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Old 01-12-2021, 12:38 PM   #1
KJT
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Holding tank cable question

Hope everyone is doing well.
Just wanted to drop a note on something that I heard while watching day 3 of the MOC virtual rally last week.
There was a gentleman from keystone taking questions via email , and was joined by another gentlemen remotely from his home.
Don't recall the two fella's names, but I believe that they worked in the customer service/quality control department.
They received a email question regarding, what I believe was about the Montana holding tank valve cables. I think the two misunderstood the question and got off on topic of electric dump valves , and I believe the question was about the OEM cables themselves.
I had to repair my black tank cable , on my 15 3750fl legacy, the weekend before.
The issue I had was a binding cable which wouldn't allow the valve to close completely.
I changed out the oem stranded cable with a valterra solid non stranded cable,which I the the email question was actually inquiring about.
After changing out the cable the valve was smooth as silk and the valve operated perfectly. I'll try and attach a couple pictures and you'll be able to see the problem with the stranded cable , especially operating at that length of unshielded travel.
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Old 01-12-2021, 05:27 PM   #2
Carl n Susan
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I agree they interpreted the question incorrectly. But I thought the question was really about using direct solid cable pulls v. the current flexible cable pulls.

But you are right, the Valterra solid cable v. the stranded one is much better.
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Old 01-12-2021, 07:53 PM   #3
Daryles
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I believe I have the same problem on my black tank valve. It seems to not want to close all the way. There is a difference of about 1/2" compared to the grey tank valve. They use to match up.
I looked at the Valterra cables. How can you tell they are solid or stranded?
Or do the only make solid cables?
I'm probably going to have to replace the valve. Just want to make sure I have all the bases covered in case I need to replace the cable too.
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Old 01-13-2021, 08:39 AM   #4
1retired06
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I gave up on cable pulls, and with minor modification of the underbelly plumbing, installed direct threaded rod pulls, none of which were more than 18 inches long.
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Old 01-13-2021, 09:37 AM   #5
beeje
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I replaced our stock Bristol valves and cables years ago with new Valterra and they still operate very smoothly. Absolutely nothing wrong with cable valves (like Valterra) if they are installed correctly. The stock valves and cables are junk and are not installed correctly.

Most stock valves and cables are either too long or short and are not routed correctly, and are not secured along the way like they are supposed to be.
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Old 01-14-2021, 08:08 AM   #6
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I also switched to the solid rods directly to the valves. It doesn't get any simpler and reliable as that. I was fortunate in that I didn't have to modify anything to make it work. Just drilled two holes for the rods to go through.
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Old 01-14-2021, 10:47 AM   #7
twindman
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I was fighting to open and close my black tank. I had Valterra installed and I could open with 2 fingers. That was 4 years ago and still easy to open/close.
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Old 01-14-2021, 03:33 PM   #8
airboatart
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Cable pulls

I changed ours out for solid pull cables 3 years ago still work fine.I changed the cables and valves not hard to do.
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Old 01-24-2021, 02:42 PM   #9
bcrvman
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Anyone have a link, even when I google it I still only get what at least looks like stranded cable.
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Old 01-24-2021, 03:10 PM   #10
Carl n Susan
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The Valterra valve comes with a solid cable.

https://www.amazon.com/Valterra-TC37...ag=googhydr-20
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Old 01-24-2021, 03:50 PM   #11
bcrvman
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Carl n Susan View Post
The Valterra valve comes with a solid cable.

https://www.amazon.com/Valterra-TC37...ag=googhydr-20
So if you don't need a new valve, just this cable will do the trick?
https://www.amazon.com/Valterra-TC72...1528496&sr=8-1
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Old 01-24-2021, 05:10 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bcrvman View Post
So if you don't need a new valve, just this cable will do the trick?
https://www.amazon.com/Valterra-TC72...1528496&sr=8-1
I don't remember how the OEM Valve (Bristol?) connected to the cable but based on the picture at https://www.amazon.com/LaSalle-Brist...ag=googhydr-20 I doubt it will work. I changed all my valves to Valterra a long time ago when the OEM ones first failed.
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Old 01-25-2021, 05:39 AM   #13
KJT
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Morning Carl
The cable is connected to the valve by running the cable ,along with the cable housing, through the stirrup end of the valve assembly.
You'll push the housing in until it's flush with the inside edge of the stirrup and then retighten the angled set screw they use to hold the housing in place.
You need to make sure the new cable is in the blade valve collar.
I pulled the set screw out of the collar and applied some lock tight before securing the new sold cable.
Note that you'll need to really tighten the set screw ,because the new solid cable won't bend inside the collar as easy as the stranded OEM cable. You know what I mean.
Hope that helps ya.
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Old 01-25-2021, 09:41 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bcrvman View Post
So if you don't need a new valve, just this cable will do the trick?
https://www.amazon.com/Valterra-TC72...1528496&sr=8-1
I suggest if you make the effort to change the cable you would be better served if you also replace the valve.
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Old 01-25-2021, 01:32 PM   #15
KJT
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If I had a new valve in hand at the time and if the valve was bad I would have done that.
Had the new cable and the valve itself was still good. So I disassembled the cable input end of the valve assembly and cleaned up the valve and lubricated it with plumber's grease and it works perfectly.
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Old 01-25-2021, 01:45 PM   #16
Carl n Susan
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Good to know that you made it work. That is a lot easier than changing the valve.
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Old 01-25-2021, 03:01 PM   #17
KJT
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I did have to remove the valve to get the job done . The oem valve was still good,and I didn't have a replacement in hand, so I cleaned it up and greased it with plumber's grease and installed the new cable while it was out.
Which was necessary to disassemble the valve to replace the cable.
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Old 01-25-2021, 04:03 PM   #18
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Don't know if it's just me but if I'm going through all the trouble to get to a valve and remove it to put a new cable on, a new valve is also going in there.
I can't count the number of times I tried to go cheap doing such a thing only to get burned later
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