Waste valves

Topic: Waste valves (Read 3015 times) previous topic - next topic

Waste valves

November 04, 2013, 11:27:50 pm

I have a slow ( getting worse) leak from my grey water valve , also slight leak grow black tank . I am now facing the task of stripping out the wet bay to replace both valves !
Can anybody give advice on replacement valves 3"??, and the best easiest way to replace them ?
Thanks

Re: Waste valves

Reply #1 – November 04, 2013, 11:42:26 pm

Why replace when you can buy the rebuild parts? Dump, flush and reflush the tanks, and then tip the coach to the right and disassemble and replace the parts. I bought all the parts, and have it on my to do list soon as well.

Re: Waste valves

Reply #2 – November 04, 2013, 11:43:25 pm

Jimmy.... This is a PITA job if there ever was one. I did mine about 1.5 years ago. I actually did them twice. The most important tip I can give you is to get plumber's silicone grease. You will find it in the plumbing aisle. It will be in a small plastic container and have the consistency of honey. Do not use any other grease on the sewer valves. I found this out the hard way. Here is a post from August 2, 2012.

"Here is an addendum to my March 31, 2012, 09:41:21 PM post. I had to redo the valve job because I did not follow Brett's advice to the letter and used some of what I thought was a "silicone" lubricant I had laying around on the valves (Super Lube which I know now is not silicone based).

He said to get silicone grease from Home Depot.... there is a difference. I found the grease in the plumbing section of an Ace Hardware here in Asheville. It has the consistency of honey. It was not with the other greases. I pulled the valves, which were working very hard, and found a thick greasy residue on everything. Removed that as best I could and used the newly purchased silicone grease for plumbing. The label says 80% silicone, but I am hoping that is good enough.

Found a better way of pulling the valves and rubber seals. If I remove all the bolts on the sewer valves, the whole pipe comes out (i.e., the 3" pipe connecting the two valves). This makes it a lot easier to remove the rubber seals, clean them and reassemble them. This also allows one to insert the lowest bolt on both valves without too much trouble before attaching the pipe. I put the bolts in from the back on these two since it is easier to attach the nut from the front."

Good luck! Here are some pics I took while working on mine.

Re: Waste valves

Reply #3 – November 04, 2013, 11:50:08 pm

I see now I need more learning I do. Thanks for the mention of the correct grease! Maybe I will get lucky and do the job just once.

Re: Waste valves

Reply #4 – November 05, 2013, 10:19:57 am

thanks for the pictures Mr. Hatfield, your layout is similar to mine. My layout has switches for gray and black automatic dump valves that have been disconnected by the PO. Where would those automatic valves be located? I did not see any. My gray dump valve cable is located in the top panel which makes it very difficult to remove the panel to work in that area. That is one reason why I re-doing the area, I want to make it easier to work in there.

Re: Waste valves

Reply #5 – November 05, 2013, 10:21:46 am

I would guess the PO removed the electric dump valves and replaced them with the cable operation type you see now.

Re: Waste valves

Reply #6 – November 05, 2013, 10:38:15 am

Yes, that is kinda what I thought also. Automatic valves would be more user friendly, but I guess the failure risk is high. Manual valves are dependable.

Re: Waste valves

Reply #7 – November 05, 2013, 10:40:58 am

George, we MUST meet so you can show me how to refurbish the waste valves on my coach. (Oh! My shoulder hurts!)

Re: Waste valves

Reply #8 – November 05, 2013, 10:53:16 am

Looking at George's photos , I can't make out the manufacture

Re: Waste valves

Reply #9 – November 05, 2013, 11:06:29 am

For smooth operation be sure to lubricant the push/pull rod on the valve.

Re: Waste valves

Reply #10 – November 05, 2013, 11:47:56 am

I am almost sure the valves are made by Valterra...

