Forum Discussion

JRJR's avatar
JRJR
Explorer
May 30, 2014

Black water valve leaking.

My black water valve must leak a small amount. Every time I remove the cap on the end of the drain pipe there is liquid from the tank between the valve and the end cap, maybe a quart or two.
What do I need to do about this, change the valve? If so does anyone have any tips on this project?

Thanks
John
Truck Campers
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    May 30, 2014
    If you can readily see the valve, it's pretty easy. Disgusting but easy.
    Just remove the four screws and slide the old valve out - reverse to install the new one.
  • Tiger4x4RV's avatar
    Tiger4x4RV
    Nomad
    May 30, 2014
    Does the leak decrease or stop if you slide the valve open and closed a few times? Sometimes there is something caught in the valve opening.

    If that doesn't work, then replace the valve.
  • travisej's avatar
    travisej
    Explorer
    May 30, 2014
    Easy to replace. Just remember to wear gloves and wash and sanitize tools after. I did both black and grey water valves. The hardest part was that some if the hardware on the old valves were rusted and not easy to break loose. Good luck.
  • sleepy's avatar
    sleepy
    Explorer
    May 30, 2014
    Wash out the tank before you dissasemble... and let it drain well

    Don't chew your fingernails!
  • stein4's avatar
    stein4
    Explorer
    May 30, 2014
    pretty easy quick job

    The valve on the black tank was leaking but since the black and gray tank share the same discharge I went ahead and changed the gray valve too.
  • MitchF150's avatar
    MitchF150
    Explorer III
    May 30, 2014
    Mine did the same thing a couple of years ago.

    I drained the tank and left the valve open and the cap off for a couple of weeks and then I got down and dirty and removed the valve.. It was dry by that time, so not bad at all..

    Turned out some TP had gotten wedged in the gasket where the blade slides in and that caused it to not seal completely.

    After cleaning the gasket and putting it all back together, 100% sealed again..

    Cost was zero $$ and about 30 minutes of time, which was mostly prep to crawl under the trailer in the first place...

    Now I just have to fix the broken rod handle to the gray tank.... ;) (I can still grab what's left of the rod and pull and drain, so it's not on top of the list right now.. )

    Mitch
  • sleepy's avatar
    sleepy
    Explorer
    May 30, 2014
    MitchF150 wrote:
    Mine did the same thing a couple of years ago.

    I drained the tank and left the valve open and the cap off for a couple of weeks and then I got down and dirty and removed the valve.. It was dry by that time, so not bad at all..

    Turned out some TP had gotten wedged in the gasket where the blade slides in and that caused it to not seal completely.

    After cleaning the gasket and putting it all back together, 100% sealed again..

    Cost was zero $$ and about 30 minutes of time, which was mostly prep to crawl under the trailer in the first place...

    Now I just have to fix the broken rod handle to the gray tank.... ;) (I can still grab what's left of the rod and pull and drain, so it's not on top of the list right now.. )

    Mitch


    You are inviting disaster!

    Nothing like a full tank fermenting when you can't get the valve open.

    There is some reason the handle broke... most usually the handle breaks because the gate in the valve gets stuck (or wedged)

    If ir gets stuck again...

    Then it's time for a Hazmat Suit!
  • jfkmk's avatar
    jfkmk
    Explorer
    May 30, 2014
    sleepy wrote:


    Don't chew your fingernails!


    Now that's about the best advice on the forum!!
  • HappyKayakers's avatar
    HappyKayakers
    Explorer
    May 30, 2014
    MitchF150 wrote:
    ...
    Turned out some TP had gotten wedged in the gasket where the blade slides in and that caused it to not seal completely...


    This is the part you should remember for future dumping. I've seen a lot of people just close the valve when water stops flowing out. Unfortunately, this can often be caused by a small blockage at the valve (TP). To make sure this doesn't happen, you should always flush the tank after dumping. If you have a long line behind you at the dump station, you can have a 5 gal bucket of water waiting and empty it down the toilet before you close the valve.

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