Last fall before I put the fiver to bed for the winter, I replaced both the grey and black tank valves as they were leaking slightly. I lubricated the slides with silicone grease and they slid back and forth quite easily.We used the trailer last weekend and when I went to dump the tanks, the rod on the black tank valve pulled out of the slide. I didn't reef on the handle, just pulled it as I normally would. No amount of playing with it would get the valve to open.Now what do I do? There's about 10 gallons of ickys in the tank and short of unbolting the valve and having pour out on the ground, how do I empty the tank so that I can replace the valve again?

You may want to pull one side up on a stack of 2 x 8s to tip the rig far enough to get the goo to go the far side of the tank letting you swap the valve without a flood....

Look on the end of the rod, it is probably threaded. Just screw it back in.

You can cut the valve right at the body, reach and pull the blade with a pair of needle nose pliers. If you don't pull it all the way, you won't loose much- even if you pull it all the way it isn't too awful.A bad pic of where to cut-

Chris Bryant wrote:You can cut the valve right at the body, reach and pull the blade with a pair of needle nose pliers. If you don't pull it all the way, you won't loose much- even if you pull it all the way it isn't too awful.A bad pic of where to cut-I will suit up, get a puke bucket ready and give this a try. Thanks.

Black Tank Handle pulled out of valve | Good Sam Community

21 Replies

Gjac
Explorer III
Apr 17, 2017
352 wrote:
wnjj wrote:
Gjac wrote:
Twomed wrote:
downtheroad wrote:
How come it's always the BLACK tank handle that breaks.....:h

Some guy named Murphy....
In all seriousness does anyone know why the black tank is always harder to pull that the grey tank? When I replace both valves about 8 years ago, The black tank valve was almost impossible to move so I replaced both and put a grease fitting on the top of each valve. I have to add grease to the black valve every other year but the grey always seems to move fine. My only thought is the grey tank gets more soap from washing dishes and taking showers?

It's also larger so there more surface to stick.

Please refer to the discharge valve handle troubleshooting guide on page 542 on the RV General repair guide listed HERE
Your link just takes me to RV.net home page. I can't find a RV general repair guide.
352
Explorer
Apr 17, 2017
wnjj wrote:
Gjac wrote:
Twomed wrote:
downtheroad wrote:
How come it's always the BLACK tank handle that breaks.....:h

Some guy named Murphy....
In all seriousness does anyone know why the black tank is always harder to pull that the grey tank? When I replace both valves about 8 years ago, The black tank valve was almost impossible to move so I replaced both and put a grease fitting on the top of each valve. I have to add grease to the black valve every other year but the grey always seems to move fine. My only thought is the grey tank gets more soap from washing dishes and taking showers?

It's also larger so there more surface to stick.

Please refer to the discharge valve handle troubleshooting guide on page 542 on the RV General repair guide listed HERE
wnjj
Explorer II
Apr 16, 2017
Gjac wrote:
Twomed wrote:
downtheroad wrote:
How come it's always the BLACK tank handle that breaks.....:h

Some guy named Murphy....
In all seriousness does anyone know why the black tank is always harder to pull that the grey tank? When I replace both valves about 8 years ago, The black tank valve was almost impossible to move so I replaced both and put a grease fitting on the top of each valve. I have to add grease to the black valve every other year but the grey always seems to move fine. My only thought is the grey tank gets more soap from washing dishes and taking showers?

It's also larger so there more surface to stick.
Gjac
Explorer III
Apr 16, 2017
Twomed wrote:
downtheroad wrote:
How come it's always the BLACK tank handle that breaks.....:h

Some guy named Murphy....
In all seriousness does anyone know why the black tank is always harder to pull that the grey tank? When I replace both valves about 8 years ago, The black tank valve was almost impossible to move so I replaced both and put a grease fitting on the top of each valve. I have to add grease to the black valve every other year but the grey always seems to move fine. My only thought is the grey tank gets more soap from washing dishes and taking showers?
dougrainer
Nomad
Apr 16, 2017
PaulJ2 wrote:
dougrainer wrote:
PaulJ2 wrote:
Maybe coat the end of the rod with some kind of glue, push it back in, wait till the next day for the glue to dry and try again?

Then you will have the blade glued and stuck:B Doug

Yup,maybe but who cares if you have to change the valve anyway.
I just like trying things like that. :B

MY point was, HOW many valves have you changed with **** in the tank? NOT a easy scenario to take the 4 bolts out and try to get rid of the **** that will go all over the place. Drill the hole like I stated. WHY? because you will be replacing the valve anyway. Why attempt to glue or gum it up when it is bad anyway?. MY WAY, You get the **** out of the tank with minimum spillage. Doug

PS, I guess you like **** spilling all over you:h
PaulJ2
Explorer
Apr 16, 2017
dougrainer wrote:
PaulJ2 wrote:
Maybe coat the end of the rod with some kind of glue, push it back in, wait till the next day for the glue to dry and try again?

Then you will have the blade glued and stuck:B Doug

Yup,maybe but who cares if you have to change the valve anyway.
I just like trying things like that. :B
Harvard
Explorer
Apr 15, 2017
CR CRUISER wrote:
Last fall before I put the fiver to bed for the winter, I replaced both the grey and black tank valves as they were leaking slightly. I lubricated the slides with silicone grease and they slid back and forth quite easily. ....

What the heck, a new valve made where?
downtheroad
Explorer
Apr 15, 2017
If you glue the blade shut, you won't ever have to worry about dumping it....:C
dougrainer
Nomad
Apr 15, 2017
PaulJ2 wrote:
Maybe coat the end of the rod with some kind of glue, push it back in, wait till the next day for the glue to dry and try again?

Then you will have the blade glued and stuck:B Doug
PaulJ2
Explorer
Apr 14, 2017
Maybe coat the end of the rod with some kind of glue, push it back in, wait till the next day for the glue to dry and try again?