RV Products & Accessories

George

Re: Waste valves

Reply #11 – November 05, 2013, 12:03:03 pm

Likely more than you want to tackle, but I redid mine with the object to make waste plumbing access easy. I can remove about 7 screws (no caulking) and get access to the waste valves, the water fill, etc. it was a lot of work to get it to that stage, but you might get some ideas from it...
Putting the Utility compartment back together...Done!
Don

Quote from: Old Hippie – November 05, 2013, 10:19:57 am

thanks for the pictures Mr. Hatfield, your layout is similar to mine. My layout has switches for gray and black automatic dump valves that have been disconnected by the PO. Where would those automatic valves be located? I did not see any. My gray dump valve cable is located in the top panel which makes it very difficult to remove the panel to work in that area. That is one reason why I re-doing the area, I want to make it easier to work in there.

Re: Waste valves

Reply #12 – November 05, 2013, 05:53:06 pm

gosh Don, I can only hope my refurb turns out as nice as yours. You set the bar pretty high.

Re: Waste valves

Reply #13 – November 05, 2013, 08:17:43 pm

You do not have to buy the expensive cable pull valves. You can buy the 3 inch valterra valves and then just install the new valve into the mechanism for the cable pull. When you take the old valves apart it will be evident how to install the new valves. The plastic handle on the new valves just unscrews to remove

Re: Waste valves

Reply #14 – November 06, 2013, 10:27:41 am

My 2002 has the gray water dump valve on the starboard side (passenger) and the it's pull cable runs across the top of the black tank to the gray tank. I guess I am stuck with a long pull cable for the gray tank.

Re: Waste valves

Reply #15 – November 06, 2013, 04:05:15 pm

I took a look at the construction of walls and such and decided it was best to get someone who was a professional to install the new valves. The valves are not expensive and it makes good sense to do both while everything is disassembled. Total cost was just under $300. Considering my time and lack of knowledge and the high degree of error, it seemed like a bargain to me. The technician came to my location as well!

It seems like the design folks could have made it a tad easier to service this area. It is kind of like accessing the dash blower motors! Very easy when coaches are built. Miserable when needing service.

Good luck.

David

Re: Waste valves

Reply #16 – November 06, 2013, 05:45:25 pm

After much searching and calls to valterra and Foretravel I have decided to order the valves and cables ( no longer available as a unit ), hopefully changing both out will solve the problem. Scared of what I am going to find once I start stripping out

Re: Waste valves

Reply #17 – November 06, 2013, 10:18:42 pm

Hippie cannot tilt coach when dumping as one valve is on street side and one is on curb side.

Re: Waste valves

Reply #18 – November 10, 2013, 11:05:09 am

What kind of lube to use on cyl inside valve?

Re: Waste valves

Reply #19 – November 10, 2013, 12:35:41 pm

reading George's post it seems Brett recommends 'silicone grease" available at Home Depot.
John H

Re: Waste valves

Reply #20 – November 10, 2013, 01:05:46 pm

Recently, bought a 1oz tube at the Home Depot. Costs $2.00. In the plumbing section.
Good Luck, Dave A

Re: Waste valves

Reply #21 – November 10, 2013, 09:50:23 pm

Maybe a bad idea - has anyone put the controls in the bathroom floor?

I considered it in my 88 bored. It might work take some tinkering.

Re: Waste valves

Reply #22 – November 10, 2013, 10:21:55 pm

Quote from: fouroureye – November 10, 2013, 09:50:23 pm

Maybe a bad idea - has anyone put the controls in the bathroom floor?

I considered it in my 88 bored. It might work take some tinkering.

I want to be near the dump hose when I operate those valves. Being inside the coach would not be my choice for a location for the handles.

Re: Waste valves

Reply #23 – November 11, 2013, 08:30:53 am

I agree with J.D.

Re: Waste valves

Reply #24 – November 11, 2013, 11:02:59 am

Ok were full time hooked up hard-pipe to the sweer inlet with a vent.

Guess im bad cause every few weeks the Wife says "john the showers backed up.. cant you..."

I usually dump on thursday..

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