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Old 05-19-2019, 05:44 PM   #1
hosssmith
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True Confessions of a slow learner- RV Style

Okay, I have determined that it is time for a confession. I blew up a black tank. There now I should feel better right? Nope, I don't.

I was flushing the tank in the RV Barn when along came a distraction and I forgot about the water being on and when the tank filled up it popped the top. I didn't go looking for the tank but took it to the dealer instead. He said I had a bad connection (after keeping the RV for a week) and I took it home.

Talk about smell ... whew ... don't even try to imagine that one especially in the summer time ... in Texas ... in a campground. I super dosed the tank with Calgon (take me away) and solved the smell issue but not the cause. I just didn't get it. We left on a trip and all was well until I went three nights on the way home without dumping the tank. Stuff leaked out ... on the road when I turned around. Wife saw stuff ... on the ground and even Calgon could not take that away.

Got home anyway and took RV to the dealer again. This time he admitted the tank top had parted from the tank. No problem - they would change it out which cost a lot of money. Again. The first trip when they didn't fix the problem was not cheap either. I left the RV with him in the late Fall and he had to Winterize it account of freezing weather (yes Texas can get cold sometimes - briefly). That was the first time I ever had an RV winterized since I started RVing in the early seventies so I didn't like paying for that or getting everything back in service afterwards.

All was now well. Good tight tank, no smell, happy wife. Life was good. Briefly.

We use the RV two nights or so per week so the dumping and flushing never ends. It is a weekly or biweekly thing during cooler weather. I was flushing when the cell rang and I was absorbed into a business call when POP and the water hit the floor.

Did I mention I was a slow learner?

The dealer didn't get a very big chance at me this time although after doing a diligent search for a replacement tank I did order it thru him account he had the best price. We changed this tank in the barn after a very thorough wash (twice) in the wash bay and then cleaning up the wash bay.

I now set the alarm in the phone for 4 minuets to remind me to open the drain valve BEFORE the tank can possibly fill up and so far all has worked well. Trust me to screw it up ... twice but hopefully never more...

I know that I am supposed to have the drain open before flushing but it seems to work better if there is a volume of water in the tank before the valve is opened.

I'm sorry this narrative was so long but if it reminds you to not do what I did then my job here is done.
 
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Old 05-19-2019, 06:45 PM   #2
BB_TX
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I don’t flush after every drain. Typically on last drain before leaving that campground, unless I am going to be there more than a week.

I always drain the tank first. Then start the flush and close the valve for 2-3 minutes, then drain, then close the valve for 2-3 minutes, then drain, until stuff seen in clear extension is relatively clear, then turn off the flush. And I never leave the flush area while the flush is running.
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Old 05-19-2019, 07:32 PM   #3
hosssmith
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I also hope you don't answer the phone...
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Old 05-19-2019, 07:56 PM   #4
Hblick48
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BB_TX View Post
I don’t flush after every drain. Typically on last drain before leaving that campground, unless I am going to be there more than a week.

I always drain the tank first. Then start the flush and close the valve for 2-3 minutes, then drain, then close the valve for 2-3 minutes, then drain, until stuff seen in clear extension is relatively clear, then turn off the flush. And I never leave the flush area while the flush is running.
^^^^ This is exactly what I do. Use the timer on my phone to make sure I don't exceed 3 minutes.

I was back flushing the black tank on my old Sea Breeze and got distracted. When water started gushing out of my roof vent, I remembered that I was in the process of flushing. Fortunately, I has already gone through a few fill and drain cycles, so black tank was pretty clean. Didn't hurt the tank.
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Old 05-19-2019, 07:59 PM   #5
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I did the same thing you did the first time. New to the Monty and hadn't read much on this forum. I didn't know about the tank separating on the top, etc back then. But now I am very careful. I try to stop the flush after 4-5 minutes and then open the drain.
Of course we rarely stay in one spot more than 3 nights and mostly 1 or 2. So I flush often.
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Old 05-19-2019, 08:24 PM   #6
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All of us have done something not real smart once or twice. Hopefully some of us can learn from your mistake.

