I just finished installing 3 new black and gray water waste dump valves on my 2020 Reflection 303RLS. The 2 gray valves had stuck partially open. Reading this forum indicated that remove/replace of either of the opposing valves at the top of the "tee" shaped drain pipe manifold is challenging due to the very tight fit.
Before starting this job I built a simple tool to allow for sliding a new valve into place without dislodging the seals that must be first slipped onto the pipe flanges. The images show the design. It is made of some scrap roof flashing sheet metal I had "in stock". Any very thin gage sheet metal will work. It would be best if it has a nice smooth finish. I snipped it to shape an removed ALL sharp edges and burrs with sandpaper and a file. Then I bent it around a piece of wooden dowel nearly the same diameter as the valve is thick.
To use this the new seals are given a light coat of silicone grease (plumbers grease) as is the sheet metal of the install tool. The seals are then carefully put in place on the fixed flanges. The sheet metal tool is then placed over the valve body oriented so that the rounded bend covers the "front" of the body as it is slipped into place between the flanges. I had to use a pry bar to separate the flanges to let the valve body slid into place. The sheet metal serves to prevent the seals from dislodging while the valve slides in. When the valve looks to be in the right place install all 4 bolts, just very loosely . Then gently but assertively slide the sheet metal piece out.
In my case, working alone, this worked on the 2nd try. I first installed the 2 forward valves, gray #1 and black. Then I put the 3rd valve in using the sheet metal tool. On the first try I did not use the pry bar to spread the flanges and the seals popped out. I have no images during the install, sorry. Not enough hands and too much poo water to be stopping for pictures.
FYI, the new valves are Valterra 3" with the 72" cable. The cables worked well when routed with care.
images:
Before starting this job I built a simple tool to allow for sliding a new valve into place without dislodging the seals that must be first slipped onto the pipe flanges. The images show the design. It is made of some scrap roof flashing sheet metal I had "in stock". Any very thin gage sheet metal will work. It would be best if it has a nice smooth finish. I snipped it to shape an removed ALL sharp edges and burrs with sandpaper and a file. Then I bent it around a piece of wooden dowel nearly the same diameter as the valve is thick.
To use this the new seals are given a light coat of silicone grease (plumbers grease) as is the sheet metal of the install tool. The seals are then carefully put in place on the fixed flanges. The sheet metal tool is then placed over the valve body oriented so that the rounded bend covers the "front" of the body as it is slipped into place between the flanges. I had to use a pry bar to separate the flanges to let the valve body slid into place. The sheet metal serves to prevent the seals from dislodging while the valve slides in. When the valve looks to be in the right place install all 4 bolts, just very loosely . Then gently but assertively slide the sheet metal piece out.
In my case, working alone, this worked on the 2nd try. I first installed the 2 forward valves, gray #1 and black. Then I put the 3rd valve in using the sheet metal tool. On the first try I did not use the pry bar to spread the flanges and the seals popped out. I have no images during the install, sorry. Not enough hands and too much poo water to be stopping for pictures.
FYI, the new valves are Valterra 3" with the 72" cable. The cables worked well when routed with care.
images:
