Forum Discussion

rsbabson's avatar
rsbabson
Explorer
May 16, 2015

grey tank dump valve cable

Okay so I dropped my 5er off at CW for some warranty work a month ago and picked it up yesterday. Today I was going thru everything and discovered that 2 of my dump valve handles were stuck. So I dumped Dawn and draino down the toilet and sink and waited. I got the black tank handle unstuck finally. The grey tank handle was still stuck so I decided to take out the valve and check it out. I loosened a screw on the valve that was attached to the cable. Pulled it and the valve opened and emptied the tank. So I put everything back together and examined the valve handle that was free. I discovered that in fact my valve is not stuck but the valve handle itself that pulls the cable is froze up. I shot some PB Blaster on it hoping that it will free it. So far it is still stuck. So what do I need to do to repair this? Order a whole new valve cable assembley, order just a cable ? Any experience on this situation? By the way I was in Michigan at the end of Feb so Im sure some salt has gotten up in there. Thanks for any help.
  • Bandaid's avatar
    Bandaid
    Explorer
    May 17, 2015
    I've had this problem on my last two campers. The previous one being a Coachmen. After working with the service manager, Tech, and my own intuitiveness, we realized several issues. First, most of the factory installed cables are not lubricated. It helped when we pulled the wire out of the cable housing and squirted Lithium grease through the housing.
    The cables do not like sharp bends, especially at the point where the wire enters the valve head. In the case of the Coachmen, the valve heads were pointing straight up toward the floor of the camper, requiring the cable to make a 1" radius, 90 degree bend. The correction was to reposition the valves such that the wire entered almost straight!
    The last, The cables are not fastened in place and after pulling the handles repeatedly the cable and housing will reposition themselves most of the time creating sharper bends. Once you straighten out the routing of the cables, they need to be secured with simple clamps and a screw.
    My present trailer is also an Open Range. Both of my valves, having been serviced once by the dealer, once again need work. First job will be to cut access doors through the full length belly skin. Next will be to replace the seals which have apparently come out of their pockets, as the valves don't close! Next will be to see about repositioning the valves to accomplish a smoother routing of the cables.

    Bandaid
  • Dave_H_M's avatar
    Dave_H_M
    Explorer II
    May 17, 2015
    Amazon carries the Valterra cables also for about the same price.
  • rsbabson's avatar
    rsbabson
    Explorer
    May 17, 2015
    My valves weren't stuck just the cable handle.. The handle goes into a sleeve and that's where it's stuck.
  • mommac's avatar
    mommac
    Explorer
    May 17, 2015
    Hi we have the a similar situation with a 2014 Open Range. One valve cable is on order for warranty work and now the main black water tank valve won't open. Not sure how to unclog and make the vale easier to manipulate.
    Thanks

About Fifth Wheel Group

19,006 PostsLatest Activity: Jan 29, 2025