This little bugger has been causing me problems since I got the coach. (4 years!) Found it today using this little puppy. Amazon.com: 16ft USB Waterproof Endoscope Borescope Inspection Camera:... (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007UZ6RVO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
What is it? (will give hints)
see ya
ken
(Updated topic title per Ken's request)
Black tank issue..??
If I had to guess, I'd say a disk of translucent plastic, maybe polyethylene like something cut with a hole saw that dropped into a tank (like Hans' guess)?
An Alien.
Some kaka in the poopoo tank?
Roland
I'd go with a plug, cut out from the black tank
A slimy pocket knife
An interior view of Kent's,
oh you know
Looks like a large "roll" of silicone sealer that possibly dropped down into the black tank.
I'm changing my mind. It's a rope light that somehow got into the black tank!
picture of the water tank looking down one of the backvents (grey tank)
JohnH
Looks like a valve in one of the tanks, either black or grey. Seems to be not seated in the flange properly.
If not, sounds good, doesn't it?
@Michelle wins! Only it's the gray tank not the black tank. (thank heaven!) It's the disk from the hole cut into the gray tank to install the gray tank plumbing. (at least that's my current assessment)
I've had gray tank issues forever and couldn't figure out why sometimes it would drain like a race horse and other times like a turtle. Apparently the disk would move around and sometimes wedge itself so that it blocked the gray tank flow. I'd fill my black tank with fresh water and use my 3rd valve to flush it back into my gray tank and the disk would move out of the way. The gray tank would go back to race horse status. Then after 5 or 10 gray water dumps it would go back to turtle mode. I now know why. So the question is how do I get it out? Any chance I can hold Foretravel responsible? :)
Enclosed is a pic I took when Wayne rebuilt my wet bay a couple of years ago. It looks like the pipe out of the tank is 3" and adapts to a 1 1/2". The problem is that the battery box is right in front of the outlet. Looks like I'll have to pull the battery box to get to it. :(
see ya
ken
If it were mine....which it isn't, I'd get a 6" hole saw, cut a hole in the tank up where I could reach it & reach in. Get the piece out, and install a marine type inspection port. Like this one.
Boat 6 " in Twist Lock Deck Plate Inspection Port Black Marine Seachoice... (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Boat-6-in-twist-lock-deck-plate-inspection-port-BLACK-marine-Seachoice-39371-/361099691505?pt=Boat_Parts_Accessories_Gear&hash=item54133805f1&vxp=mtr)
Or
New Beckson DP60 w Inspection Port Deck Plate 6" Screw Out White 6" | eBay (http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-BECKSON-DP60-W-INSPECTION-PORT-DECK-PLATE-6-SCREW-OUT-WHITE-6-/221689321411?pt=Automotive_Services&hash=item339db697c3&vxp=mtr)
@toyman Thanks! I've never seen the Inspection Ports before. Looks like they could be a solution but not sure I want to put a 6 1/2" hole in the side of my tank! Are they common practice in boats? I like the price though.
see ya
ken
I wouldn't cut a hole in the side. Deck inspection covers are made tobe on top. They likely wouldn't seal well enough to keep from leaking.
If you pull the drain valve off would you have space to try and wiggle it through the hole? Don't think I would be making any extra holes in the tank. Or is the drain valve fitting "welded" to the tank?
Roland
never had problem with leaks, the ones in my boats had an "O" ring on them that I used silicone GREASE (not the puckey stuff) on. Also, when installing something like this, use a proper sealant, NOT silicone as the gasket face.
Personally, if I could maneuver the piece to start into the outlet hole I would hold it in place with a vice grips or similar. Then, heat up a metal rod--red hot-- and place it onto the piece of plastic and hold it there until the plastic folds over. Then remove the "folded" piece. You might have to melt/fold the piece twice to get it out.
RUBE GOLDBERG STRIKES AGAIN!!!!
Glad I am not the only one this has happened to. Mine was in the black tank. Drove me crazy that it took so long to dump. Luckily we have a straight drop into our tank and was able to see it one day. But it took 7 years to see it. I could not believe my eyes. There is no excuse for that. You know when that nugget comes out when you drill it. I went back to Foretravel and had them get it out. Clearly was there from the beginning. No Charge.
How did Foretravel get it out?? pc
I did not watch as that was before you could stay with the tech. My toilet has a direct drop so you can see into the tank. I thing they probably removed the pipe from the tank and used something to grab it and pull it out. The nugget should be slightly smaller than the hole.
I talked to some friends and they agreed with Dave W. (AKA Toyman ) assessment. The inspection port is the way to go. I ordered this one from ebay.
