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10-09-2020, 02:13 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: bridgman
Posts: 245
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Sticky gray water valve
One of my grey water dump valves has been sticky since new and it's not getting any better . It has the rod and handle attched directly to it with no cable.How can I fix it, I have a 28.5 RSTS with the belly cover under the frame. Do you have to take the entire belly cover off from the valves forward or cut a hole in it and patch it up? Any ideas?
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10-09-2020, 02:25 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Inland Empire, California
Posts: 2,166
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Watch the attached video. It shows how to repair a sticky valve.
My valves were hard to push/pull and didn't easily want to close all the way. I did this modification, which consists of drilling a hole into the valve and injecting a lubricant, and it completely solved my problem. They have been smooth ever since. I was hesitant to do the mod but am so happy I finally did it. Valves have been smooth for a year so far.
__________________
Jim
Retired electronic technician (45 years in the field)
2017 Greyhawk 29W (solar & many other mods)
wife (maybe I should have given her top billing)
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10-09-2020, 02:36 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: bridgman
Posts: 245
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How do you get to the valves, do you have to take the belly pan off ?
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10-09-2020, 03:08 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Inland Empire, California
Posts: 2,166
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I am not familiar with your rig but it sounds like only the valve handles are visible. On my rig the valves are like low hanging fruit on a tree - hanging down below the bottom of the motor home.
Someone out there will be able to answer this question. In the meantime you could try squirting some silicon spray on the rod. Pull the handle out and spray the rod and work it in and out. That has worked for me in the past.
__________________
Jim
Retired electronic technician (45 years in the field)
2017 Greyhawk 29W (solar & many other mods)
wife (maybe I should have given her top billing)
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10-10-2020, 06:18 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WEST YELLOWSTONE
Posts: 144
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Howdy Hyper-- They make a additive that goes into your holding tanks that I have used and seen fair to good improvement with mine. I love the fix JimD provided, that will be my next RX when they get sticky again.
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10-10-2020, 08:54 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 4,217
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A dose of Baby Oil, or similar light oil into the toilet or shower drain (or both). In the toilet it helps lube the rubber seal and into the tanks it lubes the valve seals. I saw this on some RV site some years back as part of the maintenance of various seals in the RV.
__________________
2018 Greyhawk 29MVP-Sold
2023 Jeep Gladiator Mojave
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10-10-2020, 11:53 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Mapleton
Posts: 4,561
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I would not use baby oil. It may harm the rubber seals. Thetford makes a quart size seal lubricant you pour down the toilet to lube that seal and the main black valve. You can also by a 3-M spray product specifically for rubber seals which is probably pure silicone product.
I am going to drill my valves, spray in some 3-M and put in a stainless short screw to seal the hole before next year. Preventive maintenance!
Never use anything other than products marked for rubber as they will invariably harm the rubber.
__________________
2017 SLX 195RB
2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit L 5.7L V8
Andersen WDH hitch, Renogy 100 AH Lithium &
200 Watts solar panels from Renogy
Prev. '14 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland, gas 3.6 V6
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10-10-2020, 12:47 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 4,217
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RogerR
I would not use baby oil. It may harm the rubber seals. Thetford makes a quart size seal lubricant you pour down the toilet to lube that seal and the main black valve. You can also by a 3-M spray product specifically for rubber seals which is probably pure silicone product.
I am going to drill my valves, spray in some 3-M and put in a stainless short screw to seal the hole before next year. Preventive maintenance!
Never use anything other than products marked for rubber as they will invariably harm the rubber.
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You’re kidding right? Read what baby oil has in it and do you think they would be still selling something that goes on a baby’s bum if it were dangerous?
There are several posts by various RV instruction blogs about using baby oil. After 4 RVs I have yet to replace any of those seals.
__________________
2018 Greyhawk 29MVP-Sold
2023 Jeep Gladiator Mojave
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10-10-2020, 01:03 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 4,217
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__________________
2018 Greyhawk 29MVP-Sold
2023 Jeep Gladiator Mojave
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10-13-2020, 05:27 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: bridgman
Posts: 245
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Thanks for all the input, I ordered some underbelly repair / seam tape and decided to cut a door in the belly and do the lube mod to the valve and tape it closed when finished .
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10-13-2020, 06:13 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Litchfield, CT
Posts: 477
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I have an HT 30.5 CKTS. The valve for my rear gray tank (kitchen) is a bit sticky and feels somewhat flimsy. When it was only a few months old, the long threaded rod came loose from the valve body. I had to drop the entire coroplast underbelly to access it. The pull rod was never tightened to the valve body at the factory. When I was working on that issue, I saw that the plumbing is routed rearward and then it turns forward to get to the main waste dump line. The valve was not that well supported and was not attached right at the tank discharge outlet. That all results in the flimsy feel I get, and exacerbates the valve being sticky. You could try some of the available valve lubricants you can dump into the tank, but my guess is you may either live with it or access it by dropping the entire underbelly coroplast. I think the majority of those gate valve issues are with the gasket seating inside the valve itself, and that is not easily accessible without disassembly of the valve. I would try to address it first with some tank treatment.
__________________
2020 Eagle HT 30.5 CKTS Modern Farmhouse (16" wheels, spring shackles set on lower hole of frame, SumoSprings TSS-107-40, standard kingpin, B&W Companion slider, TST-507 TPMS, Progressive Industries hardwired 50A EMS HW-50C)
2019 F250 SRW SuperCab 4X4 SB 6.2 (10,000# GVW) 3.73 Axle 18" wheels
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05-18-2022, 12:01 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Out there somewhere
Posts: 1,667
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JimD
Watch the attached video. It shows how to repair a sticky valve.
My valves were hard to push/pull and didn't easily want to close all the way. I did this modification, which consists of drilling a hole into the valve and injecting a lubricant, and it completely solved my problem. They have been smooth ever since. I was hesitant to do the mod but am so happy I finally did it. Valves have been smooth for a year so far.
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I’ve done this for the past 5 years, works great! Just be sure to use SS screws.
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