Black and Gray Tank Valves

[Nazoomer]

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

[jimcol]

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.

[DQDick]

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.

[Nazoomer]

Thank you I will try lubricating the cable first in hopes it will do the trick.
Nazoomer

[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.

[Nazoomer]

I like that idea I will give it a try tonight, thank you

[Nazoomer]

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

[Carl n Susan]

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?.....

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.

[Nazoomer]

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

[Carl n Susan]

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.

[432bartman]

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.

[scuba dude]

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.

[Camp CA]

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?..........

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.

[cgeis48]

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?

[tom woodward]

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.

[Cbrez]

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.

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.

[RMcNeal]

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.