Amazon.com : Screw Out Deck Plate - Available in Various Sizes and Colors :... (http://www.amazon.com/Beckson-6-Inch-Deck-Plate-Clear/dp/B000Y85OZY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426820993&sr=8-1&keywords=Beckson+6-Inch+Deck+Plate+%28Clear%29)
I also picked up some 3m 5220 to glue it in. 3M Marine 05220 Fast Cure Adhesive Sealant, White, 3 oz: Industrial Sealants:... (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000AY6CA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
Needed a way to cut a 6.5" hole and Kent Speer's suggested a RotoZip. Picked up a re-manufactured one on where else Amazon. Factory-Reconditioned RotoZip SS355-10-RT 5.5 Amp RotoSaw Spiral Saw Kit -... (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BBO9WEO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
I looked at circle guides but the ones I found had poor reviews so I decided to make my own out of cutting board. I cut a 2" length off the end of the cutting board, drilled a hole in one end large enough to put a pivot bolt thru and then drilled a hole 3 3/8" away for the RotoZip bit to fit thru. I adjusted the bit so the the smooth part rode on the cutting board plastic so that the bit wouldn't enlarge the hole. Unfortunately the bit heated up enough that it did enlarge the hole as I was cutting the circle. Enough so that it started to become a spiral. :( Luckily the inspection plate had a large enough flange that it didn't matter. Whew!
After cutting out the 6.5" hole I noticed there was a 1/2" layer of scum on the tank walls! It was nasty, nasty, nasty! Being in the gray tank it wasn't that big of a deal but still gross. :( I got my pressure washer out and cleaned it as best I could. It came out at least 99% better than it was. :)
I did find the disk that had fallen into the tank that precipitated the whole issue. It was sitting right in front of me. The little bastard! It is about 2 1/2" in diameter. The drain out of the tank is 3" diameter and has a reducer that takes it down to 1 1/2". Not sure why FOT put the reducer in and didn't just run it out with 3" pvc. I've seen other coaches where they did that. I'm also not sure why the {#$&*} that install the plumbing in my tank didn't reach in and pull out the plug when he cut into the tank. Yeah I'm still a little bitter about that. :)
The pictures pretty much tell the story. Hopefully no one else has to go thru this but if they do maybe this will help. Let me know if anyone has any questions.
see ya
ken
More pics.
Nice job !
Howdy Ken,
Great write-up, with good pictures!!! Glad you got it going..
Dave A
Excellent Photo Tutorial! Here's my thoughts (in case anyone cares...):
1. You don't have enough water filters - I would add a few more.
2. You should have sent that plug you cut out to the CDC for biological analysis - no telling what you had growing in your tank!
3. I WANT A PRESSURE WASHER. That tank looks real purty after all your hard work. Bet it smells better, too...
4. You probably increased your holding capacity by several gallons after washing out that layer of gunk.
Are you not going to fill your tank up all the way from now on? I wouldn't trust your inspection port to hold water. If it fails, that would be a horrible mess.
Ken, I suggest that you pack up that round of plastic ( don't clean it up ) and address it to NAC and send it special delivery. :)
Gary Bread
Great documentation, Ken. Thanks. Glad you got rid of the LB and we'll be on the lookout for that DB at FT.
jor
@krush The 3M 5220 label said 24 hour setup so I'm going to let it go for 48 hours and then test if the inspection port is water worthy. I'm hoping it is. It has an o-ring around the edge and I'll lube it good with plumbers silicone before installing. Also it's at the top of the tank so pressure shouldn't be all that high. Plus I'll be keeping a close lookout for water in that area. Not evident in the pictures is a gap between the tanks and the combo water filter, ro system/tank cover. I think I can use a flashlight and mirror to check for leaks with the cover in place. (or I can get my bore scope out again!) For now I have the gray tank valve open to prevent any accumulation in the tank. The 5220 label also said cures with moisture so some water in the tank is beneficial for now.
Michelle sorry for the {inappropriate term}. I had much stronger terms in mind and settled on {inappropriate term} as the least offensive. :)
I forgot to mention that when I installed my SeeLevel sensors I had trouble with the upper one for the gray tank. Imagine that! Talked to SeeLevel support and they said that sometimes crud can build up on the tank wall and prevent a good reading (understatement of the year!). He sent me a new sensor anyway and I installed it with painters tape, moving it all around the tank looking for the best location to install. Where it is in the photo was the best location I could find. I'm pretty sure after the tank cleaning it will be much more accurate. The SeeLevel guy also recommended "Happy Camper" to clean up the sludge in the tank. Haven't tried it myself. Might try it on my black tank sometime down the road.
see ya
ken
I bet Big Agnes feels relieved! It's looks to be about the equivalent of having a kidney stone removal... :D
Don
Used a few different products but happy camper works best for us .
Usually get it from amazon
No leaks! (yet)
see ya
ken
I just throw a few packs of dish washer stuff in fill with water, slosh around and ...... Well maybe clean as dishes ?
Don't have a picture but on a 89 U280 beside the U Line ice maker what is the slim door that opens up with 2 prongs inside... I have been guessing a place to hang a dish cloth but that looks like a lot of craftsman work for cloth hanger.
mmmmm. my post looks outa place after reading all.
Dub, FYI, The author of a post has the capability to delete posts.