Black Tank drain valve issue

[Newmarfan]

My black water drain valve is getting harder to open and close.

Any ideas on what could cause this?

Coach is a 2010 Dutch Star and I always flush well with clear water. Could too much flushing cause this? Can single ply toilet paper get caught on the gate on the valve?

Any and all ideas appreciated.

[njs42]

I can't imagine any of the items you mentioned causing the problem over any lenght of time---routine generous flushing should clear things pretty well. Are you making sure you are quite full when you flush----run it to the top and flush a couple of times and see if it helps. I think I would just try to move the valve back and forth a number of times to see if it loosens---what ever is in there if it is what is suppose to be there should loosen. You could try some cleaner----a number of home remedies are in threads---and CW sells some cleaner. I flush mine with cleaner annually at least and use hot water to do it when home preforming maintenence----I was just thinking yesterday when I flushed my tank how nice the ten year old valve works.

Push come to shove these valves are not so expensive and other than the mess not difficult to replace (so I hear). Good luck. I'm sure others have ideas.

[powerboatr]

sounds like the "dirty" side seal is getting dry, yes i know.
drain the blank tank
flush it well
drain
then go inside and add a few tablespoons to a cup depending on how far the toilet is away from the valve of mineral oil to the potty
and flush quickly so you dont use a lot of water, we want the mineral oil to get to the seals on the dirty side
let it stand a few hrs and see of the valve gets easier to operate
if it doesnt seem to help you may have to don a glove and go in from the valve and lubricate the seals manually.
we add the oil to the tank about once a month or as needed
it works on the gray side as well.

we also do the baking soda trick as needed as well
hope it helps

[Romeo]

You can try what I did last week... The valve was getting harder to open and close and I thought it was the valve blade/gate, but just thought I would lube the handle shaft to see if that helped since it was the easiest thing to try. WOW, did that solve my problem; now I can close it with a one finger push.

Oh, BTW... I just used some silicone spray.

[Mr_D]

I use TST and it has coconut oil in it, I've never had a stuck or sticky valve. Guess the coconut oil works.

I wouldn't use mineral oil as it attacks some rubber gaskets and they swell and deteriorate faster.

[dougburi]

I use cooking oil. Any thoughts pro or con on this??

Anyway, my dump valves are a distance and two 45 degree angles from the outlet. After drain/rinse I close the valves and use a short piece of garden hose - snake it in until it hits the closed valve. I pour about an ounce of cooking oil in the hose and blow hard. It sprays the oil all over the valve - open and close a few times and it always seems to take care of the sticking valve problem.

[powerboatr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D I use TST and it has coconut oil in it, I've never had a stuck or sticky valve. Guess the coconut oil works. I wouldn't use mineral oil as it attacks some rubber gaskets and they swell and deteriorate faster.

i guess it could..although i read somewhere the seals are safe for anything that would be passed through a human body so to speak.
mineral oil is a laxative.

olive oil used in cooking might be a better alternative


now i must go do some research

[footdoc]

I pour about an ounce of cooking oil in the hose and blow hard. I hope you aren't dyslexic doing that

[Perry White]

Blowin thru what hose?

[Iron Man]

Quote:

Originally Posted by footdoc I pour about an ounce of cooking oil in the hose and blow hard. I hope you aren't dyslexic doing that

Mine is sticking would you fix it for me.

[ottffss]

The valve is $15 or so and four easy bolts to replace. Why not just replace it?

[lundy]

When mine was built, the factory did not remove the plug that was caused by cutting inlet into the tank. It floated around and it became more difficult to close until it got caught in the valve and prevented it to fully close - what a mess!!!

[camperkids]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ottffss The valve is $15 or so and four easy bolts to replace. Why not just replace it?

X2 Mine started sticking last year and I knew that anything other than replacing them would be only be a temporary fix. They're cheap and not that hard of a job to replace....Jim

[Newmarfan]

It WORKED !

I sprayed Silicone on the shaft and it works okay now.

Thanks ROMEO for the tip on trying the easy thing first.