Help!

[littlelolita]

Hi!

My new-to-me 1979 Argosy Minuet 6 had been living in the bushes for nine years, before we got her home, scrubbed her, washed her and loved on her. She is now looking mighty sweet and it is time to focus on what I have been trying to avoid: the toilet.

From what I can see, it is not empty. And my guess is that it has not been touched in the past 9 years.

In addition to that little bit of joy, the pipe that goes from the toilet to the outside valve has been cut / removed. The whole middle section.

So, my question to you experts is:

1) how the heck do I empty the toilet? Through the top, the bottom?? Righ now, it is stationary and cannot be moved easily.

2) what do you suggest as far as fixing that pipe?

Thank you in advance for your expertise!

- Laura

[AlinCal]

Tape lid shut, have two trash bags doubled up and ready, unbolt toilet and carefully lift and set into double trash bags, then carefully carry bag contents to trash can and unload, then take off the hazmat suit, goggles and resperator I forgot to tell you to put on, and the plastic runway out of trailer.

[thiel]

Kill it with fire!

[littlelolita]

Oh boy. Thanks, Alan! Any clue on the cut pipe?

[mimiandrews]

Are you talking about the water supply pipe that carries fresh water into the toilet for flushing, or are you talking about the pipe down to the black water tank that carries the waste out? I presume the former.

Your local big box store should have plastic tubing, PEX or something similar, and push-on fittings, SharkBite, that can be used to splice a new section into that water pipe. Their salesmen can be very helpful when learning to use such products.

Have you found the dump valve that opens to allow accumulated black water to be emptied at a campsite or dump station? That should be the way the toilet is normally emptied.

[mccrosti]

My first thought was "holy sh$t" that black tank must be full or plugged or both. Gravity would allow any effluent siting in the toilet to drain down into the black tank, once you step on the plunger if the tank is empty, but if I am reading this right your toilet is *full* and that's a problem. If you drain the black tank - take it to a campground - then emptying your toilet should not be a problem. The water feed can be spliced using push to fit pex fittings or copper to pex fittings.

[TG Twinkie]

If you are refering to the 3" pipe leaving the black water tank you may be able to cut a section of 3" ABS or PVC pipe long enough to replace the missing section. Install it using FERNCO or similar couplings. One at each end.
Perhaps the PO removed the old section in an effort to clear the BW tank.
Is the BW tank full right up to the bottom of the toilet?
Is the material dried up or is there liquid in the tank?
You may have some success back flushing once the missing pipe is installed
Good Luck

[ALANSD]

have you tried to open the dump valve outside? I would carefully do this just a little to see what flows out..( YUUUCH) but that would give you an idea of what you are up against. Then do what is stated above...go somewhere you can dump it or get a blue boy to dump it into. Then flush out the toilet.

[littlelolita]

Thank you for all these suggestions! Anyone wants to come do this?
Stay posted!

- Laura

[ALANSD]

if I leave now I can be there in 3 or 4 days... LOL

[Minno]

Our black tank was full when we went to remove the toilet when gutting the trailer. We had towed her home from Mississippi with no idea it was full. I opened the gate valve and let it flow onto the grass (all liquid, no solids, and after Lord knows how many years it was there, NO ODOR). Grass grew very well there for a few years.... Yours is probably composted at this point. If it's liquid, you can drain it. If it's solid, you might want to add some water and let it sit for awhile to soften up in the hopes you can flush it out.
Good luck!

Kay

[littlelolita]

Thank you!!

[littlelolita]

I'll get the tea kettle on.

[andreasduess]

After nine years, the worst that can happen is that whatever was in there is either completely dried up or composted.

But, if the pipe that goes from the black tank to the open/close valve has been removed, then I am not sure how the tank can contain anything at this stage.

We installed a composting toilet two years ago and have never looked back. Not having to deal with a black tank anymore has been a huge simplifier.

[littlelolita]

Oh! I love hearing this, as this has been on my mind a lot. Would you be willing to share with me your experience with the composting toilet? Did you make it yourself? Did you buy it? Anything you could share with me would be hugely appreciated!

[HiHoAgRV]

If the tank is full and dried into a solid mass, it's possible to open the dump valve and work a hose up from the outside, squirting water into the pipe. Eventually 'stuff' will start to loosen and come out. This is truly a last resort...
Although we like photos here on the Forums, this is not the case here...