Binding Waste Water Fixed!

[hikerjohn7]

I just wanted to report that a binding waste water valve solution I saw on YouTube really worked!!

On our last trip, our gray water valve bound up so tightly that the plastic handle poped off the shaft. Thankfully, I was able to use pliers to pull the valve out to release the water.

The plastic threads in the handle didn't look too damaged so I screwed the handle back on to the shaft and pushed it back in. When I got home I fretted that night about how to resolve it without replacing the entire valve since we are scheduled to travel again in a couple of weeks. Then I remembered the YouTube video on drilling a small hole in the valve body next to the handle (handle in the closed position) and squirting dry lube in the hole; then sealing the hole back with a small screw.

Well, I tried it and much to my great relief, it worked like a charm. The valve slides in and out very easily now. I plan to do it to my black water valve next and then to lube valves periodically by removing the screws.

[TaftCoach]

Thank you. I'll have to watch the video

[AKRUEBBE]

When the valve handle is fully extracted, you can also spray the rod with some silicone spray and that keeps it working smoothly also.

[hikerjohn7]

I tried that with no improvement. I think you need to get the lubricant into the inside tracks with the valve blade slides. Also, when you spray inside I think the lube gets on the blade itself which lubes rubber seal-blade interface.

I tried to find a diagram showing the internal structure of a typical RV waste valve on the Internet so I could understand the internals better but have yet to find one.

[hikerjohn7]

There are several YouTube videos on it but here's the one I followed...

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

[JimD]

I did this mod a few weeks ago because both of my valves were tight. I saw the video online and decided to give it a try.

One of the videos I saw had them using WD40 silicone spray so that is what I tried. It did indeed free up the slides. Hopefully they will stay that way for awhile. I just returned from a trip and will be emptying the tanks within a few days so I have my fingers crossed.

Drilling the hole and plugging with a screw was very easy. I recommend putting a shop towel around the hole while you squirt the lube in as it blows water back out the hole. I wasn't expecting water to be in that area.