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09-14-2022, 08:04 PM
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#1
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Established Member
Join Date: Jun 2022
Location: Hood River
Posts: 16
M.O.C. #31191
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Black Tank Leak
Hi all - i have received a lot of great feedback from this group so looking for advice once more.
I have a 2014 38' Montana - it has developed a small leak/drip from the black tank. it comes from where the discharge pipe meets the tank.
I have been trying to find someone to come and look at it but to no avail. I did have one handy man come and work on it but it still has the leak.
Any suggestions on how to approach solving this issue? Something I can use to plug the drip? Trying to schedule an appointment with a dealer but that is going slow. Would you need to replace the whole tank?
Any thoughts would help
Thanks
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09-14-2022, 08:31 PM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,324
M.O.C. #4831
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The discharge port (aka spud) is a hard place to fix a crack/leak. Apparently there is movement there that causes the crack. There is a ton of threads on people fixing, or attempting fixing, those tanks. A "Search" on keywords like black grey tank leak abs crack etc. should provide lots of interesting reading.
Some have reported success using a product named Plast-mend (I think it is on Amazon). Here is one (there are more) link to one members success using it.
https://www.montanaowners.com/forums...ad.php?t=79251
__________________
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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09-15-2022, 05:24 AM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 2,117
M.O.C. #25165
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In addition to the Plasti-Mend, you could try making an ABS glue. There are YouTube videos of the process, but it essentially uses small chunks of ABS from cut up pipe and mineral spirits to dissolve it into a slurry or paste that can be used for the patch.
https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...repair+plastic
__________________
Robert & Diana McNeal
2019 Montana Legacy 3791RD 20th Anniversary Edition
2014 F350 4x4 6.7L SRW
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09-15-2022, 06:56 AM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Alton
Posts: 2,656
M.O.C. #24086
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I have used Gorilla super glue for fixing leaking PVC pipe joints. I injected the super glue into the joint. Gorilla super glue expands as it sets up, Sealing the crack.
I'm not sure how well it would work on the tank material.
__________________
Daryl and Marianne,
2019 3130re 20th Anniversary Edition
2016 F350 Lariat
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09-15-2022, 07:13 AM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake Gaston
Posts: 8,773
M.O.C. #12156
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I sealed a gray tank bottom seam split with fiberglass/mesh. I know several folks who have had good luck with the plast-mend (I think that was the brand they used.
__________________
Mike and Lorraine
2002 3655 FL, 2005 3650RK
2010 3665RE, 2015 3910FB
F350 crew cab dually 6.7
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09-15-2022, 08:50 AM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Folsom, California
Posts: 551
M.O.C. #21903
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My grey tank developed a crack like yours. I repaired it with Plasti-Mend twice. After the second failure, I replaced the tank. Used a rubber coupler between the tank and valve. That relieves the stresses that caused the crack in the first place.
__________________
'05 F250 6.0 Bullet Proofed - Sold
'17 F350 6.7 Lariet
'02 Montana 3280RL Upgraded a bunch.
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09-15-2022, 01:43 PM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Posts: 2,702
M.O.C. #7992
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hblick48
My grey tank developed a crack like yours. I repaired it with Plasti-Mend twice. After the second failure, I replaced the tank. Used a rubber coupler between the tank and valve. That relieves the stresses that caused the crack in the first place.
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Hblick48,
Just wondering if when you repaired it the first time, would a rubber coupler on the 3" pipe beyond the tank valve relieve the stress on the repair? I'm thinking taking a couple of inches out of the pipe and spanning it with a no hub rubber coupling would relieve the stress.
__________________
2006 3000RK
2009 Ram 2500
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09-15-2022, 03:26 PM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Folsom, California
Posts: 551
M.O.C. #21903
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jimcol
Hblick48,
Just wondering if when you repaired it the first time, would a rubber coupler on the 3" pipe beyond the tank valve relieve the stress on the repair? I'm thinking taking a couple of inches out of the pipe and spanning it with a no hub rubber coupling would relieve the stress.
