Update: For those not familiar with my threads, I document as I go which often leads to highlighting mistakes or finding better ways to do something. Be sure and read the entire thread! The mods were completed 23 May 2020. If I discover there are unintended consequences (read: something bad happened) I'll be sure and post an update. -Howard
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Where to begin?
I removed the bathroom gray valve because the valve/cable wouldn't move. Not an inch. I found the cable inside the sleeve severely corroded. I also lubricated the interior of the "knife" assembly in the valve. The seals and knife itself are fine, no damage that I can see. So I went to put everything back together--that's when the fun began.
Before I attempted the reassembly I looked for a replacement. All the online videos on replacing waste valves make it look easy. True if you've got a Valterra with the integrated handle. Not so much with a Bristol with a cable.
After much research I found there are no spare parts available for the Bristol 1 1/2" gray valve on my trailer. I confirmed this after finding a conversation between Cate&Rob and GD (different forum) from early 2018 confirming that none are available. What's even more fun is (as you can see by the GD parts listing below) the valve comes with a "spigot" and "hub" to install over pipe ends. It's then supposed to be glued on. Not. Going. To. Happen. The 96" cable version is also expensive-->$70!
So why can't I glue on a new one? GD installed the gray valve (which is glued on as I just stated) immediately adjacent to the gray tank. On the other side it goes into a 90 degree turn and into another junction. There's no way to cut it out and install a new one (that I can figure out) with a sleeve or any of the ideas Rob has documented.
To make it even more fun, note in the picture above that when the GD installed the valve they glued it onto the PVC pipe at an angle. Instead of pointing to "3 o'clock" it's more like "2". This is making the re-installation a nightmare. I can't line up the seals and pipes with the valve completely assembled, but now that I've got just the "knife" end installed I can't get the housing back on due to interference with the trailer frame. (After lunch I'm going to try and turn the valve 180 degrees.) I've got pics showing how to disassemble the Bristol which I'll hopefully get to later today since without context this paragraph probably doesn't make much sense.
Incredibly frustrating. This could be so much better if designed like what I see in the "RVGeeks" video where the valves are actuated by a simple handle (right on the valve) immediately adjacent to waste pipe, which is right near the exit. It took him all of about 10 minutes to swap out the Valterra valve. It should be relatively easy to do the gray pipes. Not sure about the black. Something like the pic below:
Time for lunch and then "Round 2" trying to get this valve installed. Wish me luck.
Howard
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Where to begin?
I removed the bathroom gray valve because the valve/cable wouldn't move. Not an inch. I found the cable inside the sleeve severely corroded. I also lubricated the interior of the "knife" assembly in the valve. The seals and knife itself are fine, no damage that I can see. So I went to put everything back together--that's when the fun began.
Before I attempted the reassembly I looked for a replacement. All the online videos on replacing waste valves make it look easy. True if you've got a Valterra with the integrated handle. Not so much with a Bristol with a cable.
After much research I found there are no spare parts available for the Bristol 1 1/2" gray valve on my trailer. I confirmed this after finding a conversation between Cate&Rob and GD (different forum) from early 2018 confirming that none are available. What's even more fun is (as you can see by the GD parts listing below) the valve comes with a "spigot" and "hub" to install over pipe ends. It's then supposed to be glued on. Not. Going. To. Happen. The 96" cable version is also expensive-->$70!
So why can't I glue on a new one? GD installed the gray valve (which is glued on as I just stated) immediately adjacent to the gray tank. On the other side it goes into a 90 degree turn and into another junction. There's no way to cut it out and install a new one (that I can figure out) with a sleeve or any of the ideas Rob has documented.
To make it even more fun, note in the picture above that when the GD installed the valve they glued it onto the PVC pipe at an angle. Instead of pointing to "3 o'clock" it's more like "2". This is making the re-installation a nightmare. I can't line up the seals and pipes with the valve completely assembled, but now that I've got just the "knife" end installed I can't get the housing back on due to interference with the trailer frame. (After lunch I'm going to try and turn the valve 180 degrees.) I've got pics showing how to disassemble the Bristol which I'll hopefully get to later today since without context this paragraph probably doesn't make much sense.
Incredibly frustrating. This could be so much better if designed like what I see in the "RVGeeks" video where the valves are actuated by a simple handle (right on the valve) immediately adjacent to waste pipe, which is right near the exit. It took him all of about 10 minutes to swap out the Valterra valve. It should be relatively easy to do the gray pipes. Not sure about the black. Something like the pic below:
Time for lunch and then "Round 2" trying to get this valve installed. Wish me luck.
Howard
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