Black tank pull takes two hands and full body weight to open

tlerchba@sbcglobal.net · 07-12-2019, 11:38 PM

2012 Keystone Avalanche,
The pull handle for my black tank is extremely hard to pull to open the valve to dump. I've tried dripping oil onto the cable to see if it may lubricate whatever is sticking, didn't work. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Tim Lerchbacker
tlerchba@sbcglobal.net

Stripit · 07-13-2019, 10:20 AM

Years ago when my pull handle was very hard to pull i tried to spray a lube down the cable. Might have helped a tad, but was still a bugger. So crawled under and removed the cover for access to the attaching point to the valve and straighten out the cable. Found it was easy to operate, so ran the cable a differnt direction, changed the loop the factory installed to run around, and then reattached. Fixed the hard pull. You might have a different issue? Valve could be sticky?

**wingnut60** · 07-17-2019, 10:06 PM

Tim,
First, welcome to the forum.
And if it is hard to pull, getting worse, now is the time to tackle fixing it BEFORE it breaks/stops working with the tank full....

I am not familiar with the Avalanche, so next is generic...
Gonna take some investigating on your part to locate the black tank and figure out where the valve actually is. If you aren't using the trailer for a while, after locating and figuring out how to access it, take it out cable and all and see if it can be rehabbed while out. Better yet, take it out, get a replacement, and be done with it.
Again, you know its getting hard to work, you can bet it will get stuck/break with the tank full--what a mess that can be.
Good luck.
Joe

Notanlines · 07-18-2019, 07:51 AM

What Joe ^^^^ said. Buy a replacement cable and sheath. About $25 or so. Buy the longer one if you don't know the length, they can simply be cut to fit when you get it. PRE-LUBE the new cable with a heavy spray lube. NOT WD40. This existing cable will leave you in a lurch....

zqueenz · 07-22-2019, 06:40 PM

Hi!! I had this same issue. My best friend fixed it for me and he said it was very easy once he found the gate valve location. Here is a link to help you fix the problem. http://www.doityourselfrv.com/repair...mp-gate-valve/

Hope this helps!! I know how frustrating this can be!!

Slow Six · 07-23-2019, 12:00 AM

I had same problem on my MS. I bought a new valve and replaced the old cable operated one. I installed the new one so I could reach it without a cable. It slides easily now. I was fortunate that the valve is located so I could do this.

GMH · 07-21-2021, 10:45 AM

I know this is an old thread, but my valves are all stiff also. I saw this stuff at Canadian tire. I haven’t tried it yet, but if I do I will update my post with results.

**wingnut60** · 07-21-2021, 10:30 PM

A common problem on Suites fivers--the original valve cable is over-length and wound around the basement. Solution is to replace the valve/cable with a shorter length unit, and route the cable more directly to the handle location. Not a terribly hard job, just kind of tedious. Long arms will help, also need to take the water filter off to access the area.
Also, need to drain/clean the tank well, and tilt the trailer to the drain side before taking the old valve out.