Jayco 183 stuck drain cap

[TobyRey]

It is impossible for me to get the drain cap off to drain the tanks. It's stuck. It is the push and turn type. Is it the gasket stuck? How can I fix it without taking it to the dealer shop?

[norty1]

Has it ever been removed?

I have a tool that is like vice grips only it is designed to fit a sewer hose connection. Other that that or a clamp for removing an oil filter, I have never had one that would not come off.

[RogerR]

If you have silicone spray put some into the joint and wait a while.
You can tap on the cap gently to free it up. I have also used a small piece of wood and a hammer to try to tap it off. Don't use a screw driver as you may break the plastic.

The idea of a tool like a oil filter remover is great if you can find one.

If all else fails a new one is only a few dollars.

[norty1]

Here is a pic of the tool I referenced earlier. Someone left it in a campsite 10 years ago for me. It works great for unhooking fittings with new gaskets that make them tight.

It has been very useful over the years.

[TobyRey]

The drain cap is a push and rotate style. Plastic with little hooks around lugs that I have to push and rotate at the same time. I've had it off before after other trips and in spring when I flushed the antifreeze. I'm in high desert in the Oregon and we get freezing temps and harsh winters.

[craigav]

I have used a ratchet strap before for a similar purpose (never had the drain cap stuck). Wrap the strap so that more tightening is in the direction of removal and keep tightening and soon enough it will have enough grip especially seeing the drain cap has ridges. When I have used this method for some filters (large oil filters) I place a piece of rubber between the strap and filter but I doubt that would be needed for the drain cap. ~CA

[JFlightRisk]

Originally Posted by TobyRey

The drain cap is a push and rotate style. Plastic with little hooks around lugs that I have to push and rotate at the same time. I've had it off before after other trips and in spring when I flushed the antifreeze. I'm in high desert in the Oregon and we get freezing temps and harsh winters.

I have some fittings like you describe, but just turning counterclockwise will get the pins away from those notched spots. Those are there mainly so it can't rotate off by itself by accident. I keep one of the clear caps on our outlet, and it can be a pain to get off most times.

When you do get it loose, smear some plumber's grease on the seal for the next time.

[jimmoore13]

Originally Posted by norty1

Here is a pic of the tool I referenced earlier. Someone left it in a campsite 10 years ago for me. It works great for unhooking fittings with new gaskets that make them tight.

It has been very useful over the years.

I love Norty1's fancy "donated" tool. If you aren't lucky enough to get such a donation and you can't find one at your local Home Depot, a strap wrench can do this job, too. I like the idea of spraying the fitting with some silicone and letting it sit overnight, because both of these tools can apply a LOT of pressure on the plastic plumbing. If you can't get it off with these tactics, bring it back to the dealer and let THEM break it.

Camco makes a drain hose wrench that might work, too. I have a pair, and they work up to a point...depending on how tight things are. Good to have anyway when you're dumping. Wearing rubber gloves, sometimes it's not easy to get a good grip on the stinky slinky and various fittings.

Some white lithium grease on the gasket and inside lip of the cap might make future removal easier. This grease tends to hold up to exposure to "water."