Black Tank Valve Stuck Closed,HELP!

**JustCallMeBen** · 05-26-2019, 05:25 AM

I am out for a 2 week trip with my Solitude 2930 and just found my black tank drain valve won't open. The handle operates normally. Any ideas? Thanks for any and all help.

Ben

**FT4NOW** · 05-26-2019, 06:11 AM

Do you feel the normal resistance of the valve moving when you operate the handle or does it move freely like the valve isnt connected? It's possible the cable broke or isnt connected at the valve, if that's the case you will need a new cable or to reattach the cable.

If the handle feels like its operating normal, it's possible the valve is blocked in the tank by construction debris or the tank is empty, but the level indicator reports full. These are known to be highly inaccurate.

I think more information would be helpful to help diagnose the problem.

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**JustCallMeBen** · 05-26-2019, 06:20 AM

Thank tou for replying he valve handle appears to operate normally. The tank is currently showing one half full. In addition, the last 2 stops when I have taken the end cap of the sewage pipe I have gotten a small amount of liquid that seems to be from the black tank. I will be stopped for the night today in Cheyenne, Wyoming. I hope to get help there. At minimum I plan to at a gate valve at the end of the sewage pipe.

**Cate&Rob** · 05-26-2019, 06:31 AM

Originally Posted by JustCallMeBen

Thank tou for replying he valve handle appears to operate normally. The tank is currently showing one half full. In addition, the last 2 stops when I have taken the end cap of the sewage pipe I have gotten a small amount of liquid that seems to be from the black tank. I will be stopped for the night today in Cheyenne, Wyoming. I hope to get help there. At minimum I plan to at a gate valve at the end of the sewage pipe.

I would suspect that your gauge is reading incorrectly (very common problem). Do you have a small section of clear pipe to attach to your drain connection so that you can see what is actually draining? With this and the black tank flush connected, you should see a steady flow from the black tank.

Rob

**boyscout** · 05-26-2019, 06:42 AM

Originally Posted by JustCallMeBen

Thank tou for replying he valve handle appears to operate normally. The tank is currently showing one half full. In addition, the last 2 stops when I have taken the end cap of the sewage pipe I have gotten a small amount of liquid that seems to be from the black tank. I will be stopped for the night today in Cheyenne, Wyoming. I hope to get help there. At minimum I plan to at a gate valve at the end of the sewage pipe.

Another inexpensive try at a fix: before you hit the road, put a cup or two of Borax or Calgon water softener and a cup or two of Dawn dish soap in your tank. That stuff sloshing around in your tank during your drive may help break up a blockage, and may help clean the tank sensors.

I do this after most every dump. Our sensors still work most of the time after 6-7 months of living in the trailer. Our Reflection's kitchen gray sensor was buggered from the very first time we used that trailer and the black was soon useless too, so this "GEO Method" thing is seeming to make a difference for us.

Good luck.

**JustCallMeBen** · 05-26-2019, 06:51 AM

I am still in the campground at Grand Island. So I added some Dawn to the tank. Perhaps the just over 400 miles today to Cheyenne will help.

Thanks
Ben

**FT4NOW** · 05-26-2019, 06:55 AM

Originally Posted by JustCallMeBen

I am still in the campground at Grand Island. So I added some Dawn to the tank. Perhaps the just over 400 miles today to Cheyenne will help.

Thanks
Ben

Dont forget to add some water as well to help it swish around.

The gate valve on the discharge of the pipe is a great idea that a lot of us have done. It's my personal opinion that even after you dump there is still some liquid in the pipe between the valve and outlet and that is what "surprises" people when they take the cap off. Getting the surprise once was enough for me to get the twist on gate valve. I got a little extra surprise the first time because the dealer left my rear black tank valve open after I picked it up and we had already used that toilet before I realized it.

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**howson** · 05-26-2019, 06:57 AM

Originally Posted by JustCallMeBen

I am still in the campground at Grand Island. So I added some Dawn to the tank. Perhaps the just over 400 miles today to Cheyenne will help.

Thanks
Ben

A gallon or two of water, too? Dawn by itself will do little if the tank is empty. Google "Geo Method" and you'll find there's seemingly endless websites (and YouTube videos) with information.

When flushing it is a good habit to leave the water running a bit longer than what "feels right". What you want is a high water-to-solids ratio.

**WhittleBurner** · 05-26-2019, 07:01 AM

If it's construction debri a back flush using something like the Flush King may help dislodge it. We had that happen with our kitchen gray a few times and that is what we used to break it free. Keep it handy for the next time it happens.

**powerscol** · 05-26-2019, 05:12 PM

Years ago while camping with the family on a trip to Alaska dad had a bad blockage in the black tank (first long trip). The fancy gizmos did not exist back then(60's). First we tried the 5 gallon buckets down the toilet and rock the trailer - no go. You could see the huge pile. Only water drain out. Then he tried a hose down the toilet, but the pile moved and blocked the tank outlet. We almost had a flood in the bath as water backed up into the toilet.

Camp ground host chatted with him on what was wrong and gave him some advice. He cut a small hole in the sewer hose at the fitting by the trailer and ran the garden hose back into the tank, The other end of the sewer hose was connected to the dump station. I guess this was the poor mans flush system. It worked well with minimal leakage. Next day he got a new sewer and garden hose, but kept the old ones too. The host also told him about the dawn trick. No problems the rest of the trip except for the trailer frame cracking from bouncing on the Alcan highway on the way home.

Of course it was us kids fault for using too much paper and not enough water