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Palm beach constipated [message #315566] Thu, 06 April 2017 15:48 Go to next message
Atom Ant is currently offline  Atom Ant   United States
Messages: 170
Registered: October 2016
Location: Austin, TX
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Senior Member
Hey y'all!

I went to dump the palm beach today and nothing doing.

The valve works, apparently its blocked. I have dumped it on the past, so I know it's capable.

Any tips or tricks that don't leave me covered in....stuff?

Thanks.


1976 Palm Beach Austin, TX
Re: Palm beach constipated [message #315567 is a reply to message #315566] Thu, 06 April 2017 15:54 Go to previous messageGo to next message
lqqkatjon is currently offline  lqqkatjon   United States
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Registered: October 2010
Location: St. Cloud, MN
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Extra water. Dump some ice cubes in, and drive around.

Change your diet.


Jon Roche 75 palm beach EBL EFI, manny headers, Micro Level, rebuilt most of coach now. St. Cloud, MN http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
Re: Palm beach constipated [message #315568 is a reply to message #315566] Thu, 06 April 2017 15:57 Go to previous messageGo to next message
lqqkatjon is currently offline  lqqkatjon   United States
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Flush the lines.

https://youtu.be/uHgRmR024BE


Jon Roche 75 palm beach EBL EFI, manny headers, Micro Level, rebuilt most of coach now. St. Cloud, MN http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
Re: Palm beach constipated [message #315595 is a reply to message #315566] Fri, 07 April 2017 09:52 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Matt Colie is currently offline  Matt Colie   United States
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Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
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Senior Member
Atom Ant wrote on Thu, 06 April 2017 16:48
Hey y'all!

I went to dump the palm beach today and nothing doing.

The valve works, apparently its blocked. I have dumped it on the past, so I know it's capable.

Any tips or tricks that don't leave me covered in....stuff?

Thanks.

Adam,

If you can get someplace that you can make a nasty mess and clean it up later, you should do that.

There are numerous causes for the situation you face and not many can be solved without a mess. If the valve was leaking, then liquid ran away and all you have left are solids. If this is the case (look down the hole to see) then you can probably fill the black tank with water and try again. This may be less than great as the solids may have built a wall at the dump valve.

If it is blocked by a sheet or two of wipes that should not have been disposed of this way, you can try this. It is not a 100% success. Try to build pressure in the dump line, then open the valve and hope you can blow the blockage clear.

If it has the original Thetford valve (white) it is possible that the rod has pulled out of the blade. This is a fortunately rare occurrence, but be ready for it.

Is there more than you can say about the situation?
How long did it sit undumped?
What is the chance of Wipes?
Do you use a tank treatment?

We can try to help, but only remotely.

Matt


Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
Re: Palm beach constipated [message #315748 is a reply to message #315566] Sun, 09 April 2017 16:39 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Atom Ant is currently offline  Atom Ant   United States
Messages: 170
Registered: October 2016
Location: Austin, TX
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Senior Member
Hi Matt-

There is a drip leak at the valve, but I cannot confirm the quantity of water. We've had guests stay in it, so it's probable that there is paper in the tank. I will add water and drive around for a bit then try again.

How would you recommend building up pressure?

This is gonna suck isn't it?


1976 Palm Beach Austin, TX
Re: Palm beach constipated [message #315750 is a reply to message #315748] Sun, 09 April 2017 17:13 Go to previous messageGo to next message
midlf is currently offline  midlf   United States
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Registered: July 2007
Location: SE Wisc. (Palmyra)
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Senior Member
Atom Ant wrote on Sun, 09 April 2017 16:39


This is gonna suck isn't it?

NOOOOO! You can suck gas but DO NOT SUCK ON THE BLACK TANK. [GRIN]


Steve Southworth
1974 Glacier TZE064V100150 (for workin on)
1975 Transmode TZE365V100394 (parts & spares)
Palmyra WI
Re: Palm beach constipated [message #315753 is a reply to message #315748] Sun, 09 April 2017 18:14 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Matt Colie is currently offline  Matt Colie   United States
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
Senior Member
Atom Ant wrote on Sun, 09 April 2017 17:39
Hi Matt-

There is a drip leak at the valve, but I cannot confirm the quantity of water. We've had guests stay in it, so it's probable that there is paper in the tank. I will add water and drive around for a bit then try again.

How would you recommend building up pressure?

This is gonna suck isn't it?

Adam,

If you can get past this and not end up severely contaminated, that is the best you can hope for.

I used to have - Oh, I just realized I do again - have a bayonet cap for the dump that had a hose thread tap. If you still have the white - Thetford - bayonet fitting, you are going to have to improvise. If you have such a cap, this can be easy. Or if you have a black bayonet then you can buy such a cap and a collection of hose fitting and such to attach a hose.
Second try: Get parts to attach a straight piece of pipe to a hose with some kind of little valve to the control is right there. You can then make the required "adapter" with rags. One old towel will did it for us.

You do not want much pressure, literally just a couple of feet of water head (~1psi)as more is a big risk. Whether you have a cap or not, the plan is to put just enough pressure in the dump line to blow what ever is blocking it back into the tank. This is not pressure plumbing, it is more like the hydrology of a river.

Now it worked for us (I was assisting another years ago) to have as large a tub as we could under things. Someone stood by the dump valve (me)and the other (Charlie) put some pressure in the line with the valve open. Then the valve was shut and the dump pipe drained into the tub. Did this a couple of times (memory is unclear on this) and then heard a "blump" in the coach. Next time the valve was opened, the flow started, so we closed the valve and attached to their septic system's clean out. When the valve was opened this time we got decent, but not great flow. When it ebbed, we did the back flow again. After a few of these games flow got good and then I hosed off Charlie (he had been at the outlet end).

