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08-10-2022, 10:11 AM
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#1
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New Member
Join Date: Jun 2022
Location: Denton
Posts: 9
M.O.C. #31143
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Black and Gray Tank Valves
hello MOC experts,
I am trying to empty tanks and the gray and black pull handles in the convenience center will not pull out. I know they are cables to the real knife blade valves. Any suggestions on how to free them? I guessing I have to remove the bottom cover to get at them?
WD 40 while a pulls and pushes on the handle? Tank monitor light says the black tank is full and the gray is 1/2 full.
The final outlet valve works.
Any help is much appreciated.
thanks
Nazoomer
2008 Montanna 5er
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08-10-2022, 10:37 AM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Posts: 2,707
M.O.C. #7992
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First off, don't trust the tank gages. They are infamously unreliable. Some on this forum have reported success dripping oil on the shaft above the outer sheath. Let the oil run down as you try and work the handle open and close. Takes some time. I helped a friend on his RV using this method using 3-1 oil. Patience paid off on day two.
__________________
2006 3000RK
2009 Ram 2500
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08-10-2022, 10:39 AM
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#3
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
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My guess is that you'll have to open the bottom of your rig and most likely replace the cables. You can try working WD40 into the existing cables, but that seldom solves the problem. Also, the odds of you tank sensors working correctly are almost non-existant unless someone has replaced your internal sensors with exterior ones.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
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08-10-2022, 11:21 AM
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#4
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New Member
Join Date: Jun 2022
Location: Denton
Posts: 9
M.O.C. #31143
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Thank you I will try lubricating the cable first in hopes it will do the trick.
Nazoomer
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08-10-2022, 01:37 PM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: New Bern
Posts: 4,370
M.O.C. #8728
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Unscrew the handle, take a 1/2 inch piece of clear tubing and slide it over the shaft and secure it with a hose clamp. Pour about 6 inches of oil (whatever is available) in the tube and let it sit overnight. Mark the oil level on the tubing with a magic marker. Mine has worked for two years after I did this.
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08-10-2022, 02:05 PM
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#6
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New Member
Join Date: Jun 2022
Location: Denton
Posts: 9
M.O.C. #31143
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I like that idea I will give it a try tonight, thank you
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08-11-2022, 08:37 AM
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#7
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New Member
Join Date: Jun 2022
Location: Denton
Posts: 9
M.O.C. #31143
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NCFischers: Thank you so much! Your fix worked perfectly! I put the 1/2 tubes over the shafts and filled the tubes with Sea Foam lubricant/penetrating oil. It went down easily and had to fill it 4 times. Left it overnight and this am I was able to pull the cables out and open the gray and black valves!!
Bless you for your suggestion, thank you
Nazoomer
BTW any idea on how to get the TV to move up and or down? It is stuck half way up and I tried changes batteries in the remote unplugging and replugging but no dice?
thanks for your help I really appreciate it.
Nazoomer
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08-11-2022, 12:30 PM
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#8
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,356
M.O.C. #4831
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nazoomer
.....BTW any idea on how to get the TV to move up and or down? It is stuck half way up and I tried changes batteries in the remote unplugging and replugging but no dice?.....
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There should be a switch for the televator in a cabinet below the entertainment center. It will raise/lower the TV if the remote is inop.
__________________
Carl (n Susan)
There is more to life than fuel mileage.
2012 Montana 3700RL Big Sky Package towed by a 2015 Ford F350 6.7L PSD 4WD CC LWB
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08-12-2022, 02:24 PM
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#9
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New Member
Join Date: Jun 2022
Location: Denton
Posts: 9
M.O.C. #31143
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I did find that switch but it didn't do anything. There is power to the junction box because the TV will turn on?
Thanks
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08-12-2022, 05:01 PM
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#10
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,356
M.O.C. #4831
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20/20 hindesight says it would have been better to start a new Thread about the TV lift issue and not intermix it with stuck drain handles
That said, the televator is 12V and the TV is 120V. You need to check for 12V at the switch and then off to the lift unit itself.
