Black Tank Valve Repair
Posting this for posterity' sake.
While on a 14 day trip (Yellowstone, Grand Tetons), our black tank handle snapped off (retracting a poorly located stabilizer jack). This was on day 10, so we still had 3 nights to get through (luckily the last 3 nights were at campgrounds that had facilities).
So, here's what I did:
1) Identify the issue : The handle (t-handle) broke off from the blade portion of the valve. This meant that I could close the valve, but not open it (which was fine to get us home). The tank was not empty when this happened (this was really the issue ;) )
2) Upon return, get control of the valve again, to drain everything thoroughly before replaving the vale. This was pretty tricky. I ended up sawing off the portion of the valve that holds the blade, in small pieces , to get to the blade itself, which I then grabbed with a pair of pliers, which allowed me to control the valve again.
3) Clean and drain all 3 (black, galley and grey) tanks thoroughly. I hit the black tank with my Valterra super blaster thing (rotating head that is put down the toilet that emits high pressure stream) *after* jacking up (with level ramp) the opposite side of the trailer.
4) Take the trailer to storage, and (again) put the left side (side with the valves) on a ramp to get any remaining liquid to flow to other side. Crack the black valve a little.
5) Go do other things for 2 weeks (let it sit and dry out)
6) Return to find dry plumbing, and replace valve (reinstalling to position handle avoid issue that caused this in the 1st place)
While on a 14 day trip (Yellowstone, Grand Tetons), our black tank handle snapped off (retracting a poorly located stabilizer jack). This was on day 10, so we still had 3 nights to get through (luckily the last 3 nights were at campgrounds that had facilities).
So, here's what I did:
1) Identify the issue : The handle (t-handle) broke off from the blade portion of the valve. This meant that I could close the valve, but not open it (which was fine to get us home). The tank was not empty when this happened (this was really the issue ;) )
2) Upon return, get control of the valve again, to drain everything thoroughly before replaving the vale. This was pretty tricky. I ended up sawing off the portion of the valve that holds the blade, in small pieces , to get to the blade itself, which I then grabbed with a pair of pliers, which allowed me to control the valve again.
3) Clean and drain all 3 (black, galley and grey) tanks thoroughly. I hit the black tank with my Valterra super blaster thing (rotating head that is put down the toilet that emits high pressure stream) *after* jacking up (with level ramp) the opposite side of the trailer.
4) Take the trailer to storage, and (again) put the left side (side with the valves) on a ramp to get any remaining liquid to flow to other side. Crack the black valve a little.
5) Go do other things for 2 weeks (let it sit and dry out)
6) Return to find dry plumbing, and replace valve (reinstalling to position handle avoid issue that caused this in the 1st place)
