Ron J. asked us about Cleaning the Valve
I have removed the valve and soaked it in Sensor Power for a week. The valve operation is still stiff. It does not look like the valve can be disassembled. Is there something else I can do to clean it? Is there a lubricant I can use on it?
Dumper Dan Answers:
Try using silicone spray. With the gate open, spray it on both sides of the gate, to the point where it is dripping out, then cycle it and spray some more. If that doesn’t work something must be caught in the gears. The valve itself cannot be disassembled. Let me know if I can be of further assistance. 877 787 8833 X 12.
Tim has two great questions for Dumper Dan
#1 Which fuses are recommended?
Hello Dan,
I am just about ready to replace my old valves with my new valves. I noticed that New Horizons put two 10 amp fuses in for the valves. Would it be advisable for me to replace them with 5 amp fuses as stated in your literature? (I assume the answer is yes, but since New Horizons put in the 10 amp fuses, I just thought I would double check with you guys.)
Dumper Dan Answers:
Good morning Tim,
The right fuse to use is indeed 5 amp. We have on occasion had valves that require more power and blow the 5 amp fuse, we think it is a slight variation in the motor windings. If this happened to you, simply replace the fuse with a 7.5 amp fuse. I think 10 will allow the wire to heat up before the fuse gives in, and that would not be good.
Best regards,
Tim’s 2nd Question:
Hello Dan,
I’m going to be installing my new valves this week and I just found out it will be impossible to move the valves from the 3 o’clock position to any other position. So, I was wondering if I should add to my annual maintenance schedule, a cleaning and maintenance procedure, whereby I would tip our 5th wheel toward the valves, put in your valve cleaner and some water, and let it sit for a few hours. Maybe even repeatedly opening and closing the valves just for good measure. Obviously, the tanks would have to be emptied before performing the task. Do you have any comments regarding this idea? Or, would it be a useless endeavor? I just want clean valves! And the installation arrangement I have, just does not provide any way to move the valves from the 3 o’clock position. Take Care,
Dumper Dan Answers:
In a situation like yours, I would listen to the valves when they open and close during the season you are using the RV. If they begin to sound sluggish, say at the middle of the second year, I would put it on your list to remove the valves, clean them as directed here http://drainmaster.com/documents/DM26-5%20CleaningMaintProDM.pdf re-grease the gate with Dow 111 and reinstall them.
The key, Tim, is not to have backpressure on the valves, which happens when you first open the valve. The water fights the air in the plumbing, trying to push it down the sewer. Once this happens the water goes to full flow. It’s when the back pressure is there, that water can get into the gate body area. It doesn’t flood it, but one drop at a time and the water is contaminated which eventually causes the sluggish behavior. I have customers that tell me it took 5 years for the valves to sound differently, others a year, so it is difficult to say a specific schedule should be adhered to.
What you are proposing would certainly insure your tanks are clean but I doubt it would do much for the valve. As always we are here to assist, so please feel free to contact us any time. You may also find some interesting information on our blog http://www.drainmaster.com/blog
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