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Water leak

Well its been 110 degrees so seemed like a great time to sort out problems before we leave next week to the east coast. Treated potable water system and afterwards noticed a leak. A leak inside the coach. Not good. Isolated to a potable water leak but under the waste tanks? Double checked the fill hose and reel. No issues. Pulled the panels on coach right and wet everywhere. Water pump area not leaking. Went to pull the panel to access the waste tank valves and struggled to get the lower panel off. Must of been installed by the young spry skinny kid. What a pain to remove and when your. Done it has to go back on and dump cables have to be removed from valves too pull panel. Took the handles off and got a sized correct hole saw and cut out both of the dump cables. Removed pex on faucet and removed panel. After much cleaning found the forward gray drain tank valve leaking. Tried to tighten it up a pinch more, no joy. Removed both valves to either reseal  or replace. Cut repair panels to accommodate drilling the pull cables out and reattached cables with 4 10/32 screws each. Added a few ounces of weight but now you just remove the T handles and the new panel screw and the cables go out the back side without removing connection on the valves. Much easier to remove panel now
Also noted the power reel disconnect panel on the upper forward wall. No fun at all to access  it

Re: Water leak

Reply #1 –
Great idea.  Those cables are a PITA when you're working through the top half of that area.  If/when mine comes out again, I'll follow your lead. 
Keith
2003 U320 38' #6197

Re: Water leak

Reply #2 –
Quote from: WS6_Keith –
Great idea.  Those cables are a PITA when you're working through the top half of that area.  If/when mine comes out again, I'll follow your lead. 
Yours will be easier, the 2001 has a truss making access horrible. Only have enough room to stick your head in to see around everything.  I took one backup nut off the cable before I said there has to be a better way. I may have to build retro kits for other coaches. Nice workaround IMO
Scott

Re: Water leak

Reply #3 –
I'm probably going to jinx myself but these valves came on my coach when I bought it and just makes it easier behind the panel. No cables just wires.

Electric Waste Valves | Drain Master
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Water leak

Reply #4 –
Quote from: craneman –
I'm probably going to jinx myself but these valves came on my coach when I bought it and just makes it easier behind the panel. No cables just wires.

Electric Waste Valves | Drain Master
Hopefully replacement seals are available for yours also. You haven't jinx yourself, there just a twenty year old rubber product. Hey I carry spare air brake bladders for the same reason. You can bet Money I'll be on the side of the road changing one now. Lol
Scott

Re: Water leak

Reply #5 –
They use the standard seals. I carry them and one standard valve but would hate to have to change one on a trip. There is a replacement kit should a motor ever fail.
Hadn't thought of brake diaphragms I will add one front and one rear to my carry on supplies.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Water leak

Reply #6 –
So I purchased everything I could possibly need and have determined that my old valves used the new valve seals T1003-9VP. BUT I did not reaseal do to Evidence of prior leakage at the pull shaft Rod. Cannot be resealed. I'm glad are purchased replacement valves and will install the new ones. Problem with those was they were not shipped with the Allen setscrew which is a 1/4-20 screw and the prior looks like a 1032. I looked through my stuff and found some stainless steel 1/4-20 Bolts and cut a short as possible. They will interfere with the frame if they are not positioned correctly At the fully open position. I don't suspect that they'll rotate because of the permanent bend in the pull cable. Lathered up all the hardware with anti-seize. Lubed the seals and guillotine with Dow Corning DC4. The entire assembly cost $15 each more than just the seals. Would recommend just buying the whole valve and changing the complete assembly. Not worth messing with.
Scott

Re: Water leak

Reply #7 –
I have seen mods on other RV forums where the owners were having problems with the cable operated Valterra dump valves getting hard to open and close.  They drilled a hole in the edge of the valve assembly and squirted some grease into the void.

