Valterra blk wtr valve lube? Wall thkness?

[rluxt]

I have seen the modification to the Valterra black water drain knife gate valve where you drill a 1/8" hole into the handle end of the valve and insert a #10 self-tapping screw to be able to inject white lithium grease into the valve slide for the knife.

On my rig the valve is mounted almost flat against the backwall of the bay so I would have to remove the valve and y-piping for both grey and black water to do that modification, which I really, really wish to avoid.

So, my question is...does anyone know the sidewall thickness of the valterra valve in the channel where the knife blade travels to open the valve?

My thought is to install the screw at the handle end of the knife slide on the side of the track rather than the end (the end being the same surface where the stem comes out of the handle). Then, I would install the screw with a filed off tip once the hole was threaded. It would be so much easier than removing the piping system all the way from there to where it attaches to the drain hose for dumping.

Any one know???

Rich
!995 Southwind 37YW, fully depreciated and fully operational

[lrgomez1976]

Sorry to say I have not seen that done but if you do take it apart you can use plumber's grease on the seals on the poop side for years of service without issues. Just a thought.

[lrgomez1976]

Well not exactly the poop side but the actual seal where the valve slides open/close.

[rluxt]

Poop side says it well!
Rich

[Persistent]

You can lubricate the valve stem from the outside with the gate open. You can lubricate the gate piece through the 3'' drain opening. That leaves the inside of the gate. You can lubricate the inside seal with the gate open.


There is nothing else in the gate valve stem space. Maybe not all valves are the same.


I wish you good luck and happy trails ahead!