Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Montana Owners Club - Keystone Montana 5th Wheel Forum > MOC Technical Forums > Repairs & Service
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 02-17-2015, 04:56 AM   #1
Stangin
New Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Adams
Posts: 6
M.O.C. #12941
Black and Grey Tank valves stuck!! need help..

I have a problem with my Mountaineer. I have been trying to open my BLACK water pull valve and it is stuck CLOSED. I have the same problem with my GREY water pull valve. Both of those valves are located in my convenience center. I tried heating the valves with a blow dryer, no luck there. I tried adding hot water to the tank to loosen up anything, no luck there. Added some lube on the pull valves, no luck there. I also added antifreeze, no luck there so far. Anyone have any similar issues with their Montana? Any ideas will be appreciated. Both tanks are already full so I cannot empty or use. I am beyond frustrated and need some help...
 
Stangin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-17-2015, 05:11 AM   #2
TLightning
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Kville
Posts: 2,865
M.O.C. #7871
Go to Wally World and get a pair of cheap trouble lights and put 60 watt bulbs (normal bulbs not those curly things) in them and place one by each valve. If frozen, this will thaw them.
TLightning is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-17-2015, 05:29 AM   #3
DarMar
Montana Master
 
DarMar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Brandon
Posts: 3,944
M.O.C. #1034
I would guess that once you get some constant heat in there it may take some time to free things up depending on how thick the ice is.

I would be adding a ceramic heater to the area and letting it run for a couple of hours.
__________________
Darwin & Maureen DeBackere
Minnedosa, Manitoba, Canada
2011/3500/Silverado/4x4/DRW/Duramax
2017/3721RL/Legacy Pkg./Pressure-Pro
DarMar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-17-2015, 05:36 AM   #4
Stangin
New Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Adams
Posts: 6
M.O.C. #12941
Sorry, I forgot to add that I did that last night. I hung a 100W lamp in the convenience center with a small space heater in the basement area. Both didn't work, pull valves still stuck. I'm at a loss at what to do. How do I get these things to open?? This is proving to be a real pain in the...
Stangin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-17-2015, 06:35 AM   #5
Ozz
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: K.C.
Posts: 11,731
M.O.C. #5980
It's possible the cables are frozen up also..
Ozz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-17-2015, 07:49 AM   #6
grayghost03
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Roswell
Posts: 627
M.O.C. #12028
Send a message via MSN to grayghost03
What kind of temps are you having, how full are the tanks?
grayghost03 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-17-2015, 08:44 AM   #7
Stangin
New Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Adams
Posts: 6
M.O.C. #12941
In case anyone else has this issue. I fixed the problem. I'm here in Northern Virginia with temps last night in the teens. I researched everything I could find online and the only thing that worked was using spray lube on the steel rod to the pull valve. It finally took after hours of trying to shimmy the pull valves open and closed. I used silicone lube spray bought at Harbor Freight and worked like a charm on both black and grey pull valves. I hope this isn't just a temporary fix. Thanks to all who commented on this. And I got my tanks emptied too.
Stangin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-17-2015, 09:26 AM   #8
jcurtis934
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Pensacola (mail forward service)
Posts: 3,198
M.O.C. #13740
Both of mine were two hands and lean back with full body weight to open them. I took handles off, nuts off, removed the wall to access behind center, pulled cables out and slipped a vinyl tube over the cable, filled the tube with silicone liquid with the tube elevated, and waited for it to penetrate down into the cable assembly...then put back into place. That was months ago and they still work. John
__________________
2012 F350 6.7 L dually, 2013 3800RE with 6 pt leveling, Sumitomo 17.5" load range h tires, Samsung 18 cu ft residential fridge, 8k Morryde I.S. with disc brakes. Full timing since 2012.
jcurtis934 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-17-2015, 10:46 AM   #9
DQDick
Site Team
 
DQDick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
Do you have a grey tank handle located near the wheels for your other grey tank?
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
DQDick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-17-2015, 11:59 AM   #10
bigskyjimmy
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Washington Coast
Posts: 2,688
M.O.C. #10696
Yep lubing the pull rods always works for me but I started using bearing grease all over them it last longer than spray lube And also after I dump and flush my black tank I steal my wife's cooking oil when she is not looking and pour some down the toilet to keep the valve lubed up
__________________
[
bigskyjimmy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-17-2015, 12:43 PM   #11
Stangin
New Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Adams
Posts: 6
M.O.C. #12941
Quote:
quote:Originally posted by jcurtis934

Both of mine were two hands and lean back with full body weight to open them. I took handles off, nuts off, removed the wall to access behind center, pulled cables out and slipped a vinyl tube over the cable, filled the tube with silicone liquid with the tube elevated, and waited for it to penetrate down into the cable assembly...then put back into place. That was months ago and they still work. John
Thanks for the tip. I'll get that done next time I'm in there.
Stangin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-17-2015, 12:47 PM   #12
Stangin
New Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Adams
Posts: 6
M.O.C. #12941
Quote:
quote:Originally posted by bigskyjimmy

Yep lubing the pull rods always works for me but I started using bearing grease all over them it last longer than spray lube And also after I dump and flush my black tank I steal my wife's cooking oil when she is not looking and pour some down the toilet to keep the valve lubed up
I poured some coconut oil down the black tanks. I'll try that bearing grease as well. Thanks.
Stangin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-17-2015, 03:13 PM   #13
1retired06
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake Gaston
Posts: 8,773
M.O.C. #12156
I dropped the underbelly, lubricated at the flush valves and reran the cables to eliminate multiple loops and bends.
__________________
Mike and Lorraine
2002 3655 FL, 2005 3650RK
2010 3665RE, 2015 3910FB
F350 crew cab dually 6.7
1retired06 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-17-2015, 03:42 PM   #14
bigskyjimmy
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Washington Coast
Posts: 2,688
M.O.C. #10696
Yep ,I did that on my last Monty and that helps as well
Quote:
quote:Originally posted by 1retired06

I dropped the underbelly, lubricated at the flush valves and reran the cables to eliminate multiple loops and bends.
__________________
[
bigskyjimmy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-18-2015, 02:20 AM   #15
JandC
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Frostproof, FL USA
Posts: 2,362
M.O.C. #13272
What I found worked when we were in those temps the last two Decembers was RV pink. I ran a ceramic heater in the basement but the issue was always the gate valves themselves freezing. Grays stayed open and after dumping black I would start out with at least one gallon of RV antifreeze. If I was not dumping for 5 or 6 days I would end up adding at least one more gallon, sometimes two.

Probably another thing that would have helped would have been to wrap the Montana sewer pipe (where it goes into the underbelly) with heat tape. And of course properly positioned/lubricated cables are a must when the temps start dropping below freezing.
__________________
Previous: 2008 Montana 3400RL & 2014 3725RL
Current: Full Time 2022 SOB TT Toy Hauler
JandC is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Grey Tank valves open or closed? racquetballfreq Full Timing in your Montana 22 06-26-2020 08:06 AM
Very difficult dump and grey tank Valves RETREP Repairs & Service 9 05-19-2015 02:05 PM
T handle black and grey water valves mrtgraz General Discussions about our Montanas 4 04-26-2012 05:06 AM
3655FL - grey and black water dump valves reversed patodonn Montana Problems, Problem Solving & Technical Help 0 07-27-2003 06:02 AM
Black and grey valves protective cover 5ER Additions & Improvements 0 05-06-2003 02:02 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Montana RV, Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:40 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.