to lubricate a sticky RV dump valve. If you want to edit a comment click the gear icon to the right of your comment and choose edit, or delete. After emptying your tank, work the valve open and closed a few times and then close it. . You can now continue with your regular RV waste tank checklist. For the black tank, just pour down the toilet. And How to Do it Legally. I have put vegetables oil in gray tank. 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. Connect your sewage hose to the dump fitting on your camper. First, keep the rod well lubricated. We use the rig 5-6 times a year, every 2-3 months, but the first several dumps on each trip the valves are always very stiff. Plug the hole using a small screw so no waste water comes out of it when the valve is opened. RV waste tanks have valves that hold the liquids inside the tank until you are ready to dump. If you can get it open, dump your RV. oz. Regardless of your choice of lubrication approaches, you need to keep an eye on the valve handle. A 7/64ths inch drill bit and a #8x1/2 inch stainless steel screw works best to plug the hole.You don't have to use lithium grease, you can use any lubricant that you think is appropriate and one that will not damage the valves in your particular system, which may be different than mine. ALTERNATE METHOD One gallon of cheap vegetable oil (fry oil) at GFS is about $4.50. RV drain valve lubricant is dumped into the grey and black tank. Read more. The black and grey tank valves should no longer be sticky. Now "work" the valve open and closed a few times. If you replace the valve before it breaks, you can plan accordingly rather than being surprised one day and having to deal with it without any notice. Maintenance prevents unwanted surprises. Also, make sure you loosen all 4 bolts so its being undone evenly. However, there are products made specifically for this purpose. The veggie oil is a gallon jug the cheapest (~$5) stuff from Walmart or similar store. You can absolutely feel the difference when the oil begins to cover the surfaces of the valve itself. The thickness will allow you to tap the body with enough threads to screw in a plug or grease zerk. Even though its meant to be used on empty RV holding tanks theres a chance RV drain valve lubricant will work anyways. Last update on 2023-03-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API, Your email address will not be published. Long time ago a tech told me to use water pump lubricant in the waster water tanks to keep seals pliable and free. It works for a while, then I put more in. Holding tank valves Fifth Wheels . Check out these RV Toilet Paper Alternatives Youll Wish You Used Sooner. By code it's mandated that the sewer valves be positioned only so far from the tank outlet, so moving all three valves to the side of the coach may not be the best choice. Fulltimer Class ofLate2015, with my beautiful bride, Lori. It works well but its not my favorite method for regular maintenance because it involves drilling a hole in the gate valve housing. orbit eccentricity calculator. If all else fails you can try loosening the bolts that are holding the gate valve together to release whatever is keeping it closed. How do you lubricate RV holding tank valves and cables? First, keep the rod well lubricated. For the black tank, just pour down the toilet. 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! What to do about sticky valve handles in RV? 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. Easily replaces manual or cable pull valves. Its also a great way to prevent RV gate valves from getting sticky in the future. Most RVs with cable pull or rod-actuated valves are positioned in the side or 3 oclock side of the exit pipe, allowing this contaminated water to lay in the bottom of the body and creating this issue over time. We also stayed almost exclusively in Forest Service / National Park / Corp of Engineers parks and never put any solids in our black water tank. Some manufacturers brag about lubricants that are added to their holding tank treatments. 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. When RV heat is on, cabinets and counters get hot. How long should a dryer heating element last? I removed them and cleaned everything with soap and water. Rockport TX. ,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 . I keep the cables lubed the best i can with silicone lube. This wrench is designed with grooved pins to hold the camshaft pulley stationary while loosening and tightening the center shaft bolt While useful on most Asian overhead cam engines, it is most needed on transverse mounted V6 engines such as the VG30 used in Nissan Maximas, as well as, the 3VZFE and lMZFE engines used in Toyota Camrys. Tuesday, February 28, 2023. After a while, it starts to feel like you wont be able to open them at all. Thetford makes what they advertise as a valve lubricant. You can reference numerous YouTube videos showing how to go about this, but the entire process should take less than an hour. I'm really having a lot of friction when trying to pull the gray and the black water cables. Doug Swarts is a 25-year RV industry expert at creating and implementing revolutionary products for all RV waste management systems. Remove the valve from the flanges. Any price listed excludes sales tax, registration tags, and delivery fees. A lot of "old-timers" use mineral oil or even cooking oil, like vegetable oil. Both valves are at the back of the tanks near the end of the dropped frame. Then dump in as much water as you can. Holding Tank Treatments; Water Hoses; Sanitation Hoses & Accessories; Toilet Paper; . Keep both the grey and black dump valve closed until one or both tanks need to be emptied. Remove the bolts securing the valve. When RV heat is on, cabinets and counters get hot. I've had some success with 2 approaches: 1) vegetable oil and dawn liquid dish soap down the drain into the tank, and lubricant spray into the sewer outlet. 