Is Thetford Drain Valve

[masterdrago]

Lubricant the lube of choice? Or just use any low cost veggie oil?

My Grey water bathroom drain has become nearly impossible to open or close. I've tried to get silicone grease spray up the cable and it has helped a bit.

I'm rather dreading cutting the Coloplast to remove the valve. Not really sure if it's the valve or cable.

The black tank valve seems very free but I often put seal conditioner at the foot valve of toilet. Not much problem with kitchen Grey tank.

I've looked at a couple vids of removing the valve/cable assembly.

Is the Thetford product the top dog?

Kenneth Drake

 

[traveldawg]

Lubricant the lube of choice? Or just use any low cost veggie oil?

My Grey water bathroom drain has become nearly impossible to open or close. I've tried to get silicone grease spray up the cable and it has helped a bit.

I'm rather dreading cutting the Coloplast to remove the valve. Not really sure if it's the valve or cable.

The black tank valve seems very free but I often put seal conditioner at the foot valve of toilet. Not much problem with kitchen Grey tank.

I've looked at a couple vids of removing the valve/cable assembly.

Is the Thetford product the top dog?

Kenneth Drake

I had to replace my black tank valve. I’d pour a good amount of veggie oil in the tank without any water in it and let it sit for a while then work the valve back and forth while it drains. You most likely need enough oil to cover the whole blade. But that would take gallons.

This my black tank drain.

 

[masterdrago]

Just finished up using the cooking oil trick. Seems to be working much better now.

 

[traveldawg]

Just finished up using the cooking oil trick. Seems to be working much better now.

Good to hear things are improving, thanks for the update. There are gate valve lubricants on the market too. fwiw - I tried some on mine but it didn't help. I didn't try the cooking oil - I should have.

 

[BobinICT]

Just finished up using the cooking oil trick. Seems to be working much better now.

How much did you end up using? I would like to try this on my black tank come spring.

 

[masterdrago]

Bobin, I used a 48oz bottle. $2 at dollar store. I split another one to the other two tanks that were not having issues. I use the Thetford toilet seal lube on the top seal when we depart a campsite or leave home/ just a small amount on the flush ball.
I always treat the black tank with a cup of Calgon Liquid Water Softener + cup of Dawn Ultra Dishwashing Liquid Dish Soap + few gallons of water at the same times. This lets the black tank wash itself out during travel. Seriously stops the black tank stink while camping a week or two.

 

[Jason-Texas]

I bought this cable lubricator as my dump valves were hard to open and close. It helped alot.

 

[masterdrago]

That's pretty slick. Another nifty gadget to have in the tool kit. In my unit, the issue turned out to be the drain seal being dry and tight. My suspicion is draining soapy water thru it tends to wash any natural lube off the seal.

 

[Jason-Texas]

That's pretty slick. Another nifty gadget to have in the tool kit. In my unit, the issue turned out to be the drain seal being dry and tight. My suspicion is draining soapy water thru it tends to wash any natural lube off the seal.

I tried the oil down the drain first and it didn’t help, so I was scouring the internet and found this guy. I didn’t have anything to loose except a few bucks. I was impressed that it worked.
I think my rv issue was that it had sat for 1 year unused in a humid environment and the cables had rust a little. I full time so the cables get moved weekly, problem solved.

 

[spencers45]

I tried the oil down the drain first and it didn’t help, so I was scouring the internet and found this guy. I didn’t have anything to loose except a few bucks. I was impressed that it worked.
I think my rv issue was that it had sat for 1 year unused in a humid environment and the cables had rust a little. I full time so the cables get moved weekly, problem solved.

Jason, what “guy” did you find? Can you provide a link?

 

[Jason-Texas]

Jason, what “guy” did you find? Can you provide a link?

I believe this is the link. It’s just an individual guy selling out of his house. I think I used zell to send him the $. It works for me. You can look for his youtube videos, Russell Duckwall.

 

[SailingOn]

IF you can get to the valve, you can drill a small hole in the handle end of the square compartment the valve retracts into, squirt a little vegetable oil into the compartment, work the valve a few times and close the hole with a short screw; works great. Easily repeatable, uses little oil.

 

[Jason-Texas]

IF you can get to the valve, you can drill a small hole in the handle end of the square compartment the valve retracts into, squirt a little vegetable oil into the compartment, work the valve a few times and close the hole with a short screw; works great. Easily repeatable, uses little oil.

I believe that would work if the valve is the problem, however, if the cable is the problem, I doubt this would help.

 

[440scout]

Jason-Texas I got one of those cable lubricators last year and it worked great. Evidently the cables can rust or? something internally while sitting in storage over the winter.