Has Anyone Replaced Their Petcocks?

[Alumaholic]

Has anyone replaced the petcocks that drain the hot and cold water systems? Mine are leaking.

[Condoluminum]

There was a discussion here:
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f443...lve-77057.html Different valves for different years, none seemed loveable...

[fltlevel510]

Found a brass replacement at Harbor Freight in the pneumatics section only $1.98 each. However after removing the old ones and lubricating well they worked fine. I use plumbers silicone grease on just about every valve on the Airstream and seems to keep them working smoothly.

[Alumaholic]

Thanks for the helpful posts regarding repair and replacement of the freshwater drain. (I'm sure it's just a matter of time until I will have to replace it too.)

But right now I need petcock help.
The petcocks are fastened to the bottom of the fresh-water, holding-tank pan, as shown in my first post.
One petcock drains the hot water lines.
The other petcock drains the cold water lines.
Both are leaking.
Has anyone replaced petcocks.

[masseyfarm]

Drain Valve products, buy Drain Valve products from alibaba.com

This is what you want. Any radiator shop should be able to help you.
Dave

[dznf0g]

Holic, Give AS a call. If they screw directly into the bottom of the tank, it's a no brainer. Just use the wrench on the hex sided "nut" and replace. Very standard part. I'm a little afraid there may be some kind of extension between the tank and the petcock. If that's the case you could cause a leak upstream of the petcock if you just twist away. That wouldn't be good....more major surgery to fix. You'd have to cut away some tank pan and insulation to get to the tank bottom.

[Alumaholic]

Originally Posted by dznf0g

I'm a little afraid there may be some kind of extension between the tank and the petcock. If that's the case you could cause a leak upstream of the petcock if you just twist away. That wouldn't be good....more major surgery to fix. You'd have to cut away some tank pan and insulation to get to the tank bottom.

Since the petcocks are mounted on the freshwater pan, we don't know what is going on inside the pan.

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by Alumaholic

Since the petcocks are mounted on the freshwater pan, we don't know what is going on inside the pan.

Correct, Call Randy McNeely at AS.

[Captain Hank]

I want to post what I did to replace my petcock drain valves.

As you know the petcocks are conveniently placed (HaHa!) behind the left side front tire. They also stick and are hard to open. The handles on mine had rusted so bad that the handle broke when I tried to open it.

I had an access cover by the valves that I could remove. I discovered that the PEX water lines connected to a 1/2" to 3/8" bushing that the petcock screws into. AS used two washers between the petcock and the bushing to secure it to the belly pan.

I disconnected the PEX lines and removed the petcock and the 1/2 to 3/8 bushing.

I purchased two small ball valves from Harbor Freight tools(Item68254). The valve has 1/4"MPT on one end and 1/4" FPT on the other end. I also purchased two 3/8' to 1/4" brass bushings.

I screwed the 3/8" to 1/4" bushing into the 1/2"to 3/8' bushing using one of the washers. This made the assembly secure to the belly pan. I then screwed the 1/4" valves into the 3/8 end of the bushing and reconnected the PEX lines. I oriented the valve handles at an angle to space between the tires. This made it easier to reach. With the ball valve it only take 1/4 turn to open the valve. If the valves ever need to be replaced, I can now screw them out of the bushing without opening the access cover.

It costs less than $20 to complete this improvement. It is now very easy to drain my piping system to winterize my AS.

I am going to try an post a couple of pictures.

[Alphonse]

Very neat job and looks like quite durable. Will keep this in mind when the time comes!

[sandlapper]

Great work Henry. Another one of those minor major improvements.

John

[Wayne&Sam]

Nope. Still have the same old rooster.

[Alumaholic]

Elegantly done Cap'n. Thanks for the follow-up.
Mine was a less elegant fix though similar. I was a bit worried about hanging valves beneath the fresh-water, holding tank pan, so I just used caps. There is already too little clearance to make me happy.

[polarlyse]

I too would be concerned with low hanging valves. I have read some threads from more than one traveler that lost a FW tank drain valve on the rough roads to / from Alaska. These would hang down even more. However, for those whose travels keep them on more improved roads I think it's a fine idea.