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. See Also:Best Portable Power Station/Solar Generator For Camping. This gets the lubricant inside and around the valve. You have 24 hours to edit a comment. These are 15 of our favorite songs/themes/scores that Tod has created for our YouTube channel. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Coconut oil, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, olive oil will all help. I have easy access to mine. This trick could get very messy, especially if you are working on the black tank valve. Replace the screw, then open and close the black or gray tank a few times to get the lubricant all over the valve. You can install cable-operated RV dump valves by connecting them with the flanges. It might even be worth purchasing a replacement kit and having it on hand. Just replaced all three pull cablesturned out to be a relatively simple jobat least that's what DH saidLOL! They recommend using 1/5th of the bottle with 4 gallons of water. RV Waste Superstore - On Sale Now! CALL 361-729-0031 FOR MORE INFO. Holding Tank Dump Valves. 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. Im afraid Id be very tempted to simply buy a new valve and lubricate it during installation. And we also ensure that any third parties we contract with either anonymize your data or have strict privacy policies in place that are aligned with ours. now its a pleasure too open and close the valves they work nice and easy. If you are going to use grease a on this valve I suggest a food safe grease. 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. Are The National Parks in Tennessee Worth Visiting? You can go ahead and add a lubricant. There are two moving parts on RV gate valves. Pro Tip: You dont need to use expensive RV toilet paper. One tip I did see is to drill a small hole above the handle and spray silicone into the hole while moving the handle in and out. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. After adding the soap and water drive around to get the waste inside the tank mixing. Vegetable oil will NOT harm those neoprene valve seals. Thetford has a great product we have used for several years called the Drain Valve Lubricant. _____ John 2015 F250 6.7l 4x4 2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS 05-28-2020, 01:47 PM . Rating Easy fix by: Anonymous Tap on inner gate with a 2x2 and hammer. No anonymous comments. 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. Travel Trailer. As a side note, the cable can get messed up sometimes. -- Edited by Lucky Mike on Monday 17th of June 2013 03:50:42 PM, My Service dog and life partner " Nikki"Klee Kia Miniature Husky.(she Runs the ship!!). I lubed once with a dry version of WD-40 which contains Teflon-style Fluoropolymers. What Are the Best Campgrounds in Branson, Missouri? NPS calls out YouTube and TikTok users. Give our video a thumbs up to like, share on your social media, and tell your friends. Thank you for stopping by. 2015 GMC 3500HD Denali DRW CC LB TrailerSaver TS3 Hitch, 2016 DRV Mobile Suites 38RSB3, MorRyde IS, MorRyde Pin Box. You do not mix it with other greases. Go to Valtera's website and see what they recommend. See Also:Best RV Sewer Hose Kits Reviewed & Rated. Is the Thousand Trails Cabin Pass Worth It? thr handle works but it is out but nothing coming out. Price: $73.28. We scratch our heads on that theory. You can revoke your consent any time using the Revoke consent button. Its worth a try though, and if you use a ton of dish soap it might be able to work its way down to the valve. ABS Polymer adhesive and fittings are also available. Take care of all of the different parts of your RV. If you use RV holding tank cleaner and dump your tanks regularly, chances are pretty good . Extreme Thermal Package R-52 (roof, floor and behind . Caravan RV Auto Electrical i am a mobile service and also can do in house and pick up from 674 port wakefild road green fields SA i can supply and fit All types of Accessories for your caravan RV we can supply and fit Diesel heaters and we stock most parts Description Specifications: Model:FJH-5/2 Heater Power: 5KW Fuel Gasoline:Diesel Rated . 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. Uflex Replacement Cables; Hydraulic Oil/Power Steering Fluid; Trim Controls; Uflex Rack Steering; Thats what campground bathrooms are for. The idea is that the dish soap will be able to clean around the gate valve to loosen up whatever is making it impossible to open. Thats at least a 40+ year old trick and a great one to suggest to those who havent thought of it. Hi Gary, It may not display this or other websites correctly. 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. Happy camper. The handle that pulls or pushes the gate, and the gate that holds or releases the contents of the holding tank. He said that usually the issue isn't the cable, but the gate valve & rubber seals. 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. I asked that to the service manager at a SOB dealership, and he told me they use Murphy's oil. What do you do when your RV black tank valve gets stuck? Gone are the days of having to use a manual valve to dump your tanks. It might still be pretty hard to open but hopefully, enough of the lubricant was able to get inside the valve to loosen it. We're asked often about the proper method to lubricate a sticky RV dump valve. Login; Register; Home; Shop by Categories. If the RV has three holding tanks, you need a Two Valve Kit plus the Single Valve Kit. 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. I full time and in the winter at times. That doesnt mean things wont break or crack, but do what you can to prevent such issues from happening. Make sure not to tighten the bolts too much, or you risk cracking the flanges. Use this lubricant at the start, middle, and end of the camping season to maintain the gate valves so they open and close easily all season long. This works much better for me then the quart of Thetford valve lube. 714-703-8200; rvparts@rvpartscenter.com; Search. