Thetford toilet dump valve repair - Page 3

jimwilly · 04-12-2008, 09:39 AM

Thanks all for the great comments and very helpful advice. Now to work!

**ShrimpBurrito** · 04-12-2008, 11:30 AM

I got all the replacement gaskets, got all the tools out, mentally prepared myself to pull the toilet, and then flushed it out. Then it seems that the gasket flapped back into place. I filled the toilet about 5 times just to be sure I consistently got the whoosh after pulling the dump valve at the floor, and it was there.

I feel lucky. I don't really see a need now to replace the gaskets, unless I am missing something.

So the question is, how did the seal get messed up to begin with, and how can I prevent it from happening again?

Dave

Leslie & Nick · 04-12-2008, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShrimpBurrito

I got all the replacement gaskets, got all the tools out, mentally prepared myself to pull the toilet, and then flushed it out. Then it seems that the gasket flapped back into place. I filled the toilet about 5 times just to be sure I consistently got the whoosh after pulling the dump valve at the floor, and it was there.
I feel lucky. I don't really see a need now to replace the gaskets, unless I am missing something.
So the question is, how did the seal get messed up to begin with, and how can I prevent it from happening again? Dave

That's great! I would not, however, be too quick to return the replacement gasket set. You could find yourself with the same problem a week or a month from now

Going from memory here, but I don't know how that little gasket gets crumpled up in the first place. I would think some piece of 'foreign material' somehow lodges itself between the plunger/slide mechanism and the gasket. As you pull in on the T valve, the plunger/slide distorts the gasket.

This would probably make more sense to you if you actually saw the EZ Slide valve mechanism. But if the thing is working again, I'd 'leave well enough alone' for now. I've been using some of that Thetford 'Valve Lubricant' stuff in hopes that things will keep 'swooshing'

So far so good - I don't relish the idea of removing that toilet again if I don't have to.

Nick

**ShrimpBurrito** · 04-12-2008, 12:22 PM

Thanks for the response, Nick. Yea, I wasn't planning on returning the parts at all. I feel I've just delayed the inevitable, that's all. I thought perhaps that changing the seals now even though they seemingly are working would get me ahead of the game, but the new ones seem pretty resilient so as long as they are not damaged, I doubt it would help.

How often do you add the valve lubricant? The valve does sometime seem to take a little more effort than I would think necessary to open/close. Certainly more effort than the valves under the trailer.

Dave

Leslie & Nick · 04-12-2008, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShrimpBurrito

How often do you add the valve lubricant? The valve does sometime seem to take a little more effort than I would think necessary to open/close. Certainly more effort than the valves under the trailer. Dave

The Thetford valve lubricant is a thick, syrup like, red liquid. I've put it in twice, but I don't recall how often they recommend using it. I have to check the directions on the container again.

Yes, the 'T' valve at the base of the toilet does take more effort to operate than the black and gray water valves under the trailer. The valve lubricant for the toilet, is probably good for the exterior slide valve too (??).

Nick

**ShrimpBurrito** · 04-12-2008, 07:18 PM

Well, I ended up pulling the toilet anyway. I took the top off the toilet to take a look at the seal on the EZ Slide valve, and it was all shriveled up. That explained why it was a pain to slide in and also leaked down into the pipe. I've attached a picture.

It wasn't too bad, actually, especially thanks to the directions Bill posted. I made a locator disc out of a large washer JB-Welded to a smaller fender washer. The fender washer just makes a smaller screw hole, and the larger washer is necessary to fill the diameter of the toilet leg (which I think was like 2 1/4" or so). I also Dremeled out a new hole in the motor cover and re-rerouted the toilet wire from going out the back to going out the side by the gauge. The factory just jammed the toilet up against the wall, squishing the wire and causing the wire to rub up against the wall....that wore the paint off the wall and dented the wire.

The toilet is now definitely more firmly attached than it ever was before. I think installing a locator disc makes a difference.

Dave