Broken Waste Valves

[DKRITTER]

We have had waste valve issues with our 5th wheel from day one. At Christmas the the cable for one of the tanks came apart. When we got home I took all the plastic down and replaced all 3 cables with Valterra solid wire cables and they have worked great until now....

We were at a wedding and noticed a drip from the underbelly so we kept the tanks empty and when I got home I once again took the plastic down and at least two of the three valves are cracked. There was still a small amount of drainage so I'm waiting a few days until they dry out.

Any idea what would have caused them to crack?

On the tank side of the black tank a couple of ears on the flange have been broken off and it looked like the valve itself was cracked. I don't think I tightened them excessively when I put them back together and I was very liberal with plumbers grease to hold the rubber gaskets in.

Any insight would be appreciated.

[BFlinn181]

Perhaps the new cables weren't pulling the gate valve straight and allowed side pressure? The valves need replacement again, obviously. Maybe install a zipper in the underbelly cover if this becomes a regular problem?

[aknavy]

Originally Posted by BFlinn181

Maybe install a zipper in the underbelly cover if this becomes a regular problem?

Good idea, except Cedar Creeks have plastic panels instead of coroplast to take down.

[Dav L]

Possibly freeze related cracks?
Drive up North at all?

[DKRITTER]

I guess my name is Mongo.

I crawled under the trailer this afternoon and took everything apart and most of the flanges were either cracked or broken. My only assumption is when I redid them in March I over tightened them.