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you like the hole drilling method make sure you spray lubricant inside the gate valve once or twice every year to keep it working correctly. Occasionally, the valves are buried under the motorhome and controlled by a remote cable, which requires removing basement panels for service. and how do i hook it back up to work. Mine are getting sticky, I am going to find that sprayer and foam adapter SOON. Have done this before but had been a little over a year. Thanks, Wayne and Gerald. Extend or open the rod and valve and apply the proper lubrication to the rod and run it in and out. 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. This post may contain affiliate links, This post may contain affiliate links or mention our own products, please check out our disclosure policy. 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. Your ice cube tray does a lot more than just make ice, Holy federal film permit, Batman! Make sure to do this lightly. 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. You just need enough to get it to the valve and it gets diluted even when the tank is empty, which the almost never really are. Be careful not to ding or in any way damage that steel rod, as a rough rod can create problemslike tearing up the shaft seal. A small T-shaped handle allows you to grab the rod and pull back the gate, permitting the contents to flush forth. Lubricating your RV black tank valve should be part of your regular maintenance checklist. 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. Your real email is required. The cables were also fairly level with no sharp bends. How much veg oil do you pour in? The biggest way to prevent a sticky black tank valve is proper maintenance. The first thing you need to do is make sure your black tank is empty and clean. See the detail from Valterras Installation Sheet to make sure your cable is installed properly or has not loosened up from a secure area. 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. Its a relatively easy process that requires few tools. For the gray, took the trap loose under the bathroom sink, emptied out the water, reconnected it and poured the vegetable oil down it. Mine are easy to get to. Open the valve and soak it in hot, soapy water. I've tried spraying the exposed part of the . The reason I asked is that I'm having problems with my black tank valve. Once you insert the new valve, replace the bolts. But if nothing else has been effective this could work as a last resort. All that goop in your black water and gray water waste tanks is held in place by the tanks dump valves. Here's a video showing how how to lub your waste valves. Its completely normal for this to happen. I've had to clean the black tank valve once before and it's a pain to have to drop the underbelly cover for this simple procedure. Some RVers who have been flummoxed by sticky valve handles have gone a step further than the simple advice to lube it every now and then. Dont wait until it gets stuck. Now turn the handle counter-clockwise by hand to remove it, and screw a new one on firmly. I couldn't find much information at the company's website, especially with regards to its chemical make-up. We are here to help, call us at. His sound principles of RV waste management have led to a group of products designed to make the unpleasant task of dumping holding tanks more sanitary, safe and convenient for the end user. Your email address will not be published. It seems that a shot of lube directly to the valve rod is about the only practical solution, at least from our experience. I agree with Gerald. If you want to edit a comment click the gear icon to the right of your comment and choose edit, or delete. One other item to inspect is the proper installation of the cable, if it applies to your vehicle. Oh gee, maybe a cup. How do you lubricate RV holding tank valves and cables? ??? 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. In order to be effective, the lubricant needs to be in contact with the rubber in the valve. However, there is a nice seal that prevents holding tank contents from actually getting onto the rod. Open and shut the valve to make sure it works smoothly. When you spray your slide-outs with lubricant each month, go ahead and spray your black tank valve as well. Little did I know theres actually a simple fix to this issue that will also help keep the valves opening easily in the future. When you loosen the bolts that are holding the gate valve together only undo them about a 1/4 turn at a time. Try and open the valve again. I drilled the hole and spray silicone in it a few times a year and also on the metal rod. It is recommended to occasionally lubricate the rod with a dry lube such as 3-in-1 spray or CRC. Just do it right after dumping the tanks so it can get to the valves and not be to diluted. Having problems with your RV black tank can cause you much frustration. Make sure to hold the flanges tight against the valve during this process. Fahrverkauf Ingolstadt; Preise If you break the valve, youll have more work to do and more money to spend replacing it. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "abc43f8af58a96ad9450bbba6d3f65dc" );document.getElementById("bf0ddd2115").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Welcometo The Camping Nerd. Click \"SHOW MORE\" for some great information about us.\rTreat us to a cup of coffee: https://ko-fi.com/theglampingguys\rStickers, Shirts \u0026 More: https://teespring.com/stores/glamping-guys-swag-3\rFollow the Glamping Guys on Instagram:\rhttps://www.instagram.com/glamping_guys/\r\r\r*********** \rABOUT US \r***********\rJason \u0026 Tod, are a married couple looking to explore this beautiful world. If the holding tank is full, however, it presents a greater challenge. Weve never tried it, and do have a couple of concerns. You can do this during the year as well. This is one of those old RVers tricks that gets you into hour long discussions as to what is best.

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how to lubricate rv holding tank valves and cables