Foretravel Owners' Forum

Time to deal with another issue.  A couple of weeks ago we were dry camping and decided to add a little water to the tank for the trip home, after we dumped.  After filling a little less than half full.  I shut the auto fill valve (AFV) and retracted the water hose.  I then went to wash my hand at the outside faucet.  When I turned on the water pump water started pumping out of the fill hose.  I shut it off and went around to the water bay.  I tried to shut off the AFV manually to no avail.  Whenever I turn on the water pump water comes out of the fill hose.  I was able to get around the problem temporarily by screwing a plug into the hose end. 

I'm thinking I need a new AFV, but I'm wondering if there is a fuse that may be the problem, or if there is something else that may be going on.  The switch light comes on and shuts off normally. 

Any input is welcome, as usual. 

Thanks David

Perhaps not the auto fill valve but the fresh water check valve instead.

We had the same symptoms.  In ours, the check valve is located behind the back wall of the utility bay.

Photos here http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?action=media;sa=album;in=315 (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?action=media;sa=album;in=315)

Specific photo of check valve location

See, thats why I ask questions.  Is the check valve the brass pice at the 90 on the small tube? I would guess I would order it form Foretravel? Is it possible that my valve is clogged or jammed open and could be cleared? Thanks for you quick response.

I just noticed that my configuration is reversed as my reels are aft of my water services.  So mine may be in a different location.  I'll be checking that out soon.

Michelle is known for rapping a check valve with a rubber mallet. You might want to ask her about that before you buy a new valve! 

No, no.  That's for Aquahot (and home oil burner) zone valves.

Here's the marked up photo of the fresh water check valve.  You can find them at plumbing supply places (or as a temporary fix find a screw-on one for the fresh water hose at Lowes or Home Depot).  Admittedly, we ended up getting our replacement at FOT because we couldn't find the right size in brass elsewhere.

in short term, get a hose shut off from Home Depot or similar, either a plug, or one of those attachments that has a shut off valve (i had to buy a brass one, the plastic ones leaked around the ball valve and wouldn't hold pressure)

I took out my fill valve (it was behind some panels in water compartment I believe), took it apart, put it back together and it worked fine sense. suspect a small pice of debris caused it to stick open.

I think there are pictures posted that i took, i will look and post if I find them on the forum

Maybe, but once you've gone through the effort to locate and remove it for inspection/cleaning, the actual cost of the valve is minimal compared to the hassle of it failing again.  It's something on the order of 10 bucks.

Try the "percussive adjustment," a.k.a., hitting it with the rubber mallet. Unless you are too violent, it is not likely to hurt anything and it might help. It's easy, cheap, and sometimes fixes things. If there is a bit of debris in a valve, the rap of the mallet may dislodge the offender.

If the mallet fails to fix the problem, follow the wise counsel of the others who has suggested solutions.

I had this problem occur when I tried to refill the tank, so took it apart to find the plastic shuttle was out of position - caused by freezing. That was 32 years ago and it has worked well since.  Or it could also be debris lodging it from shutting off. Good luck

Jim
2002

David, same problem on our 02.  Replace the check valve. Our is located behind the panel for the maniblock...$14 at hardware store...easy change over.

The switch light on my auto fill system stays on after the tank appears full.  I can listen for the burping sound to stop which I think means the tank is full then I press the AFV switch again to turn off the light.  Is this normal or should the light go out on its own?

The light stays on until you turn it off.

But does it automatically shut the water off?

We had ours replaced also like Michelle for the same problem and put a cap on the hose until we could get it replaced. . Check Valve G-784
MARSHALL BRASS & GAS CONTROLS G-784 - Marshall Brass Check Valve Brass Backflow (http://www.rvplus.com/marshall-brass-check-valve-brass-backflow-prevent-g-784.html)

Yes thru the auto shut off valve in the tank.

 Thanks Barry!  :)

It sounds like the check valve is bad. Ours was in the same place as Michelle's and when I took it out found that the rubber part of the valve had become dislodged and kept it from stopping the back flow. I installed a new one but for about 8 months before doing so, just screwed the plug into the hose, just had to remember to turn off the pump before removing the plug.

I got it pulled off last night.  I will be visiting plumbing supply stores today to try and locate a replacement.  On my 2004 mine was on the water line just behind the hose real.  I had to pull the hose real out to get to it....that was fun.  When I first got it off it was seized, after playing with it a bit it now seems to operate as it should.  I will replace it with a new one anyway. 

Once again thanks for all the help. 

You can cut into the PEX and add a sharkbite check valve should take about two minutes would not have to remove the old one.

Roland