Community Forums

JJO3 · 05-12-2018, 12:42 PM

I have a 25RKS Winnibago fifth wheel. The holding tank drain valves age getting very hard to operate. The valves themselves are unreachable. Any advice on what to do?

ByeTheWay · 05-12-2018, 01:59 PM

I spray lube on the shinny Rod that my handle connects to each time I dump and prior to closing the valve.

In Addition

A previous owner had installed 1 grease cert in each valve, located about an inch from the Rod entry into the valve. I give it a shot of grease once or twice a year.

RoadEyePie · 05-12-2018, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJO3

I have a 25RKS Winnibago fifth wheel. The holding tank drain valves age getting very hard to operate. The valves themselves are unreachable. Any advice on what to do?

How old is this 25RKS? I ask because I have looked at / considered them as well.

JJO3 · 05-13-2018, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ByeTheWay

I spray lube on the shinny Rod that my handle connects to each time I dump and prior to closing the valve.

In Addition

A previous owner had installed 1 grease cert in each valve, located about an inch from the Rod entry into the valve. I give it a shot of grease once or twice a year.

I have been doing that a lot lately. The problem is that the drain valves are at the end of long cables and can't be reached.

JJO3 · 05-13-2018, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manwithnorv

How old is this 25RKS? I ask because I have looked at / considered them as well.

It's a 2015

**Spdracr39** · 05-13-2018, 07:09 AM

if it is cables they are probably corroded. the valves are reachable you just have to figure out how to access them. probably have to remove some of the underbelly. you can replace the cables without replacing the valves.

ByeTheWay · 05-14-2018, 12:00 PM

Another option are the 12v electric valves

RandallIndia · 05-14-2018, 12:24 PM

I realize that not everyone is a amateur RV mechanic but it really helps to be handy. My name is Randall the bride is India we have been full timers for 2 years in a fifth wheel. I do spend a fair amount of time fixing stuff and that means I'm not in a mechanic shop all the time. It is not that hard to get to the valves and the cabling that control them by removing the underbelly plastic.
I have replaced all four of my release cables and some of the valves at some point.

The easiest thing you could possibly do to solve the problem would be to apply to Thetford valve lubricant to an empty tank and then put some water in there and let it slosh around for awhile. Days.

If this doesn't make it free up a bit you might have to take the underbelly off and look once you get comfortable with how they were you can disconnect the cable at the valve with an allen wrench and just move the valve back and forth with a pair of needle-nose to see if it's stuck.

Good luck Randall

NW Explorers · 05-14-2018, 04:18 PM

At a regional DRV rally we attended recently a master tech spoke and answered questions. Difficult to operate dump valves, of course, came up. The tech suggested spraying WD-40 on the pull rods every time you operate a valve. He said eventually it will work its way down the sheathed cable and make keep the valves easier to operate. I've been doing that and it's helping.

Happy trails,