Black water valve hard to open!

Ditto X10 on using Silcone Spray on rod.

First run a toilet or bottle brush around where the blade closes. Junk gets stuck in there and makes it hard to close. Of course only do this with the tanks empty! :W

Traveler II,
How much mineral oil do you use?

I put "mineral oil" into our tanks to lube the plate--seems to work.

When next time you empty, spray silicone lube on the handle shaft. If this does not do the trick, try what Ron suggested.

What I do with mine is when I have the tank empty, I will remove all fittings so I can have access to the valve gate inside the pipe and shoot it with silicone spray and work the gate back and forth a few times. Sometimes I will find tp stuck to the grooves the gate fits in and will remove that prior to spraying the silicone. Works for me.

Ron