The grass on that part of the lawn grew real well that summer.

Other scenario....
The valve is busted and the rod is not moving the gate. This is fortunately a rare failure with the Thetford valve. But if it is, here is what they would do in Thetford's lot. They had a special place near a storm drain that they tried to avoid using. Jerry, (the tech) would go under the coach and loosen screws on the valve enough to get liquid to flow out at a controlled rate. When his catch bucket was full (it had a line attached) he would snug things up and he. or a helper, pull the bucket out and dump into a 50 gallon drum fit with a big funnel (the prototype of the blue tote, I suppose). He would persist in this until there was almost no liquid. Then he would do a quick valve change and move the coach so he could rise the lot. The solids would still be in the tank, but not enough water to dump it, so he would fill the tank, take the coach out on local roads for about 5 miles and come back to our dump and dump it completely and then clean up and tell Gloria to call the owners.

Just for reference, if you dump the black tank on a paved parking lot, it only stinks for 2 or three days.

Matt


Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
Re: Palm beach constipated [message #315756 is a reply to message #315566] Sun, 09 April 2017 19:17 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Atom Ant is currently offline  Atom Ant   United States
Messages: 170
Registered: October 2016
Location: Austin, TX
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Senior Member
Hi Matt-

My cap does have a hose attachment. The black tank is full.

So if I attach hose to cap, and add water there with the valve open is should loosen it enough to flow?

Sport, total noob here with regards to This operation, with a healthy aversion to human waste.


1976 Palm Beach Austin, TX
Re: Palm beach constipated [message #315764 is a reply to message #315756] Sun, 09 April 2017 20:05 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Matt Colie is currently offline  Matt Colie   United States
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
Senior Member
Atom Ant wrote on Sun, 09 April 2017 20:17
Hi Matt-

My cap does have a hose attachment. The black tank is full.

So if I attach hose to cap, and add water there with the valve open is should loosen it enough to flow?

Sport, total noob here with regards to This operation, with a healthy aversion to human waste.

Adam,

That is the plan, but but when it does.... Katy Bar the Door.

No telling what a guest may have thrown in there. Those wipes are a lot stronger than any music roll. They are causing sewer plants all over the country headaches.

Matt


Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
Re: [GMCnet] Palm beach constipated [message #315768 is a reply to message #315756] Sun, 09 April 2017 20:10 Go to previous messageGo to next message
jimk is currently offline  jimk   United States
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Location: Belmont, CA
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Senior Member
​Adam,
The toilet paper when allowed to dry can form a barrior against the valve,
and when opened, fluid will not get past.
Let it get wet and soften the paper wall.
Use chemicals that will prevent this plug .​

On Sun, Apr 9, 2017 at 5:17 PM, Adam Metzger wrote:

> Hi Matt-
>
> My cap does have a hose attachment. The black tank is full.
>
> So if I attach hose to cap, and add water there with the valve open is
> should loosen it enough to flow?
>
> Sport, total noob here with regards to This operation, with a healthy
> aversion to human waste.
> --
> 1976 Palm Beach
> Austin, TX
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>



--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Fremont,CA
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
Re: Palm beach constipated [message #315770 is a reply to message #315566] Sun, 09 April 2017 20:20 Go to previous messageGo to next message
captjack is currently offline  captjack   United States
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Location: Sebastopol, California
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Senior Member
I had what I thought was a clog. Turned out a pile of TP built up under the toilet and when I tried to dump, nothing came out. It needed exlax. I finally figured it out, stirred it around with a stick, added some water and then it worked. Sort of a last resort would be to have a Honey Bucket truck that empties porta potties stick his sucker down the toilet opening and suck it pretty clean. Alt least less to deal with when you start pulling valves.

Jack Christensen - K6ROW, '76 Glenbrook/Clasco - "The Silver Bullet", Sebastopol, CA
Re: [GMCnet] Palm beach constipated [message #315773 is a reply to message #315768] Sun, 09 April 2017 20:23 Go to previous message
Jeff Marten is currently offline  Jeff Marten   United States
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Registered: August 2013
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Senior Member
I had to remove the valve on my Mountain Aire last week. Same issue, but what was piled up against the valve was more like compost. Thank goodness the levelers got the driver side high enough so there wasn't much leakage. Not a fun job!

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________________________________
From: Gmclist on behalf of Jim Kanomata
Sent: Sunday, April 9, 2017 7:10:46 PM
To: gmclist@list.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Palm beach constipated

​Adam,
The toilet paper when allowed to dry can form a barrior against the valve,
and when opened, fluid will not get past.
Let it get wet and soften the paper wall.
Use chemicals that will prevent this plug .​

On Sun, Apr 9, 2017 at 5:17 PM, Adam Metzger wrote:

> Hi Matt-
>
> My cap does have a hose attachment. The black tank is full.
>
> So if I attach hose to cap, and add water there with the valve open is
> should loosen it enough to flow?
>
> Sport, total noob here with regards to This operation, with a healthy
> aversion to human waste.
> --
> 1976 Palm Beach
> Austin, TX
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>



--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Fremont,CA
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
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1985 Gulf Stream 34' Sun Stream 1964 Falcon 'Vert 1980 Bradley GTE 1999 Chevy Tahoe 2005 Saab 93 Aero 1987 Suzuki Intruder 1400 1978 Glastron/Carlson CV23
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