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Old 09-14-2022, 08:04 PM   #1
rjmonta
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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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Old 09-14-2022, 08:31 PM   #2
Carl n Susan
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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
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Old 09-15-2022, 05:24 AM   #3
RMcNeal
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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
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Old 09-15-2022, 06:56 AM   #4
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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.
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Old 09-15-2022, 07:13 AM   #5
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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.
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Old 09-15-2022, 08:50 AM   #6
Hblick48
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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.
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Old 09-15-2022, 01:43 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hblick48 View Post
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.
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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Old 09-15-2022, 03:26 PM   #8
Hblick48
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jimcol View Post
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.
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.
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Old 09-16-2022, 05:35 AM   #9
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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.
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Old 09-21-2022, 01:40 PM   #10
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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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Old 09-21-2022, 01:45 PM   #11
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Ttman that is awesome. I’d rather try that first than replacing the tanks. How long has it lasted?
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Old 09-21-2022, 02:07 PM   #12
Ttman
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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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Old 09-25-2022, 05:55 PM   #13
Jim in Halifax
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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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Old 09-25-2022, 07:27 PM   #14
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That’s an very hard place to repair try the videos on u tube
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