Fresh water leak - help

[wayner1239]

Fresh water is leaking underneath my trailer around the caulked seams of the metal cover for the water tank. I don't know where to start to find the leak or repair it. If I take the "belly pan" or cover off will I be able to see where the leak is coming from or can I access it from inside the trailer somewhere? Help from anyone is greatly appreciated.l

[thenewkid64]

In the pan, there should be an access cover. 4-6 screws and it should come off. There is a main drain plug that seems to be a common failure.

[wayner1239]

I just checked it and sure enough there is a small access panel which I did not see before. When I get a chance I will jack it up and take a look. Sure beats taking the entire pan off. Thanks for the info.

[drboyd]

If some moron (yes, I mean "Moron!") has used a galvanized plug instead of the requisite plastic plug, you're in for some fun.

I fixed mine, but not the first time or the seond time. Let me know if that's the problem, and I'll share The Magic Secret with you!

[john hd]

wayner,

i just fixed my 1992 excella last june, bad drain petcock and cleanout plug.

here is the link to my thread http://www.airforums.com/forum...&threadid=5206

lots of pictures so you will know what to expect.

john

[wayner1239]

John - There is nothing like pictures. Hopefully my leak can be repaired for so little cost. Did you say that the $4.50 included the beers???

DRBOYD - If I have a galvanized plug I will certainly let you know. Of course, the magic formula would be good to know anyway. I don't want to try making this repair but once.

Thanks to all of you who have responded. It helps ease the uncertainty of what to expect and will save me untold hours messing around not knowing what I am doing.

[wayner1239]

but not without some difficulty. The pan under my water tank is so low to the ground that even after pulling the trailer up on 6" blocks there was very little room underneath, and it was a pain getting the screws out from the inspection plate. The leak was coming from the drain plug, but I had a hard time finding something to remove the plug. (Thank goodness it wasn't a galvanized plug as drboyd warned about) Finally I found a spark plug socket with a six sided place on one end for a wrench or socket that almost fit in the drain plug. I used my grinder to grind it down a little and it fit perfect. The inspection opening was too small and it blocked the drain plug from coming out but I was able to cut the opening a little larger with some tin snips.
I wrapped the threads of the drain plug with teflon and put a little plumbers putting close to the edge and reinstalled it. My leak is stopped (at least for now).

Thanks again to everyone who responded.

Wayne