Problem black tank valve?

[adonh]

I have a 1976 31' center bath Sovereign with separate gray and black tanks. The sewer connection and pull handles to dump the tanks are located on the drivers side just aft of the wheel well. Here's what happened. We are are staying in an RV park in Galveston TX for a few weeks. We decided to drive back home today, about an hours drive away to check on a few things and just lock up the trailer and leave it at the park.So I dumped the back tank which was probably about 3/4 full and I could feel the discharch through the hose. So after a few minutes I closed the black tank valve and left the water running at the commode. After a little while to allow for the tank to fill again I pulled the black tank pull handle but no discharge at all. The the handled pulled out fine and seems OK. I pushed it back in a and then pulled it out, still no discharge. I shut off the water to the commode and tried closing and opening the valve several times but still no discharge. I am not sure if this is a valve problem such as the pull devise disconnected from the actual valve. It feels the same as in the past when I open and close it. We came on home and I will try again tomorrow.

If it is the valve can I get to it from underneath and maybe remove a section of under skin or maybe cut a small hole in the skin to get to the valve to see if the pull handle is disconnected to the valve.

In suggestions.

Thanks

Don

[TomW]

Originally Posted by adonh

... It feels the same as in the past when I open and close it...

From your description, it sounds like a wad of something is clogging the works.

Suit up, open valves, and fish a coat hanger or plumber's snake (as appropriate) through the Airstream's plumbing.

Tom

[adonh]

Originally Posted by TomW

From your description, it sounds like a wad of something is clogging the works.

Suit up, open valves, and fish a coat hanger or plumber's snake (as appropriate) through the Airstream's plumbing.

Tom

I guess in a way I hope that is what it is, but I don't look forward to unclogging it. Maybe sitting there today and tomorrow will loosen things up. I hope.

Don

[Mexray]

Do you have one of those sewer pipe 'caps' with the garden hose fitting molded in?

If so, with the black tank valve in the 'open' position, you could try installing the outer sewer cap, attach a garden hose (you'll need a female-to-female adapter) to a water faucet -

Turn on the water to pressurize the sewer pipes, watching closely so as not to overpower with high pressure - to see if you can 'blow' the blockage back into the black tank - usually this will do the trick quickly, as most blockages aren't lodged that tight, and not much actual 'pressure' is required...if things are flowing OK, you can use this system to backfill the black tank before dumping it again...

I've done this to also back fill the gray tank for flushing...
1. while doing the above - shut off the water faucet.
2. close black tank valve.
3. open gray tank valve.
4. turn on water again to back flush and fill gray tank.
5. turn off water.
6. close gray tank valve.
7. attach dump hose to sewer pipe.
8. open black tank to drain.
9. close black tank valve.
10. open gray tank valve to flush the system...

you get the idea...

Ray



Ray

[adonh]

When I got back to the trailer today I tried to dump the black tank but it was stilled clogged. Then the light went off in my brain. I have used the Sewer Solution for 10 years and almost always hook it up when camping. But I do carry a slinky as well. When we arrived about 2 weeks ago I was in a hurry to set up for my wife since I was going to be leaving again on business for a couple of days and just hooked up the slinky. When I got back I did not remember to hook up the Sewer Solution. I know now why I have never had clogged lines when using the Sewer Solution. I hooked it up and opened the black valve and closed the gray valve and turned on the water in the back flush mode. Within seconds the clog was open and the black tank was able to drain. Now we are ready for fun and on the beach. Thanks for the responses.

Don