Black Tank Flush

[sgtpp214]

Any help on this problem will be appreciated. The drain valve on the black tank suddenly has been hard to open and close. At the same time the flush doesn't seem to put much water into the tank during flush.

I always put 5 gallons of water into the tank along with calgon after dumping. Also use plenty of water when flushing. I would run flush with valve closed from 5 to 8 minutes and you could clearly hear the water entering the tank. It would then take several minutes to drain the tank. Now you hardly hear the water entering the tank and when opening the valve it will empty in a very short time and it is clear that there is not the amount of water in the tank that there used to be in the past.

On our last drive of 176 miles I had placed 10 gallons of water in the tank with some Dawn dish soap. The valve works a little easier, but there is not much difference in the flush operation.

Any ideas.

[HamRad]

sgtpp214,

Try some WD - 40 where the handle connects to the tank. Or some silicon spray. As for the flush water not getting into the tank..... perhaps you have a check valve going out or perhaps a kink has developed in the plumbing. Good luck and keep us informed as to what you end up discovering.

HamRad

[Mrs. CountryGuy]

Cleaning the spray nozzle (your 10 gallons of water and dawn soap) may be the trick.

We had similiar situation, sprayer non functioning. We were stationary, so filled black tank with a LOT of water, up to the top, over night, with calgon (which will help disolve stuff) and probably some soap as well (don't quite remember). Next AM, drain, tried sprayer, a bit better. I believe (memory bit foggy--sigh), that we did this a couple of nights in a row.

Anyway, it eventually soaked whatever was plugging the nozzle and plug was dislodged. It was our guestimate that it was dried something or other. Debris that dries in the tanks is like concrete, amazingly hard.

HamRads suggestions are good too!

Good luck, let us hear what works for you.

[kmh3212]

I think you have a large plug of solids in your black tank. You did the right thing on a long drive with water in your tank. This should help break up the solid. Keep lots of water in your tank and hope the solid starts to break up. Keep your black tank valve closed with 10-20 gallons of water at all times especially before traveling. The vibration of driving with water in the tank will help. This may take a while.

[ALAN]

How about dumping ice cubes in the tank, then driving to your next destination before dumping?

Alan