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05-24-2013, 08:18 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Pikeville, NC
Posts: 1,775
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Black tank stopped up-
Bad story- Good ending-
A fellow in the campground in Maine spent a week here. It was his first time out this season. Getting ready to leave the next day he went to dump. Guess what- you got it- !
We tried a snake, a back flush Camco device- no luck.
He called an excellent RV guy in Topsham, ME. He couldn't do it at his shop because he doesn't have a sewer drop.
So we call a septic tank guy here in Booth Bay, ME. He came right on out with his pump truck, and had an adapter that fits onto our RV's bayonet fittings for his hose. He hooked it up and put the suction to the hose and after several moments- POW- it broke loose
No mess- What a happy camper we then had here-
$50 bucks!
He sez what causes this is leaving the black tank valve closed when winterizing and not adding some liquid to the tank. We should be adding a small amount of water, and or better yet, RV antifreeze to the tank.
And oh- If you need to do this, it might help to shut the water off to the rig and have someone hold the toilet flush lever open to help prevent the suction collapsing the tank. Martin (the sewer pump out guy) was concerned about that.
Whew- happy ending-
__________________
Max H,
2002 Newmar Mountain Aire, 37', 3778, W-22, 8.1 Vortac, Ultra Power upgrade, CAI (cold air intake), Taylor wires, colder plugs, Koni shocks.
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05-24-2013, 08:23 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 1,499
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Glad everything "came out OK".
__________________
Tom and Amy from Northern Virginia.
2000 Allegro 454/Workhorse P32/TST/Crossfire
Life is a DIY project, so own less and live more
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05-24-2013, 08:32 AM
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#3
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Litchfield Park, Arizona
Posts: 10,530
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Hard to imagine how leaving the black tank dump valve closed and dry over the winter could cause a build up which would clog the dump valve... assuming the tank had been dumped and was clean.
More likely if the coach was allowed to sit for a long time with a partially full black tank and then all the water evaporated.
Rick
__________________
Rick, Nancy, Peanut & Lola our Westie Dogs & Bailey the Sheltie.
2007 Itasca Ellipse 40FD
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05-24-2013, 08:39 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Thor Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,893
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RickO
Hard to imagine how leaving the black tank dump valve closed and dry over the winter could cause a build up which would clog the dump valve... assuming the tank had been dumped and was clean.
More likely if the coach was allowed to sit for a long time with a partially full black tank and then all the water evaporated.
Rick
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I thought the same thing...either way its a bit of shock when you've filled the tank and can't dump it.
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05-24-2013, 10:40 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Aiken,SC
Posts: 1,025
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fred1609
I thought the same thing...either way its a bit of shock when you've filled the tank and can't dump it.
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also,if the tank is vented,why would you need to open the toilet valve to prevent the tank from collapsing?
__________________
Good Sam Life Members
Served in U.S.A.F.
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05-24-2013, 11:15 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Pikeville, NC
Posts: 1,775
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macantic--
Good point--
The fellow claims he flushed it out last season, as he always does, very well.
I only posted this problem about a stopped up black tank as an alternative method to cure a miserable problem- using a septic tank service. I had never heard of this being done before.
Cheap, clean and easy---
Good luck,
__________________
Max H,
2002 Newmar Mountain Aire, 37', 3778, W-22, 8.1 Vortac, Ultra Power upgrade, CAI (cold air intake), Taylor wires, colder plugs, Koni shocks.
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05-24-2013, 11:30 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 297
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Well...
...depending how full it was, I might have just added some detergent and water softener and water, and let it break down on the trip home. Maybe I could have saved $50!
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05-24-2013, 04:37 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Montgomery, AL
Posts: 1,199
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Just for general knowledge, a honey truck makes the rounds at the campground where we stay for the races. Had this done several times during the past three years and we have never had to open the toilet flush or anything else. The driver just drives close by, hauls the hose over and connects and away all the bad stuff goes - quick! These guys are well practiced at this and make a mint going from one to the next.
__________________
Mel (Melanie) and Harry
2009 Tiffin Phaeton 40QTH
2014 Jeep Wrangler Sport
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05-24-2013, 05:47 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Tasmania now, USA/Canada/Alaska in April
Posts: 2,473
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Quote:
Originally Posted by macantic
also,if the tank is vented,why would you need to open the toilet valve to prevent the tank from collapsing?
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Probably because if he had to develop full suction and if the black tank was full, the sudden rush when it all broke free could exceed the capacity of the vent tube to equalise the pressure.
Doesn't take much pressure differential to cause forces of a ton or more trying to collapse the larger flat sides of the tank.
Smart operator!
__________________
Tony Lee - International Grey Nomad. Picasa Album - Travel Map
RVs. USA - Airstream Cutter; in Australia - MC8 40' DIY Coach conversion & OKA 4x4 MH; in Germany - Hobby Class C; in S America - F350 with 2500 10.6 Bigfoot camper
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05-25-2013, 10:02 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 388
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Yes, "smart operator".
Hats off to Martin.
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