Removing a holding tank

[ray elliott]

Hello group, I am Ray Elliott of Grants Pass, Or. I've been lurking for
the past month or so and now need the group's help. My wife, Susan, and
I have a '77 Palm Beach which be bought last November. Although I am a
short-time owner, I've been a long-time admirer.

My holding tank leaks from an area around the top, passenger side,
rear. It leaks only when really full.

Have any of you dropped your tank and can tell me what to look out for?
Where would you suspect the leak is coming from - vent, drain, seam?
Disconnecting the tank where things are visible looks easy; how are
things connected on top? I appreciate your help.

Ray Elliott
'77 Palm Beach

 

[richard waters]

> My holding tank leaks from an area around the top, passenger side,
> rear. It leaks only when really full.
>
> Have any of you dropped your tank and can tell me what to look out for?
> Where would you suspect the leak is coming from - vent, drain, seam?
> Disconnecting the tank where things are visible looks easy; how are
> things connected on top? I appreciate your help.
>
> Ray Elliott
> '77 Palm Beach

Welcome to the group Ray!

It sounds like what you describe is what was wrong with
my '76 Palm Beach. I found that my holding tank would
leak when partly full or when I was parked with the rear
end low as on a driveway.

After fooling with it for a year I decided to have the tank
replaced. When it was removed it became obvious what
was wrong. The tank had a crack on the rear passenger side.
The crack was about 6" long and was located on the top
edge of the tank near one of the plumbing fittings. The crack
extended down the back side of the tank about 2". It also
extended along the top of the tank right into a reinforcing rib.

So when the tank was partially full or when the coach was
on a slant, some of the contents would leak out. Also stuff
would leak out into the reinforcing rib on the top. That stuff
on top would accumulate in the rib and after a time would
get ripe and smell up the inside of the coach. I fought the smell
problem for a year

I suppose the crack could have been repaired. A new tank
to replace the 24 year old tank sounded much better to me, however.

The tank really just drops down. The pipes from above are just
inserted in rubber sleeves. The major problem with installing a new
tank is locating and cutting out the new holes for the plumbing.
I guess not all coaches have the plumbing installed in the same
locations. The new tank uses RTV rather then the stock rubber
connectors to seal the plumbing.

After watching the professionals install my new tank, it is really
fairly simple if you have the right tools and have the coach up
in the air where you can get at the tank. I'm still glad though that
I had it done rather then do it myself. I guess I feel I have better
things to do with my time then mess with a old and smelly
holding tank.
Richard Waters '76 PB, Troy, MI

 

[antnip]

We dropped our tank ourselves, in the driveway. First we jacked up the air
system as high as it would go. The way we dropped the tank was to get a
piece of plywood that fit between the brackets that hold the tank up there,
and held this up to the tank with a floor jack. We then loosened the holding
brackets and lowered the tank with the jack. Install was just the reverse.

As I recall, we had to loosen the plumbing fittings for the kitchen, which
in our 75 palm beach, was in the shallow little cupboard directly across
from the toilet. It was located under a wooden cover that is in at a slant.
The other drain was under the toilet, which we also removed for an overhaul.

It really wasn't too bad a job, and based on time that it took the pros, we
did a pretty good job. We "welded" a couple of cracks that had been caused
by the mounting brackets, which are too narrow, and therefore apply pressure
to too small an area. When reinstalling, I made these brackets much wider.

I've seen posts that indicate it is better to replace than repair, however
both my water tank and holding tank have been repaired, and have both held
fine. I'm sure the plastic is getting old and brittle, but for now, all is
okay.

By the way, we also moved our holding tank discharge to the left side. Too
many dump stations were hard or impossible to reach with the rear discharge,
and many campsites had hookups I couldn't get too, meaning I had too pull
the coach up a few feet to dump. I guess I could have carried a longer hose,
but I found that to be a storage problem.

So there you have the "poop" on how I did it. Bottom line is that it isn't
too bad, as long as you have a helper, more for the bulk than the weight.
Perhaps I have taken the wrong path, but it has worked for me. Good luck.