A lot of us flush the black tank more than required. No need to get it so clean. It seems to flush fairly well just leaving the black gate valve open without backing water up in the tank.
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Old 05-19-2019, 10:44 PM   #7
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Thanks for sharing. It helps keep us on our toes. It would help also if Keystone mounted the tanks according to the manufacturers recommendations. Any tank should hold fluid to it's capacity. Two piece tanks, opposed to one piece tanks commonly split at the seam. If under warranty they will pay for the fix.
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Old 05-20-2019, 04:35 AM   #8
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"Siri, set timer for 3 minutes" Keeps me on track and doesn't let me........THAT'S where I left that wrench. I better put that up and clean up the tool bin.........
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Old 05-20-2019, 06:47 AM   #9
WeBeFulltime
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If I was faced with replacing a black or gray tank I would get the new one-piece tanks like they put on the Montanas now. I believe this change was made about model year 2018.
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Old 05-29-2019, 01:38 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WeBeFulltime View Post
If I was faced with replacing a black or gray tank I would get the new one-piece tanks like they put on the Montanas now. I believe this change was made about model year 2018.
I have a 2018 and have been wondering about my tank. Is there an easy-ish way to tell whether I've got a one-piece or not?
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Old 05-29-2019, 02:43 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WeBeFulltime View Post
If I was faced with replacing a black or gray tank I would get the new one-piece tanks like they put on the Montanas now. I believe this change was made about model year 2018.
We have 2013 3402.We were told at the national rally that the new tanks are not compatible with the old two piece tanks. I believe the change was before 2018.
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Old 05-29-2019, 03:20 PM   #12
waynemoore
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There has to be an after market one pice tank that is a replacement to the stock one. As least one would think.
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Old 05-29-2019, 04:33 PM   #13
Mark N.
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Why wouldn't the overflow simply go straight up the vent pipe to the roof and avert damage? Isn't the roof vent a direct pipe into the black tank?
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Old 05-29-2019, 04:39 PM   #14
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As these different? The black tank flush inlet at our convenience center says to flush it with the valve open.
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Old 05-29-2019, 08:27 PM   #15
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I use an in line gallon counter. I don't leave the area while the water us running. The nice thing Is I can get a good amount of water and know exactly how much went in.
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Old 05-30-2019, 08:07 AM   #16
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Ok, I just have to share this story. First time camping in our last Monty and got to campsite late, as in the dark. We did a replay of Robin Williams in the movie "RV". Apparently it's not good to try and fill the fresh water tank..... thru the flush valve, ha. Both hook ups were next to each other..... it was dark...... we were new...nuff said. The rv turned into Yellowstone! Geyser coming out of the toilet! Old Faithful spewing out the roof! Funny now. Not so much then! After that I put a yellow happy face sticker on fresh water inlet and red frown face on flush valve!
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Old 05-30-2019, 09:55 AM   #17
hosssmith
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https://www.montanaowners.com/forums/images/smilies/redface.gif

Whew, I thought I was the lead dummy when it comes to flushing. When you foul up twice you start remembering that doing the same thing more than once and expecting a different result is pretty much the definition of stupid....
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Old 05-31-2019, 12:30 PM   #18
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Meet another dum dum dum dum

I admit in 40 years , I have made the same mistake 3 times . 3 pull trailers, 2 Monty's and the latest a Life Style. Each of the three times ,some knot Head next door wants to talk..!!!
Now I just become rude and tell him ,if this over flows YOU are going to clean it up.... Still want to talk!!!!!!.......
Don't bother people when they are unhooking, or hooking up.....or DUMPING.
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Old 05-31-2019, 04:18 PM   #19
hosssmith
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Gospel According to Bear

For a family oriented forum you have worded your reply quiet factually and succinctly as in, "LEAVE ME ALONE, I'M BUSY HERE!"
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Old 05-31-2019, 04:58 PM   #20
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Try this one. New 19 3700lk. First trip to Zion NP, the shakedown run as I call it. Pour my chemical in the black tank. Day 2, grey tank is full, pull the valve and walk away. Come back 20 minutes later, close valve. Go to bed. Day 3, take shower in the am, shower starts to FLOOD. Stop shower immediately, walk out buck naked, dripping wet, check panel, it say “DRAIN ME STUPID”. dry off, go outside, pull grey valve, and nothing comes out. Hmmmmm, pull the black tank valve, what the heck and guess what, grey tank drains. YES, THEY MISLABELED THE BLACK AND GRY TANKS !!!!!
Well it was interesting cleaning out the bone dry black tank.
Today, I still chuckle about that......
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