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I doubt it. Even with the rubber coupler, the tank still flexes as you add liquid. It's the worst place to have a crack. I know that replacing the tank is a PITA and costly even if you do it yourself.
I've personally replaced my grey and black tanks at different times. The grey developed a crack at the bottom of the outlet. Later the black started leaking after I let it get too full. It " burped" and started leaking.
When I installed the black tank, I added support strapping to the bottom of both tanks. They no longer flex as they are filled. Even so, I usually dump when they are 1/2 full. I don't ever want to replace them again. We always camp at places with full hookups.
__________________
'05 F250 6.0 Bullet Proofed - Sold
'17 F350 6.7 Lariet
'02 Montana 3280RL Upgraded a bunch.
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09-16-2022, 05:35 AM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Posts: 2,702
M.O.C. #7992
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Thanks for your response. Mine is an older model with many trips. Thankfully never a leaking tank. Hope this doesn't jinx the situation.
__________________
2006 3000RK
2009 Ram 2500
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09-21-2022, 01:40 PM
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#10
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Central
Posts: 74
M.O.C. #26744
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I had the same thing on my Grey water tank, along with a second crack leak on the bottom of the tank and I fixed it with sand paper, acetone, ABS glue from Lowes, some metal screen door screen material, and an ABS glue paste I made up by mixing ABS shaving with the ABS glue in a glass jar and letting it sit overnight to turn into a jell/paste.
1. Make sure tank is empty and area is dry
2. Sand and rough up the area, 3 or 4 times the size of the crack.
3. Wipe down the area really good with acetone.
4. Apply ABS cleaner to the patch area.
5. Apply ABS glue from the factory can to the patch area.
6. Place a small piece of screen over the crack (cut & size before applying cleaner or glue)
7. Apply ABS jell/paste over the screen going at least 1/2” past the edges of the screen material and pressing somewhat firmly to make good contact.
Let it dry for about 4 hours or more
Repeat a second time with about double the size of everything the first time.
A paint stirring stick and some cheap 1” chip brushes from Harbor Freight worked great. You’ll want old cloths and rubber gloves as the abs glue/paste can get messy.
I can’t claim credit for the idea, I got it from youtube. I did not drill any holes on each end of the crack though like the video did.
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09-21-2022, 01:45 PM
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#11
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Full Timer
Posts: 117
M.O.C. #27665
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Ttman that is awesome. I’d rather try that first than replacing the tanks. How long has it lasted?
__________________
Full-Timing since 2018 in a 2013 3625RE, 2023 Ford F450DRW with High Output Diesel,
Custom kingpin-mounted hitch receiver for bike rack 2019
MorRyde I/S with 8K Axles & Goodyear G114 Tires on 17.5” aluminum wheels 2020
FlexArmor roof 2021, Starlink
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09-21-2022, 02:07 PM
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#12
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Central
Posts: 74
M.O.C. #26744
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Its going on 1-1/2 years so far, so good. Much cheaper than $450 for a new tank. Our Montana is a 2002 so our tanks are not as good as the new ones.
To make the paste I made repeated cuts into ABS pipe with a circular saw over a plastic tote to catch and create ABS shavings. I used used a small 1/2 quart air tight canning jar to mix it in Add more ABS glue to thin the past to your liking, or shavings to thicken. I used about 1 to 1-1/2 cups of shavings to make sure I had enough mixed up the day before I started
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09-25-2022, 05:55 PM
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#13
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Established Member
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: Halifax
Posts: 41
M.O.C. #28988
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Can you put a clamp around the pipe????? Take a piece of old rubber tube and wrap the area and then a metal clamp over the leak....
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09-25-2022, 07:27 PM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: woodstock
Posts: 541
M.O.C. #8174
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That’s an very hard place to repair try the videos on u tube
__________________
Ed
Montana Master
Woodstock Ga
2020 3931 FB Legacy
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