DKRITTER Posted August 14, 2018 Report Share Posted August 14, 2018 We have had waste valve issues with our 5th wheel from day one. At Christmas the the cable for one of the tanks came apart. When we got home I took all the plastic down and replaced all 3 cables with Valterra solid wire cables and they have worked great until now....We were at a wedding and noticed a drip from the underbelly so we kept the tanks empty and when I got home I once again took the plastic down and at least two of the three valves are cracked. There was still a small amount of drainage so I'm waiting a few days until they dry out.Any idea what would have caused them to crack?On the tank side of the black tank a couple of ears on the flange have been broken off and it looked like the valve itself was cracked. I don't think I tightened them excessively when I put them back together and I was very liberal with plumbers grease to hold the rubber gaskets in.Any insight would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronbo Posted August 14, 2018 Report Share Posted August 14, 2018 My 3 valves are cable operated. I could see nothing but problems so I added valves under the rv. I left the cable operated valves open. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrknrvr Posted August 15, 2018 Report Share Posted August 15, 2018 If you have room to install fernco rubber fittings in the sewer lines, it will make installing new flange fittings much easier . There could be an alignment issue with the plumbing. The use of the rubber fittings will allow some give. Not a fun job,. Vern Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alie&Jim's Carrilite Posted August 15, 2018 Report Share Posted August 15, 2018 It takes very little pressure to clamp the flanges to the gate valve itself. As soon as the flanges touch, you have compressed the seal and it should be tight. So you may have overtightened them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DKRITTER Posted August 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2018 1 hour ago, Wrknrvr said: If you have room to install fernco rubber fittings in the sewer lines, it will make installing new flange fittings much easier . There could be an alignment issue with the plumbing. The use of the rubber fittings will allow some give. Not a fun job,. Vern Excellent suggestion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DKRITTER Posted August 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2018 18 minutes ago, Alie&Jim's Carrilite said: It takes very little pressure to clamp the flanges to the gate valve itself. As soon as the flanges touch, you have compressed the seal and it should be tight. So you may have overtightened them. I'm afraid you are correct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DKRITTER Posted August 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2018 I guess my name is Mongo. I crawled under the trailer this afternoon and took everything apart and most of the flanges were either cracked or broken. My only assumption is when I redid them in March I over tightened them. All new valves and plumbing coming up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigjim Posted August 16, 2018 Report Share Posted August 16, 2018 14 hours ago, DKRITTER said: My only assumption is when I redid them in March I over tightened them. I call this the Jim syndrome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DKRITTER Posted August 16, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2018 I keep coming back to this and I really don't think I grossly over tightened all 12 bolts. I wonder if it was the new rubber gaskets? All 3 valves were Bristol brand and I replaced the gaskets with Valterra brand units, could it be possible the Valterra gasket wasn't compatible with the Bristol valve/flange? Regardless all this is a real PIA. It would have been great if Forrest River had put in good valves to start with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alie&Jim's Carrilite Posted August 16, 2018 Report Share Posted August 16, 2018 2 hours ago, DKRITTER said: I keep coming back to this and I really don't think I grossly over tightened all 12 bolts. I wonder if it was the new rubber gaskets? All 3 valves were Bristol brand and I replaced the gaskets with Valterra brand units, could it be possible the Valterra gasket wasn't compatible with the Bristol valve/flange? Regardless all this is a real PIA. It would have been great if Forrest River had put in good valves to start with. Oops.... They are not compatible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big5er Posted August 19, 2018 Report Share Posted August 19, 2018 On 8/16/2018 at 12:57 PM, Alie&Jim's Carrilite said: Oops.... They are not compatible. Wow Jim, you really know your sh....uh, valves Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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