rvhank
North America
Senior Member
Joined: 07/21/2002
View Profile
 Offline
|
A friend recently bought a 1991 Mallard fifth wheel. It's in very good shape despite a couple of inconveniences; one being "stuff" in the black water holding tank.
The dump valve is VERY hard to operate - open and/or close; will not completely shut. With the valve open, depressing the flush pedal - it's three or four minutes before anything comes out.
My guess is the previous owner put it up without having dumped after his/her last outing over a year ago. Obviously the liquid evaporated leaving a solid floor. What can we put in the tank to break up this "stuff"?
'03 Adventurer 33V
'03 Saturn ION w/Ready Brake
Hank & Darcy & Bear
|
2oldman
WA
Senior Member
Joined: 04/15/2001
View Profile
Offline
|
A jackhammer.
|
ScottG
Bothell Wa.
Senior Member
Joined: 02/25/2005
View Profile
|
I wonder if filling it with 20 gallons of very hot water, adding some auto dishwashing soap and driving around would help brake things up.
Or skip the driving part and hold a vibrating sander (W/O sandpaper of course) against the bottom of the tank to shake stuff loose.
Just a thought.
Scott, Grace and Wesly
2003 Dodge 3500 4x4 Cummins (lightly bombed),
2004 Forest River 25RKS many, many mods.
|
campermike60
Longview Texas USA
Full Member
Joined: 06/29/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
I think I wiold put a good safe draincleaner in the tank then 10 galons of water and 2 or3 large bags of ice from the store in it. Then I would drive it around for about 50 miles of turns stops and starts. I think this would help the problem. Then I would drain it. After that I would go in thru the toilet valve with a high pressure washer and work it over. Last I would put in a new valve in the outlet. Hope this helps.
campermike60
|
swebber
Brunswick , MD
Senior Member
Joined: 02/14/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
2oldman wrote:A jackhammer.
Steve & Tracy Webber
'07 F250 6.0 PSD LariatFX4,AirLift,Edge Insight
'07 Jayco Eagle 314BHDS "The Cramalot Inn II"
ReeseDCHP,Atwood 3500#,FlushKing,WeberBabyQ
Our Pic's
We do not stop playing because we grow old, We grow old because we stop playing!
|
|
|
swebber
Brunswick , MD
Senior Member
Joined: 02/14/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
I agree with campermike60.
|
Fire Instructor
Upstate (Albany) NY Area
Senior Member
Joined: 06/17/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
My suggestion would be to first fill the tank with hot water and soap, then take it for a ride, as others have suggested....
THEN, purchase the Tornado Flush that you'll want to install anyway (about $20), drill the hole for mounting it, but before you mount it, use a good pressure washer (or steam genny) and blast-up anything still stuck.
After it's good and clean, THEN install the Tornado (and use it regularly!).
Fire Instructor
2004 Dodge 1500 4dr 4x4
2009 Rockwood 2607
"If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking!" General George S. Patton
|
RevLeonidas
Oregon
Full Member
Joined: 09/17/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
...try this GEO Method; it works!
|
Rockwood Camper
Rochester, NY
Full Member
Joined: 05/29/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
campermike60 wrote:I think I wiold put a good safe draincleaner in the tank then 10 galons of water and 2 or3 large bags of ice from the store in it. Then I would drive it around for about 50 miles of turns stops and starts. I think this would help the problem. Then I would drain it. After that I would go in thru the toilet valve with a high pressure washer and work it over. Last I would put in a new valve in the outlet. Hope this helps.
campermike60
This would be the method I would try as well.
2008 Ford F350 FX4 CC SB PSD
2006 Rockwood 8281SS 5th wheel
Can't wait to get back to the Adirondacks!
|
nbounder
Arizona mountains
Senior Member
Joined: 11/26/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
1 - install a TORNADO tank flusher - goes into the side of the tank, not a 'messy' job at all.
2.- The vinegar king T_Bone recommends in your case 2 gallons of vinegar, then fill the tank to the top and wait a few days - maybe a week. I bet it works and brings your sensors back, too.
Joe
|
|
|
