the smell of it all

[choctawmel]

There comes a time when you must work on the stinky side. The black water valve has been leaking for years. Now that the handle is getting harder and harder to pull/push it's time to do the dirty deed.
What to do?

First option: Replace seals/caskets ($20 each) I've read where this sometimes don't work and there goes $40 and have to start over,

Second option: replace valves ($60 each) But then the valves are glued. I have had luck with cutting and breaking plastic fitting out but being able to get the 34 year old plastic separated w/o everything breaking isn't likely. So with new valves would mean new tubing. But where to find that?

Looks like the whole assembly will come out by taking the 4 screws that holds the valve into the tanks. Then disconnect the mickey-mouse setup they did to couple handle rod to the gray water valve(looks like a piece of scrap sheet medal bent aroll the shaft




Guess I'll see what breaks as I tore it apart.

[bobmiller1]

Just tear it all out and replace everything from the tanks out to the sewer connection.....if you want to be real slick install the electrically operated valves, who knows they may also have remote key fob operated ones by now or even better a phone app so you can stand clear ! Regards, Bob

[Bill M.]

The parts that are glued are cheap. Unscrew the valves from the tank and make a new assembly. I used PVC from Lowe’s instead of black ABS. I had to replace a set of valves that Airstream rebuilt. Replacing everything is about $200 in parts. Airstream charged $1000 for the rebuild that I had to replace. The valve bodies cracked. I put a Valletta fitting on the dump end. Yours does look easier to get to than mine was.

[choctawmel]

Originally Posted by bobmiller1

Just tear it all out and replace everything from the tanks out to the sewer connection.....if you want to be real slick install the electrically operated valves, who knows they may also have remote key fob operated ones by now or even better a phone app so you can stand clear ! Regards, Bob

With the run on toilet around may need a self cleaning personal dump feature with an electric cleanup.

[choctawmel]

Originally Posted by Bill M.

The parts that are glued are cheap. Unscrew the valves from the tank and make a new assembly. I used PVC from Lowe’s instead of black ABS. I had to replace a set of valves that Airstream rebuilt. Replacing everything is about $200 in parts. Airstream charged $1000 for the rebuild that I had to replace. The valve bodies cracked. I put a Valletta fitting on the dump end. Yours does look easier to get to than mine was.

These MH's don't have the covered tanks.

Next step is get outside and run a couple tanks of bleach water through them, The weather's not the best to play outside this week. Drive it out of the shop and it may sink up to the windows in the yard.

[Smartstream]

This is the rebuild i did on my 345. https://www.airforums.com/forums/f31...-183003-5.html It is post #90.

I used Valtera valves, $25-$30 each including hubs. The operating handles are 1/4"-20 thread so the Thetford handles screw right on if you like the original look. I drilled and threaded aluminum rod for extensions but you could use all-thread and coupling nuts.

I also used flexible rubber couplings https://www.homedepot.com/p/The-Plum...8264/306602211 for easy assembly and standard 3" ABS fittings and pipe.

You can see the repair in my tank fitting so i put the flexible coupling in boiling water for a few minutes and it softened enough to fit over the tank hub to eliminate trying to force the pipe inside the hub and causing it to crack again.

The rubber couplings give the set up some flex and makes valve repair/replacement easy.

[Wazbro]

The hub on the valve is held into the tank with a hose clamp. Went pretty easy replacing whole assembly valterra valves and home depot parts. Except for gaining access to do the work.

[cazual6]

I use silicone lube on the piston for the valves. It helps.

[choctawmel]

Was about to order the Thetford valves #08709 and #08306 to start this project. 'Out of stock' seems to be the rule of the day.
Did find Valve #08709, #08706 and bayonet #VTS-440 at highskyrvparts.com. Guess I'll clip the 'order' tab and go.

Now the fun begins.

[choctawmel]

Got a email from 'high sky' that one of the valves is 'out of stock' and may take 4 weeks to be 'in stock' again.
That has been the story of everything I've tried to get this year...... Out of stock.... Again.

[chiefair]

. Try eBay.

[Magnet18]

On my 310 the valves were held in with trempro/vulkem. Undo that hose clamp on the tank, and use a heat gun to loosen the sealant, and the valve should pull right out. Reinstalled with more sealant and a new valve, wasn't as hard of a job as I had dreaded, just required a lot of trips to the hardware store to puzzle over the right size pvc fittings

My swap starts here, replaced with all valterra

https://www.airforums.com/forums/f31...ml#post2210688