(Let's have some fun. What is it?) Now Gray tank inspection port install

Topic: (Let's have some fun. What is it?) Now Gray tank inspection port install (Read 1556 times) previous topic - next topic

(Let's have some fun. What is it?) Now Gray tank inspection port install

February 17, 2015, 07:20:39 pm

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:...

What is it? (will give hints)

see ya
ken

(Updated topic title per Ken's request)

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Re: Let's have some fun. What is it?

Reply #1 – February 17, 2015, 07:27:44 pm

Black tank issue..??

Re: Let's have some fun. What is it?

Reply #2 – February 17, 2015, 07:41:18 pm

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)?

Re: Let's have some fun. What is it?

Reply #3 – February 17, 2015, 07:43:32 pm

An Alien.

Re: Let's have some fun. What is it?

Reply #4 – February 17, 2015, 08:16:28 pm

Some kaka in the poopoo tank?

Roland

Re: Let's have some fun. What is it?

Reply #5 – February 17, 2015, 08:18:02 pm

I'd go with a plug, cut out from the black tank

Re: Let's have some fun. What is it?

Reply #6 – February 17, 2015, 08:51:47 pm

A slimy pocket knife

Re: Let's have some fun. What is it?

Reply #7 – February 17, 2015, 09:10:52 pm

An interior view of Kent's,
oh you know

Re: Let's have some fun. What is it?

Reply #8 – February 17, 2015, 09:38:22 pm

Looks like a large "roll" of silicone sealer that possibly dropped down into the black tank.

Re: Let's have some fun. What is it?

Reply #9 – February 17, 2015, 09:41:18 pm

I'm changing my mind. It's a rope light that somehow got into the black tank!

Re: Let's have some fun. What is it?

Reply #10 – February 17, 2015, 09:46:00 pm

picture of the water tank looking down one of the backvents (grey tank)
JohnH

Re: Let's have some fun. What is it?

Reply #11 – February 17, 2015, 10:02:47 pm

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?

Re: Let's have some fun. What is it?

Reply #12 – February 17, 2015, 10:45:45 pm

@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

Re: Let's have some fun. What is it?

Reply #13 – February 17, 2015, 11:21:39 pm

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...

Or

New Beckson DP60 w Inspection Port Deck Plate 6" Screw Out White 6" | eBay

Re: Let's have some fun. What is it?

Reply #14 – February 18, 2015, 12:35:43 am

@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

Re: Let's have some fun. What is it?

Reply #15 – February 18, 2015, 02:05:36 am

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.

Re: Let's have some fun. What is it?

Reply #16 – February 18, 2015, 09:13:45 am

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

Re: Let's have some fun. What is it?

Reply #17 – February 18, 2015, 09:21:42 am

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.

Re: Let's have some fun. What is it?

Reply #18 – February 18, 2015, 10:49:02 am

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!!!!

Re: Let's have some fun. What is it?

Reply #19 – February 18, 2015, 10:55:36 am

Quote from: kenhat – February 17, 2015, 10:45:45 pm

@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?

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.

Re: Let's have some fun. What is it?

Reply #20 – February 18, 2015, 11:49:32 am

How did Foretravel get it out?? pc

Re: Let's have some fun. What is it?

Reply #21 – February 18, 2015, 08:37:57 pm

Quote from: pocketchange – February 18, 2015, 11:49:32 am

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.

Re: Let's have some fun. What is it?

Reply #22 – March 19, 2015, 11:35:16 pm

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 :...

I also picked up some 3m 5220 to glue it in. 3M Marine 05220 Fast Cure Adhesive Sealant, White, 3 oz: Industrial Sealants:...

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 -...

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

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