__________________
Carl (n Susan)
There is more to life than fuel mileage.
2012 Montana 3700RL Big Sky Package towed by a 2015 Ford F350 6.7L PSD 4WD CC LWB
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08-12-2022, 05:34 PM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2020
Location: UPLAND
Posts: 1,255
M.O.C. #26190
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My black handle was frozen and it took some good lube and a quick short whack with a hammer to free it up. I believe I took the handle off prior to tapping it with the hammer Now I religiously lubricate those cables and they work nice and smooth.
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2019 Keystone Montana 3560RL, 2020 Chevy 2500 HD, Firestone airbags, Air Lift wireless compressor, Curt gooseneck, 20K Reese Goosebox, TST-507, USMC combat vet & retired LEO. Robert, Anika, Breanna, Dylan (daughter-in-law Stephanie). & our Great Pyrenees Layla
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08-12-2022, 06:41 PM
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#12
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Park Hill
Posts: 166
M.O.C. #10841
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I had the same problem and applied oil to the cables several times and they freed up. Now every month or so I pull handles all the way out and apply oil on the shaft and work it in and out several times that will prevent from happening again.
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08-13-2022, 08:50 AM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Bencia
Posts: 538
M.O.C. #25828
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nazoomer
.......... I am trying to empty tanks and the gray and black pull handles in the convenience center will not pull out........ I know they are cables to the real knife blade valves. Any suggestions on how to free them? I guessing I have to remove the bottom cover to get at them?..........
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Ouch.......same issue with my black tank valve on my 2020 Montana fifth wheel trailer. Took a lot of tugging to eventually open it. Hopefully you will be able to free up valve and dump the tanks. After this occured several times on my trailer I replaced it with a new Valterra Flexible Cable Kit with 3" Valve (TC372 model for my trailer). Yes, you will need to remove the bottom cover.
__________________
2020 Montana 3780RL fifth wheel
2016 F-350 6.7L Diesel Crew Cab Long Bed DRW
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08-14-2022, 01:49 PM
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#14
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sun Lakes, AZ 85248
Posts: 179
M.O.C. #9174
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Black tank cable lube type
While you more experienced RVers are talking about black and gray handle lubricants, it raises the question; what type or brand of lubricant works best?
__________________
Carl & Susan G
2021 Montana 3121RL Legacy
2017 Ford F250 6.7 diesel
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08-14-2022, 03:32 PM
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#15
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Granbury
Posts: 76
M.O.C. #25118
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There are many lubricants like WD-40, Kroll, LPS-2 (aviation lubricant) but the best formula out there is 50% transmission fluid and 50% Diesel fuel. Many studies have been made and this comes out on top by far.
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08-14-2022, 03:38 PM
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#16
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: Virginia Beach
Posts: 86
M.O.C. #28306
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NCFischers
Unscrew the handle, take a 1/2 inch piece of clear tubing and slide it over the shaft and secure it with a hose clamp. Pour about 6 inches of oil (whatever is available) in the tube and let it sit overnight. Mark the oil level on the tubing with a magic marker. Mine has worked for two years after I did this.
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Great tip! The handle for our kitchen gray water tank is hard to pull. It’s located behind the wheels and I was told it gets hard to pull because of debris that gets kicked up by the wheels. I lubricate occasionally but doubt the lube penetrates very far down the cable. Your tip sounds like a great solution. Thanks very much.
__________________
2015 Montana 3402RL
2017 F350 Super Duty Lariat 6.7 Powerstroke, Super Cab, Long Box, 4WD DRW
18K PullRite Super 5th ISR
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08-16-2022, 05:35 AM
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#17
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 2,137
M.O.C. #25165
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Late to the game I know, but you might try a real penetrating oil to get that loose before resorting to more extreme measures. I've had great luck with Deep Creep. You should be able to find it at most auto parts stores.
__________________
Robert & Diana McNeal
2019 Montana Legacy 3791RD 20th Anniversary Edition
2014 F350 4x4 6.7L SRW
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