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Topic: Sticky dump valve? (Read 957 times) previous topic - next topic

Sticky dump valve?

Got a neat idea from  Foretravel GV owner friend Triple Nickle:
On the handle end of the gate valve drill a 1/8" diameter hole about 1-3/8" away from the pull shaft center.
Close the gate valve. Inject white lithium grease into the 1/8" hole until you have about two or three ounces.
Screw a very small, short hex head lag bolt into the 1/8" hole to seal it.
Done.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Sticky dump valve?

Reply #1 –
???  Not sure I'm seeing it.  Hawk your sayin the pull shaft is hollow. Or what am i not gettin.
Robert and Susan
 1995 36' 280 WTBI 8.3 3060r
 1200 watts on the roof, 720 Ah of lithium's
 Build # 4637. Motorcade # 17599
        FMCA  # 451505
        18  Wrangler JLUR

Re: Sticky dump valve?

Reply #2 –
Wouldn't it be better to replace the valve?
1993 U300 40ft GV SE
Build # 4344

Re: Sticky dump valve?

Reply #3 –
Quote from: Bob & Sue –
???  Not sure I'm seeing it.  Hawk your sayin the pull shaft is hollow. Or what am i not gettin.
It took me a while to figure this out. I think you are supposed to drill the hole in the body of the valve at the top where the handle comes out.  I can see this being easier than replacing the valve.
1991 U300 Side Aisle 6V92 Silver #3897
2004 U320 40' #6246

Re: Sticky dump valve?

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Jeff & Sandy –
Wouldn't it be better to replace the valve?

Some idiot glued my pipes & valves together instead of using flanges!
In restless dreams I walked alone.
Narrow streets of cobblestone.


'93 U225
Build 4337
'14 CRV Toad

Re: Sticky dump valve?

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Moby –
Some idiot glued my pipes & valves together instead of using flanges!
Ouch. Sooner or later you will probably have to deal with that. Can you post some photos?
1993 U225 Build #: 4285
500 Watts Solar
Honda CRV AWD
Former 1981 Foretravel Travco
Retired, Full Time Off Grid Snowbird

Re: Sticky dump valve?

Reply #6 –
Quote from: nitehawk –
Got a neat idea from  Foretravel GV owner friend Triple Nickle:
On the handle end of the gate valve drill a 1/8" diameter hole about 1-3/8" away from the pull shaft center.
Close the gate valve. Inject white lithium grease into the 1/8" hole until you have about two or three ounces.
Screw a very small, short hex head lag bolt into the 1/8" hole to seal it.
Done.
Quote from: kgrover –
It took me a while to figure this out. I think you are supposed to drill the hole in the body of the valve at the top where the handle comes out.  I can see this being easier than replacing the valve.
OK.... Now I get it.  Love the idea but could an official grease zerk be used with maybe a remote line to it.  Cause,, my 2 dump valves aren't so accessible.  Third valve is though.
Robert and Susan
 1995 36' 280 WTBI 8.3 3060r
 1200 watts on the roof, 720 Ah of lithium's
 Build # 4637. Motorcade # 17599
        FMCA  # 451505
        18  Wrangler JLUR

Re: Sticky dump valve?

Reply #7 –
Undercut saw or as some call it oscillating saw is your friend.  Cut out line and extend to outside of wet bay and then add a new valve body and you will be good to go.  I got rid of those cables which were always not working correctly after many put their hands on them to no avail.  The black can be replaced with the white PVC, just use the correct glue for that install.  Best fix I know!
Joe & Dottie Allen
Sold!  December 2023.      2000 U320; build # 5645
Our coach " Maxine"
Motorcade #  15922;  Escapee 150950; FMCA F330833; Boondockers Welcome;  Harvest Hosts;  Thousand Trails
'98 U320 from 2000-'06
USAF '62-'66

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." ―Epicurus

Re: Sticky dump valve?

Reply #8 –
Bob, not knowing the thickness of the valve in the drilled area how would it affect the tapered thread of a Zerk fitting? The little lag bolt is merely a plug.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Sticky dump valve?

Reply #9 –
Black & Gray sewer valves need lubrication to remove stress from handle pulling plastic sliding valve.

Many occasionally pour a quart or more of cooking oil down the toilet and sink traps after emptying and flushing tanks. Let oil settle to back of valves and with quick short open-close actions and repeat.  The hope is to lubricate the valve seals. Almost instantly the valves open easily without a drag. The idea of putting some silicon (to not damage rubber seals) base grease into the hollow of the valve is also an old idea. Some screwed a zerk for repeated lubrication. The idea is to coat the plastic valve with grease when the valve rises into the empty valve top now full of grease.

Keep in mind if we keep finding the drain valve hard to open, at some time the rod may disconnect from the flat plastic valve. Just check out what a fellow foretraveler just went through when his valve rod pulled out so they could not open a full holding tank:

Grey/gray water valve stuck closed, tank 2/3 full!

Re: Sticky dump valve?

Reply #10 –
I replace my manual valves with electric valves three years ago. I like them but I have to disconnect the Black valve and try some 3-in rubber hose as somebody mentioned before. My black valve doesn't open and close anymore. My third valve the handle broke because it's been hard to open and close so I'm going to replace that but mine is glued in because of the waste Master hose fitting. Still I want to shorten it a little bit to get the opening back a inch. I like that the waste Master hose has a very secure valve at the end giving me a 4th valve
'99 U320 40 WTFE
Build #5462,
1500 Watts Solar 600 amp Victron lithium
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Hemi
Instagram bobfnbw
Retired

Re: Sticky dump valve?

Reply #11 –
"Many occasionally pour a quart or more of cooking oil down the toilet and sink traps after emptying and flushing tanks. Let oil settle to back of valves and with quick short open-close actions and repeat.  The hope is to lubricate the valve seals. Almost instantly the valves open easily without a drag."

We used the cooking oil method for years. It is amazing how well that works!  It is a cheap, easy and gentle solution to the scary issue of having the rod come off in your hand and you sit there looking stupefied and time stands still while you contemplate the enormity of a tankful of poo.
Carol & Jeff Savournin
Usta have a '93 U225 36', Usta have a '95 U320 40', Usta have a '02 U320 40'
Usta have a 2006 Born Free, Usta have a 2011 Phoenix Cruiser
Usta have a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4dr
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."  Steve Jobs

Re: Sticky dump valve?

Reply #12 –
Cooking oil did wonders for our valves.
Miles and Kim Pepperd
Pep6@cox.net
2002 Foretravel U320 4020
  2017 RAM truck
  2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
1994  Foretravel 36 ft Unihome
1978  Foretravel 36 ft FTX

Re: Sticky dump valve?

Reply #13 –
Doesn't the cooking oil get stuck in the traps?  When you pour it in does it automatically settle in the valve area?
Kevin & Nancy
Okawville, IL
1999 U320 WTFE 40'
Build #5498
Motorcade #19092
2020 Jeep Gladiator

"The harder I work, the luckier I get."
 

Re: Sticky dump valve?

Reply #14 –
Quote from: kstine98 –
Doesn't the cooking oil get stuck in the traps?  When you pour it in does it automatically settle in the valve area?
No trap in your toilet. Tank needs to be empty