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HMXDave · 04-17-2012, 08:56 AM

Hey gang...long winter almost over for me! I opened up the Baystar yesterday, put the batteries in and fired the motor for the first time in 6 months. Found my handy little list that I left myself when I winterized and at the top is to find a new knob for a water valve. All the valves are the same, brass in-line valve with a plastic knob or handle. When winterizing, I turned one of the ones on the hot water bypass and it was pretty stiff....stiff enough that I never knew which way to turn it. I turned hard enough that the plastic knob broke. Anyways....finished the winterized process with a help of a pair of pliers. So I take the broken know to my Newmar dealer and of course they've never heard of such a thing...try to sell me a whole valve. The valve they want to sell me would work...but the handle/know is different. I don't feel like cutting the Pex clamps, changing the valve, renting Pex clamp pliers, etc. Is the knob available anywhere?

BFlinn181 · 04-17-2012, 09:14 AM

Measure the size and shape of the stem and either start looking at plumbing suppliers or or online. Seeing that you are in Central Alberta, you might have to do your searching online. You might not be able to match the knob shape, but I bet the stem is standard.

IWillRVToo · 04-17-2012, 09:17 AM

Need to know the brand, size, material of the valve.
You may need to buy a new valve and use just the handle.
Try Lowes, Home Depot, Ace, etc.
Good luck

LandKinaMoho · 04-17-2012, 09:40 PM

Use sharkbite fittings cut the pex further back install any standard valve.......

KenSherwin · 04-18-2012, 06:05 AM

Perhaps you could make a new one yourself. See InstaMorph - Moldable Plastic » Nuts and Bolts
for some examples.

DandS · 04-18-2012, 06:20 AM

Those plastic handles are prone to failing especially when the valve is not free-wheeling. Had replaced the one on my fresh water tank drain twice before deciding to fashion one out of metal. Took a flat aluminum plate about a 1/4" thick and cut a notch the width of the tang and use it like a wrench........works great.

Arch Hoagland · 04-18-2012, 06:26 AM

Don't you just love plastic?

Epoxy a make do handle on it.

HMXDave · 04-18-2012, 10:54 AM

Thanks for the tips gang. I made a run to HomeDepot yesterday...they had near every one except the one I need. I did pick up a couple of Sharkbit straight fittings and a Sharkbite 90 fitting to throw in the toolbox for repairs. Those of us that have to winterize every year eventually get a cracked fitting or line, so it's good insurance to keep some repair parts around. I think I will attempt to make a handle from aluminum as DandS suggested....maybe make 2 or 3 as I know more of these cheesy things will break.