Tony Badalamenti

- ----- Original Message -----
From: Ray Elliott
To:
Sent: Tuesday, February 08, 2000 9:45 PM
Subject: GMC: Removing a holding tank

> Hello group, I am Ray Elliott of Grants Pass, Or. I've been lurking for
> the past month or so and now need the group's help. My wife, Susan, and
> I have a '77 Palm Beach which be bought last November. Although I am a
> short-time owner, I've been a long-time admirer.
>
> My holding tank leaks from an area around the top, passenger side,
> rear. It leaks only when really full.
>
> Have any of you dropped your tank and can tell me what to look out for?
> Where would you suspect the leak is coming from - vent, drain, seam?
> Disconnecting the tank where things are visible looks easy; how are
> things connected on top? I appreciate your help.
>
> Ray Elliott
> '77 Palm Beach
>
>

 

[gene]

Good stuff Tony and Scott.

I put it up on the web page --- look under new to see the combination.
Let me know how you like it.

gene

>We dropped our tank ourselves, in the driveway. First we jacked up the air
>system as high as it would go. The way we dropped the tank was to get a
>piece of plywood that fit between the brackets that hold the tank up there,
>and held this up to the tank with a floor jack. We then loosened the holding
>brackets and lowered the tank with the jack. Install was just the reverse.
>
>As I recall, we had to loosen the plumbing fittings for the kitchen, which
>in our 75 palm beach, was in the shallow little cupboard directly across
>from the toilet. It was located under a wooden cover that is in at a slant.
>The other drain was under the toilet, which we also removed for an overhaul.
>
>It really wasn't too bad a job, and based on time that it took the pros, we
>did a pretty good job. We "welded" a couple of cracks that had been caused
>by the mounting brackets, which are too narrow, and therefore apply pressure
>to too small an area. When reinstalling, I made these brackets much wider.
>
>I've seen posts that indicate it is better to replace than repair, however
>both my water tank and holding tank have been repaired, and have both held
>fine. I'm sure the plastic is getting old and brittle, but for now, all is
>okay.
>
>By the way, we also moved our holding tank discharge to the left side. Too
>many dump stations were hard or impossible to reach with the rear discharge,
>and many campsites had hookups I couldn't get too, meaning I had too pull
>the coach up a few feet to dump. I guess I could have carried a longer hose,
>but I found that to be a storage problem.
>
>So there you have the "poop" on how I did it. Bottom line is that it isn't
>too bad, as long as you have a helper, more for the bulk than the weight.
>Perhaps I have taken the wrong path, but it has worked for me. Good luck.
>
>Tony Badalamenti
>
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Ray Elliott
>To:
>Sent: Tuesday, February 08, 2000 9:45 PM
>Subject: GMC: Removing a holding tank
>
>
>> Hello group, I am Ray Elliott of Grants Pass, Or. I've been lurking for
>> the past month or so and now need the group's help. My wife, Susan, and
>> I have a '77 Palm Beach which be bought last November. Although I am a
>> short-time owner, I've been a long-time admirer.
>>
>> My holding tank leaks from an area around the top, passenger side,
>> rear. It leaks only when really full.
>>
>> Have any of you dropped your tank and can tell me what to look out for?
>> Where would you suspect the leak is coming from - vent, drain, seam?
>> Disconnecting the tank where things are visible looks easy; how are
>> things connected on top? I appreciate your help.
>>
>> Ray Elliott
>> '77 Palm Beach
>>
>>
>
Genef -- 77PB/ore/ca
GMC MOTORHOME INFORMATION
mr.erf
http://www.california.com/~eagle/

 

[gene]

I put yours up on the page also Richard.

