Holding Tank Constipated!

[tipton eric]

We had a similar problem. First you need to try to dump. I am assuming
that the tank is full or near full. If it is not, you can raise the
rear enough on ramps to get the slop away from the dump valve. If it is
full, you can try to force it. Another idea is to try to loosen the
stainless steel screws holding the valve together and try opening the
valve again. If all else fails you can perhaps drill the center of the
slider with an extra long drill like the electricians use to drill and
pull wire in existing construction. Thread it up the dump pipe like a
Proctologist (can I say that in public) and be ready to jump back when
the dam breaks. After you have dumped, the valve can be removed and
disassembled if it is a more modern Tetford type. You can then clean it
and rebuild it with a kit available from any large RV place. If you
have sacrificed the valve, the Tetford was a direct replacement for ours
Good luck.

Eric Tipton
etipton

-----Original Message-----
From: Gplymate [mailto:Gplymate]
Sent: Wednesday, September 22, 1999 10:20 AM
To: gmcmotorhome
Subject: GMC: Holding Tank Constipated!

Hi GMCnetters,

We just took our project coach on its first shakedown
cruise. Everything
performed beautifully, and everything worked the way GMC
designed it to.
Drove just like a big limo, even crossing three mountain
ranges. Although a
little slow going up, it made up for it coming down.
Man, were we impressed!

Then... five days later and 700 miles into the trip...
we stopped to dump the
holding tank. Surprise! The dump valve was frozen
shut! It was a little
embarrassing holding on to that sewer hose at the dump
station and nothing
coming out. All we could do was pack up and drive on...
with the holding
tank sloshing.

It is the original GMC setup and had sat for at least
four years without
being used.

Anybody got any ideas on how the slide valve can be
freed up?

Or, does it have to be replaced?

Thanks for any advice.

Glenn
78 Kingsley
Independence, OR

 

[mike finnicum]

Glenn

Welcome to the "Dump Club" - been there - done that.

Even if you get it unstuck (a dirty job) chances are it will
leak. These are just the kind of jobs I take to Alex. A new
gate is relatively cheap ($15 or so) and the labor is not too
bad ('bout an hour with right tools and knowledge). But I do
NOT envy you the chore -

You might want to consider a macerator. I did without one for
years thinking it was a waste of money. About $300 worth fully
installed (I sure wouldn't do it for $300!). Now I wouldn't own
a coach without one.

It's hard to explain until you have ruined a couple of pairs of
shoes, or had a hose crack in cold weather (while dumping) or
need to dump in a strange park in the dark on a hill.

I think macerators are kind of like the old saying about pilots
landing "gear up" - there are those who have - and those who will.

I have called Jim Bounds tire truing the second best thing I have
done to my coach - the macerator was number one!

Mike F

- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-gmcmotorhome
[mailtowner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of
Gplymate
Sent: Wednesday, September 22, 1999 10:20 AM
To: gmcmotorhome
Subject: GMC: Holding Tank Constipated!

Hi GMCnetters,

We just took our project coach on its first shakedown cruise. Everything
performed beautifully, and everything worked the way GMC designed it to.
Drove just like a big limo, even crossing three mountain ranges. Although a
little slow going up, it made up for it coming down. Man, were we
impressed!

Then... five days later and 700 miles into the trip... we stopped to dump
the
holding tank. Surprise! The dump valve was frozen shut! It was a little
embarrassing holding on to that sewer hose at the dump station and nothing
coming out. All we could do was pack up and drive on... with the holding
tank sloshing.

It is the original GMC setup and had sat for at least four years without
being used.

Anybody got any ideas on how the slide valve can be freed up?

Or, does it have to be replaced?

Thanks for any advice.

Glenn
78 Kingsley
Independence, OR