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Ginder75 · 07-03-2010, 11:15 PM

Well,

I have made three trips to the RV parts store and have been frustrated three different times.

I have a thretford valve on my black water tank, and that feeds into a "Y" connector with my grey water feeding into it. The final connector has four large locking lugs, not studs like the Valerta.

I have tried using a standard Valerta but there was not enough room between the lugs for it to engage. I have tried the universal adapter and it was too large in diameter. Only half of it would engage, the other side was on free air. I then purchased a 3" cut and glue fitting to replace the my connection, but it was too large for my pipe.

What do I have? Any suggestions.

Thanks,
Robert

Jammer · 07-04-2010, 07:10 AM

You probably have a thetford connector. There are adapters available.

Thetford Valves & Fittings

Journalist · 07-04-2010, 07:20 AM

Purchase the Thetford to Valterra adapter from the site linked above. Wouldn't hurt to pick up two of them just in case you break one. They are difficult to find. (As you have already figured out) Once you have that adapter, all of the newer accessories that you find at your local RV supplier will snap right on.

Ginder75 · 07-04-2010, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jammer

You probably have a thetford connector. There are adapters available.

Thetford Valves & Fittings

This fiiting looks just like the universal I bought. I will get two on order before I start plan B. My fitting measure 3" inside and 3.325 outside, the new fittings are 3" inside and 3.5" outside. So, I am about .175 different.

Thanks for thoughts, I have several items on my wish list from Vintage Trailer. Looks like I am going to split the shipping and get them!!! Darn I hate that I have a unique fitting.

Ginder75 · 07-06-2010, 09:31 PM

Okay, I have looked at the Thetford fitting and it is not what I have. Thetford has four lugs, that are bigger than the Valterra posts, but not like the wedges that are on my fitting.

The OD of my pipe excluding the lugs is only 3.325", but it has an interior measurement of 3". All the other 3" ID pipe has an OD of 3.5.

I have made a trip to the local plumbing store and have a bag full of parts. I am not ready to replace the whole system yet, but it is on the list of things to do.

Anyone else run into this?

Journalist · 07-06-2010, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ginder75

Okay, I have looked at the Thetford fitting and it is not what I have. Thetford has four lugs, that are bigger than the Valterra posts, but not like the wedges that are on my fitting.

Do yours look like this?:

Ginder75 · 07-06-2010, 09:52 PM

NOPE, I have four wedges that pins built into the plumbing fitting ride up to tighten.

Thetford has lugs, and Valterra has pins/posts. Mine has wedges

Robert

Journalist · 07-06-2010, 09:57 PM

Don't know what to tell you other than to try the Thetford and see if it fits. If it doesn't, chop that sucker off and install a Valterra style fitting

Ginder75 · 07-07-2010, 12:54 PM

The Thetford adapter looks just like the Valterra adapter that I took back.

I have a bag of parts, several different primers and glues, and a dremel. This could be dangerous, but I am going to make the swap.

I have a glue on Valterra fitting that I am going to make fit on my pipe one way or another. The system will see limited use, but when we use it I need the capablity to hook up lines. Right now it doesn't. I will give this thread a little while longer, but I get dremel happy and engineer my own solution.

I can't believe that no one has old fitting that is on my camper. It looks very original, and I have a few of the fitting that hook up, but I do not have the terminal cap, or the one to hook a garden hose too. I have worn out the internet looking at plumbing fittings, but no luck yet.

Thanks,
Robert

samb · 07-07-2010, 02:23 PM

I might have the part(s) you are looking for. Any chance you could post a photo of your end point? The fittings I have came from my '61 Safari.
Sam

Ginder75 · 07-07-2010, 02:26 PM

I am new to the sight and I have not posted a picture yet. If you PM me an email address I can send them when I get home.

Thanks,
Robert

Journalist · 07-07-2010, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ginder75

I can't believe that no one has old fitting that is on my camper. It looks very original, and I have a few of the fitting that hook up, but I do not have the terminal cap, or the one to hook a garden hose too. I have worn out the internet looking at plumbing fittings, but no luck yet.

Thanks,
Robert

If it IS the original, it's a Thetford. I wouldn't cut it off until I tried a known Thetford connector rather than some universal part.

VIKING · 07-07-2010, 09:13 PM

WRONG!
I have the same mind-numbing, once in a lifetime fitting on my 64 Safari. It came with a "special" adapter that you can find on 64s only, I think. I went to Ideal RV in Redwood City to see about getting a standard fitting to go on it. It's not standard, its not valterra, and its not thetford. According to the guy at Ideal the 64 fittings were "Airstream" fittings. I have the piece that goes onto those fittings(somewhere) and I'd post you a pic, but I don't know where it's at right now, and it probably wouldn't make any difference cause you need to look for a 64 that's being parted out to find one. The piece that goes onto the dump valve is a short 90 degree pipe with a collar on the end that attaches to the dump valve fitting. I don't know what other 64 owners are doing, but I am going to add a gray water tank behind the axle, inside the frame, and change the Y fitting and the dump fitting at that time so the old tank won't have the gray water going to it at all and I will have a normal fitting that I can get parts for.

Best to you, 64 owner! Don't you feel special?

Rich the Viking

Ginder75 · 07-08-2010, 09:04 AM

This special 64 is killing me, everything is one of a kind, never used on another model of camper again. From the grease seals, dust caps on the hubs, now to the plumbing system.

Thanks for the input Viking, I was really loosing it. I tried several fitting and nothing matched up. I have one or two of the 90 degree downspouts that hook up, but I will need some o-rings to keep them leak free. I do not have the cap, or the cap with hose hook up and those are two parts that I really want.

Thus I have been look at swaping over to Valterra, but dang I did not know it would take two months of searching.

Robert

VIKING · 07-08-2010, 01:33 PM

As special as it is, '64s are pretty desireable Airstreams. I wish I'd seen your thread sooner.

Best to you,
Rich the Viking

samb · 07-10-2010, 07:15 PM

Are any of the parts in the photo what you are looking for?
Sam

Ginder75 · 07-10-2010, 11:54 PM

From what I can see on my phone - YES you have the parts I need.

I am VERY interested in the cap (front center of picture).

What do you want for the cap? How much for it all?

Robert

samb · 07-11-2010, 08:42 AM

Robert--
I just sent you a private message which includes my email address. Hope to hear from you soon so we can make sure these are the correct fittings.
Sam