'61 Ambassador black tank gate valve leaking

[Studioman]

I bought a 61' Ambassador in "Almost camping ready" condition.
Today I got the gate valve (Discharge on the black tank)operational, then filled it with water. The tank appears to hold water TOTALLY fine, but there is a stead drip through the gate valve.
I read on other posts that on newer models, the valve can be rebuilt with some type of new seal. Is this true for mine? It appears to be a factory tank, but there is a big access panel, with a means to remove it fairly easy.
It's the valve that has the gray water come out below it, sharing the same connection. There is no gray tank on my trailer.
Any info. on the subject would be GREAT as once this is fixed, it is going into my shop for the winter.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by Studioman

I bought a 61' Ambassador in "Almost camping ready" condition.
Today I got the gate valve (Discharge on the black tank)operational, then filled it with water. The tank appears to hold water TOTALLY fine, but there is a stead drip through the gate valve.
I read on other posts that on newer models, the valve can be rebuilt with some type of new seal. Is this true for mine? It appears to be a factory tank, but there is a big access panel, with a means to remove it fairly easy.
It's the valve that has the gray water come out below it, sharing the same connection. There is no gray tank on my trailer.
Any info. on the subject would be GREAT as once this is fixed, it is going into my shop for the winter.

The original black water valve was brass.

That valve has been history for more than 4 decade.

You can carefully cut that valve out from the fiberglass tank.

Then you can, up date the tank outlet, with current Thetford fittings and valve. it can be done without removing the tank, but it's about 5 times easier if the black tank was removed.

Anyd

[Overlander & Sea]

This is how Airforums member wagsrp rebuilt his brass valve with new seals, here's the link:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f444...uild-2067.html

And here's the link to his photos of his rebuild:

- Photo Gallery

Several years ago, a friend rebuilt and installed new seals in the black tank brass valve in my '61 Overlander. He purchased the new seals from a local hydrolics store.

[Overlander & Sea]

But most members replace the original brass valve with a modern valve, this is how they do it, here's the link:

Brass Thetford Dump Valves - Vintage Airstream