I drilled a 7/64" diameter (.109375 dia.) hole about 3/4" down from the top of my dump valves--thru the one wall.
Why 7/64"? Because a WD-40 red lube straw will slide right in. Just don't forget to close your valves before drilling the hole
Then I squirted WD-40 into each hole--after sliding the straw into the interior.
Then I plugged each hole with a 1/8" diameter (.125") black-oxided Phillips head screw.
WOW!!!! 35 year old coach and the dump valves went from hard to little finger easy to actuate!!
I forgot to add that I got this idea from Triple Nickle on this website when we met last fall here in Wisconsin.
Have a pic ?
Does the screw just thread the surface. ?
Great idea. Thanks.
The screw outside diameter is 1/8" (.125"dia.) and the drilled hole is 7/64" diameter (.109375" dia) so the screw has an interference fit of only .015"total or .0075" on each side. So the screw cuts or forms its own way thru the plastic of the gate valve. Just enough interference to keep the screw in place and dirt out. There really isn't any liquid up in the gate valve "park area" when the valve is in the open position.
Here's a video (lots of pics all strung together)
No, that's not nitehawk in the video - he's much more handsome.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGv9THpOdmw&t=133s
I did that years ago on the 295 but used white lithium spray able grease. Lasts longer as wd40 drys up fairly fast. Thought I posted it many years ago.
Johnh