Video below shows the simple procedure if it is of any interest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGv9THpOdmw


1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Water leak

Reply #8 –
I used a lot of DC4 so hopefully will last till I change them again. So I got both the valves installed and when I went to install the cables that fortunately were now much easier to access I was unable to fully insert the wire. During Manufacturing they left some swarf inside of the connector end.  :headwall: attempted to clear no joy, but was able to prove that it went deeper by installing a smaller Allen key. Removed the cable bracket off the valves and literally drilled out to clear hole with a #42 drill bit. Sized from the old valves. Second one was even worse than the first.  I couldn't  imagine how peeved I would of been attempting to do this with the panel having in place. Note to self, double check the cable hole before installation and clear as required on new valves, plan to need missing Allen bolts for new valve and if needed source half of the 1/4-20 mount bolts that 1/4" longer than what is supplied in the Kit to accommodate cable brackets. Also seals need to be installed on the pipe ends and inserted into the valve before the cable bracket can be easily fitted on. What a learning curve on this easy project
Scott

Re: Water leak

Reply #9 –
Quote from: craneman –
I'm probably going to jinx myself but these valves came on my coach when I bought it and just makes it easier behind the panel. No cables just wires.

Electric Waste Valves | Drain Master
Believe it or not I have electric dump valves that came new on my 270. They sure are nice working and have yet had a problem with them but I admit to a bit of anxious every time I push the button. Ive probably jinxed myself to Chuck as I find myself wishing it came with manual cables. This coach also came with a joystick on the retarder and i'm not sure most 270's do. There was a bit of special order going on and all works TODAY. Scott has his issue on the run and wont be long until like new on his barn find.
Dub McBride 1996 270

Re: Water leak

Reply #10 –
Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie –
I have seen mods on other RV forums where the owners were having problems with the cable operated Valterra dump valves getting hard to open and close.  They drilled a hole in the edge of the valve assembly and squirted some grease into the void.

Video below shows the simple procedure if it is of any interest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGv9THpOdmw


I watched the video and agree it would be helpful if they were acceptable. On mine I would rate them as not easily. Eight inches from truss to faucet.  I also removed the inner cable and lubed it with a metal to metal dry graphite lube. Operated real good right now.

Re: Water leak

Reply #11 –
Dub and Craneman, I also have the Drain Master electric valves and wish they would work all the time. When I bought the coach I replaced the gray tank valve in 2019 it had failed now the black tank valve and the new gray tank valves both failed. I have to use the Allen key they give you to partially open valve then they both will work. I cross all my fingers and toes each time try not to blink, barely very quickly touch the switch and hope they work but no dice. Maybe its the water quality we have here, very hard but happens after every water source We've been to. It will be no joy to replace with manual valves, very tight spaces. I keep putting off :o Jim.       
Jim and Dona
2002 U295 36'
Lily, blue healer. Our fury person
Manx mid travel Ecotec turbo
2022 Bronco badlands Sasquatch
Trail 90 and 110cc

Re: Water leak

Reply #12 –
Mine aren't as old as Dub's at 22 years but at 17 years and still working, I would still replace with the same for the convenience.
 Jim is there any possibility of an electrical issue such as low voltage or wire size that could cause you to have to give the valve a nudge to get it to go?
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Water leak

Reply #13 –
Amazon.com: Camco 3-inch RV Waste Valve | Features Flexible 72-inch Cable...

Amazon.com: Valterra-TC372 Flexible Cable Kit with 3" Valve, Mess-Free Waste...

Cable operated manual valve similar to mine?
As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.

Re: Water leak

Reply #14 –
Quote from: dsd –
Amazon.com: Camco 3-inch RV Waste Valve | Features Flexible 72-inch Cable...

Amazon.com: Valterra-TC372 Flexible Cable Kit with 3" Valve, Mess-Free Waste...

Cable operated manual valve similar to mine?

Defiantly better quality cable assembly than factory imho.
As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Water leak

Reply #15 –
Craneman, I'll check into wire size and voltage. It appears to be original. Thanks for the feedback. Jim.   
Jim and Dona
2002 U295 36'
Lily, blue healer. Our fury person
Manx mid travel Ecotec turbo
2022 Bronco badlands Sasquatch
Trail 90 and 110cc