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05-21-2018, 05:34 PM
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#1
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2 Rivet Member
1979 25' Tradewind
Port Townsend
, Washington
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 40
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Freshwater drain plug
OK, I'm stumped. I recently acquired a 1979 Tradewind in excellent shape. It had been winterized, and this past weekend I decided to fill freshwater tank and sanitize water lines. I discovered that the tank was missing its drain plug. I figured the plug must surely be a standard plumbing fitting. So I trotted to hardware store and bought several threaded plugs. One seemed to fit quite nicely. Put hose back in filler tube, and...more water gushing out of drain. New plug had no impact whatsoever. What in the world am I missing? Local RV store is clueless.
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05-23-2018, 11:29 AM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2005 31' Classic
Garner,
, North Carolina
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,031
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you sure the plug is working or the tank is not get a crack in it?? where is water coming out??
good luck on this it can be a bear sometime figuring out crap on these dudes.
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Carl, Raleigh NC
2-24-16 got a 2005 Classic 31D 460 watts solar, lithium 230 AH, 16" LT's, pulled by:
2003 F-250 SD, CC, 7.3L PowerStroke
WBCCI#1691, Piedmont Airstream Club, Unit #161, Region #3
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05-24-2018, 04:46 PM
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#3
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2 Rivet Member
1979 25' Tradewind
Port Townsend
, Washington
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 40
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Water comes out from around the threaded plug I thought would work...it's like it's a different kind of thread, or slightly different dimension. Tank does not appear to be cracked. Does anyone have a photo of what the plug should look like when in place?
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05-24-2018, 05:06 PM
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#4
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3 Rivet Member
2001 30' Classic S/O
Leander
, Texas
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 189
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It should have the same threads as the water heater petcock.
John
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05-26-2018, 12:32 PM
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#5
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2 Rivet Member
1979 25' Tradewind
Port Townsend
, Washington
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 40
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OK, thanks, John.
I tried taping my plug with Teflon tape, threaded it in, and re-filled water tank. Crawling under to take a look, it seems water is coming AROUND plug, not through the threads, if that makes sense. It also seems that even with water coming out, tank is not fully draining. So I am more confused than ever.
Any ideas?
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05-26-2018, 02:12 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
1968 24' Tradewind
Oxford,
, Mississippi
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 1,564
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The plug should be a standard pumping plastic plug. I get them at ACE hardware (Atwood heater) and I keep a couple in my box of "stuff" because they are very easy to cross thread(how do I know this?). Also , I have had to help other campers with leaking plugs several times. I do prefer to use teflon thread sealant instead of teflon tape. It just works better for me. My plug takes a 1in socket. Using the teflon thread sealant and getting it pretty tight I never have leaks at the plug.
If the tank isn't draining well make sure you open the pressure relief valve to break the vacuum in the tank so the water can flow out.
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Bruce & Rachel
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68 Trade Wind
2001 Toyota Tundra
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05-26-2018, 07:06 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1974 31' Sovereign
1979 23' Safari
Wayland
, New York
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,632
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Is this the 1-1/4" Plug on the bottom of the tank or a smaller 1/2" plug on the side of the tank. Either way I've probably got some bad news. If the water is leaking from around the outer edges of the drain where it was originally spin welded into the tank, then the fitting is likely cracked around it and weeping from the cracks. I'd try one more time to see f you can be sure it's not the threads, by putting some Teflon tape and pipe dope on the threads and try reinstalling and checking for leaks.
If it's still leaking then it's likely cracked and you can do two things. Keep in mind that applying sealants on the outside of the PE tanks generally won't work because the low surface tension of the PE material prevents most materials from sticking to the plastic. You can replace the tank, or try to plastic weld the tank with a plastic welding setup, or find somebody to plastic weld the fitting for you.
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05-26-2018, 07:21 PM
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#8
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Overkill Specialist
Commercial Member
2020 30’ Globetrotter
2014 23' International
Dadeville
, Alabama
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 4,516
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HiJoeSilver
Is this the 1-1/4" Plug on the bottom of the tank or a smaller 1/2" plug on the side of the tank. Either way I've probably got some bad news. If the water is leaking from around the outer edges of the drain where it was originally spin welded into the tank, then the fitting is likely cracked around it and weeping from the cracks. I'd try one more time to see f you can be sure it's not the threads, by putting some Teflon tape and pipe dope on the threads and try reinstalling and checking for leaks.
If it's still leaking then it's likely cracked and you can do two things. Keep in mind that applying sealants on the outside of the PE tanks generally won't work because the low surface tension of the PE material prevents most materials from sticking to the plastic. You can replace the tank, or try to plastic weld the tank with a plastic welding setup, or find somebody to plastic weld the fitting for you.
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This is dead on. I just swapped a tank and the cost was around $150 so not the end of the world
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05-28-2018, 04:10 PM
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#9
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2 Rivet Member
1979 25' Tradewind
Port Townsend
, Washington
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 40
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HiJoe figured it out -- I'd come to same conclusion. Spin fitting is broken off and the tank probably is cracked at that point. So am considering:
1) Seeing if a repair person can seal off old drain site, and install new drain.
2) Replacement
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