Another CrossRoads blunder..

[Ramn4ver]

My black tank valve has finally said "no more opening". Over the last year. Getting harder and harder to pull open. So today I dropped the belly. Nice way to spend my vacation. On my back under my Rushmore.. After chatting with my mobile RV text. He said should be solid steel cables. But might be braided cables. Come to find out. Black tank has a braided cable. The two grey tanks have solid steel cables. WTF....Will see if I can replace just the cable. Might be the whole black tank valve.... Going to put new insulation under my home also. This bubble wrap stuff is a joke for winter.
Gary

[Steve7]

Good luck with your project. If you have a chance, post some pics so we know what we are in for if it occurs to us. Thanks!

[mark5w]

Not sure it's a Crossroads blunder. Checked the replacement cables and all I found were braided wire, some stainless steel braided wire.

[Ramn4ver]

Well, sprayed black tank valve with some lube. Got it open...was working the handle back and forth.. Cable on end of handle broke...Gezzzz

[Dayle1]

Originally Posted by Ramn4ver

My black tank valve has finally said "no more opening". Over the last year. Getting harder and harder to pull open. So today I dropped the belly. Nice way to spend my vacation. On my back under my Rushmore.. After chatting with my mobile RV text. He said should be solid steel cables. But might be braided cables. Come to find out. Black tank has a braided cable. The two grey tanks have solid steel cables. WTF....Will see if I can replace just the cable. Might be the whole black tank valve.... Going to put new insulation under my home also. This bubble wrap stuff is a joke for winter.
Gary

The problem with majority of blade valves, cable or manual, is how they are installed. In an ideal world, they would be installed vertically, which is how electric valves are supposed to be installed. With horizontal installation, solid residue more easily collects in the blade cavity. One solution is to remove the valve and seals, then flush out the residue, lube real well and reinstall. Other solution is to switch to electric valves and deal with other issues.

Regarding the belly insulation, if it doesn't wrap up the sides of the I-beams to the bottom of the floor, then it isn't going to work regardless of the type of insulation used. The I-beam is such a huge heat conductor with plenty of holes that just insulating the bottom of the belly is the real joke.

[Ramn4ver]

Upon more investigation... Valve is working real smooth.. Just need to replace cable. Maybe secure cable so its not quite such a tight turn, as to the original set up.

[Ramn4ver]

Adding 1 1/2 inch foam underneath. Just a little better than the bubble wrap crossroads uses.

[Ramn4ver]

Not sure if you can see in this pic. My bottom two handles are my grey tanks. They have a hexagon rod. And solid steel cable. The top one, black tank. Round rod and braided wire cable. The black tank handle has always been a little different feel to it. I just don't understand why not use the same for all three.

[2slick]

We had same issue. I ordered the Valterra EZ Valve (electric). Hard to install, but well worth it.


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[Ramn4ver]

I'm now certified valve cable tect. Only a three hours class...lol...got R done...works so smooth...now back to installing installation...

[Ramn4ver]

Off too a great start.

[Ramn4ver]

Well good morning... Day 3... Remove rust from bottom of I beam where belly pan connects. Repaint..reinstall belly pan...what a lovely day ahead..lol

[Lloyd]

you are a tiger Gary.

[Ramn4ver]

Just getting this ship upright Lloyd. New cable pull & push with your little finger..its so sweet..
Lol

[2slick]

Just looking at the picture you posted of the underbelly. Is your foil insulation up against the floor? Ours just lays on the coroplast membrane. I actually need to put braces across under our coroplast. Our recent pump failure filled the belly with water, stretching it down. Looking at using the thin (13/16") sticks of Unistrut as it is galvanized.

[Ramn4ver]

The original foil insulation does lay on the bottom. I installed 1 1/2" foam board onto the I beam gap and above.
Gary

[2slick]

You're a brave soul if you took all that coroplast down. I've had some of it down......PITA! My hat's off to you.


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[Ramn4ver]

Here's the my problem too why solid steel cable should be use on black tank valve handle. A customer use this hundreds of times. Crossroads needs to take pride in quality craftmenship. Not just using the cheapest product available.

[Lloyd]

Gary, did you send that picture to CR? If not, maybe you should.

[mark5w]

Do you think the cable was stainless steel? I thought all braided cables were.