gene

>> My holding tank leaks from an area around the top, passenger side,
>> rear. It leaks only when really full.
>>
>> Have any of you dropped your tank and can tell me what to look out for?
>> Where would you suspect the leak is coming from - vent, drain, seam?
>> Disconnecting the tank where things are visible looks easy; how are
>> things connected on top? I appreciate your help.
>>
>> Ray Elliott
>> '77 Palm Beach
>
>Welcome to the group Ray!
>
>It sounds like what you describe is what was wrong with
>my '76 Palm Beach. I found that my holding tank would
>leak when partly full or when I was parked with the rear
>end low as on a driveway.
>
>After fooling with it for a year I decided to have the tank
>replaced. When it was removed it became obvious what
>was wrong. The tank had a crack on the rear passenger side.
>The crack was about 6" long and was located on the top
>edge of the tank near one of the plumbing fittings. The crack
>extended down the back side of the tank about 2". It also
>extended along the top of the tank right into a reinforcing rib.
>
>So when the tank was partially full or when the coach was
>on a slant, some of the contents would leak out. Also stuff
>would leak out into the reinforcing rib on the top. That stuff
>on top would accumulate in the rib and after a time would
>get ripe and smell up the inside of the coach. I fought the smell
>problem for a year
>
>I suppose the crack could have been repaired. A new tank
>to replace the 24 year old tank sounded much better to me, however.
>
>The tank really just drops down. The pipes from above are just
>inserted in rubber sleeves. The major problem with installing a new
>tank is locating and cutting out the new holes for the plumbing.
>I guess not all coaches have the plumbing installed in the same
>locations. The new tank uses RTV rather then the stock rubber
>connectors to seal the plumbing.
>
>After watching the professionals install my new tank, it is really
>fairly simple if you have the right tools and have the coach up
>in the air where you can get at the tank. I'm still glad though that
>I had it done rather then do it myself. I guess I feel I have better
>things to do with my time then mess with a old and smelly
>holding tank.
>Richard Waters '76 PB, Troy, MI
>
>
>
>
Genef -- 77PB/ore/ca
GMC MOTORHOME INFORMATION
mr.erf
http://www.california.com/~eagle/

 

[richard waters]

> I put yours up on the page also Richard.
>
> gene

Gene,
If I would have had access to Scott's holding tank pictures and
the text that you've saved at your site, I probably would have
done the job myself. Keep up the good work!
Richard

 

[alan bredbury]

I replaced my waste tank because of the same exact
problem. I removed the tank (it had some damage around
the outlet pipe too) I put in the new tank with the
old fittings (carefully inspected) and it still
leaked. It turns out that the pipe going from the
toilet to the tank had a crack at the base of the top
thread where the pipe threaded into the tank. I could
not see it when I removed the pipe because it sprung
back together. When I threaded it into the new tank
the strain pulled the crack open again. A very
carefull inspection with the toilet still installed
may let you see a crack like this but if I were you I
would remove the toilet, un-thread the flange on the
floor and remove the pipe. If this is the problem you
will find residue where the pipe threads in. Stress
the pipe to check it, replace if cracked. I used a
piece of PVC and two threaded fittings because I could
not find a nipple the right size. No odor going down
the road even with the windows open.

>Hello group, I am Ray Elliott of Grants Pass, Or.
>I've been lurking for the past month or so and now
>need the group's help. My wife, Susan, and I have >a
'77 Palm Beach which be bought last November.
>Although I am a short-time owner, I've been a
long->time admirer.

>My holding tank leaks from an area around the top,
>passenger side, rear. It leaks only when really
full.
>Have any of you dropped your tank and can tell me
>what to look out for? Where would you suspect the
>leak is coming from - vent, drain, seam?
>Disconnecting the tank where things are visible looks
>easy; how are
>things connected on top? I appreciate your help.

>Ray Elliott
>'77 Palm Beach

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[gene]

Yep me too, I still have this to do, so I am in the collecting data mode.
You guys are a big help to the rest of us.

gene

>> I put yours up on the page also Richard.
>>
>> gene
>
>Gene,
>If I would have had access to Scott's holding tank pictures and
>the text that you've saved at your site, I probably would have
>done the job myself. Keep up the good work!
>Richard
>
>
Genef -- 77PB/ore/ca
GMC MOTORHOME INFORMATION
mr.erf
http://www.california.com/~eagle/

 

[ray elliott]

I want to sincerely thank all who responded to my request for help
removing my holding tank. I think I have enough info to give it a try.
Ray Elliott
'77 PB