What is the proper way to reconnect the 3” pipe to the tank outlet? I’ve got it disassembled and cleaned up...now what. I did this a year ago and the leak recently started again, any help would be appreciated.
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Black tank leaking at tank outlet
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Jshantz
The piece missing from your photo is the gate valve flange that is glued inside the tank opening. This is typically glued with a yellow/clear ABS solvent glue. What is the white glue/sealer in your picture . . . and why is it on the outside of the tank opening? I would think that you would have to get this connection back to clean tank wall material and use the right glue for a clean or new gate valve flange. See attached picture.
RobCate & Rob
(with Border Collies Molly & Angel + Kitties Hazel & Elsie)
2015 Reflection 303RLS
2022 F350 Diesel CC SB SRW Lariat
Bayham, Ontario, Canada
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Originally posted by Cate&Rob View PostJshantz
The piece missing from your photo is the gate valve flange that is glued inside the tank opening. This is typically glued with a yellow/clear ABS solvent glue. What is the white glue/sealer in your picture . . . and why is it on the outside of the tank opening? I would think that you would have to get this connection back to clean tank wall material and use the right glue for a clean or new gate valve flange. See attached picture.
Rob
Yes I have cleaned up the tank outlet and the gate valve (see pics below). I think that what I need is the ABS solvent glue. Originally it was some kind of white/yellowish putty in the connection when it was leaking a year ago. I attempted to reattach with some putty last year, but with my poor understanding of how to do this (not a plumber) I tried to replicate how is was originally done. I included a picture of the gate valve flange (glued to the section that goes inside the tank). I’m not good at this, so I really appreciate your help.
Last edited by Jshantz; 07-22-2020, 07:22 PM.Joe & Melissa Shantz
2018 Solitude 310 GK, Sailun S637 Tires 5/14/20, Mor-Ryde IS, pin box and disk brakes 6/16/20
2021 Ram 3500 DRW
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It looks like you did a great job cleaning up those fittings. With the adhesive rob called out, you should be in good shape.
JimJim and Ginnie
2024 Solitude 310GK - 2020 F350 Dually
GDRV Technical Forum Moderator
GDRV Rally Support Coordinator
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Jshantz
Joe?
You have done a superb job at cleaning up the fitting and the tank. They look like new. I would suggest that you contact Grand Design to learn the exact spec on the glue they use or at least the material spec on the tank shell. The gate valve flange is ABS but I am not sure what the tank shell is made of. You want to get the right solvent/glue after all the work that you have gone through already.
Rob
Cate & Rob
(with Border Collies Molly & Angel + Kitties Hazel & Elsie)
2015 Reflection 303RLS
2022 F350 Diesel CC SB SRW Lariat
Bayham, Ontario, Canada
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Originally posted by Cate&Rob View PostJshantz
Joe?
You have done a superb job at cleaning up the fitting and the tank. They look like new. I would suggest that you contact Grand Design to learn the exact spec on the glue they use or at least the material spec on the tank shell. The gate valve flange is ABS but I am not sure what the tank shell is made of. You want to get the right solvent/glue after all the work that you have gone through already.
Rob
I believe It is a rotomolded polyethylene tank. I did call GD and they were not much help. Several things that I read online said that abs and polyethylene really couldn’t be glued together. Originally there was some type of white sealant in between the tank outlet and the abs connection with a band clamp around the tank outlet. I want to keep from redoing this fix and do it right, the help from you and this tech forum is invaluable.Joe & Melissa Shantz
2018 Solitude 310 GK, Sailun S637 Tires 5/14/20, Mor-Ryde IS, pin box and disk brakes 6/16/20
2021 Ram 3500 DRW
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Jshantz
Hi Joe,
There is plumbing fitting glue designed to combine drain fittings made from different plastics. Without better information, I would go with this glue (see attached) which should be available from Home Depot or similar.
The most difficult part of getting this back together is going to be alignment. With the fitting cement, you typically get one quick assembly motion and this has to end up with the gate valve flange exactly aligned with the similar flange on the pipe. I think that I would assemble the gate valve first and then press the flange into the tank opening in one motion.
You are correct that the white sealant and the band clamp are not something that would have come from the factory. This looks like an attempted repair.
Rob
Cate & Rob
(with Border Collies Molly & Angel + Kitties Hazel & Elsie)
2015 Reflection 303RLS
2022 F350 Diesel CC SB SRW Lariat
Bayham, Ontario, Canada
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Originally posted by Jshantz View PostCate&Rob
I believe It is a rotomolded polyethylene tank. I did call GD and they were not much help. Several things that I read online said that abs and polyethylene really couldn’t be glued together. Originally there was some type of white sealant in between the tank outlet and the abs connection with a band clamp around the tank outlet. I want to keep from redoing this fix and do it right, the help from you and this tech forum is invaluable.Forum moderators are not GD employees--we are volunteers and owners presumably just like yourself. Unless specifically mentioned otherwise, we have nothing to gain should you choose to purchase a product or engage a service we discuss on this forum.
Neil Citro
2018 Reflection 28BH Pepwave
2019 F350 6.7L Long Bed Crew Cab
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I have to agree with Neil that the black and grey tanks, if not all , are ABS. With that said after browsing some pics I took at the factory while on a tour. The band clam is being used, or has been at least. The sticky stuff that you have cleaned out of the connection may be like plumbers putty or something similar that would not glue the connection together permanently. After reviewing my pics I would strongly suggest a call to GD and see what they have to say.
Another option would be to use a rubber Fernco fitting. This is a flexible rubber hose with 2 hose clamps , one on each end. They come in inch sizes but not 1/2" , that I have seen. This would be a viable alternative to gluing.
BrianBrian & Michelle
2018 Reflection 29RS
2022 Chevy 3500HD
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Originally posted by Jshantz View PostCate&Rob
I believe It is a rotomolded polyethylene tank. I did call GD and they were not much help. Several things that I read online said that abs and polyethylene really couldn’t be glued together. Originally there was some type of white sealant in between the tank outlet and the abs connection with a band clamp around the tank outlet. I want to keep from redoing this fix and do it right, the help from you and this tech forum is invaluable.
In contrast, the way the water tank is joined with the dump valve is ideal and (IMO) should be the standard for all dump valve connections. The water tank has a threaded "nut" embedded in the tank. An adapter glued to the dump valve then screws into the tank.
Super easy to replace a failing dump valve on the water tank. Not so much on my gray tanks as the dump valve flanges are glued to the tank.Forum moderators are not GD employees--we are volunteers and owners presumably just like yourself. Unless specifically mentioned otherwise, we have nothing to gain should you choose to purchase a product or engage a service we discuss on this forum.
2017 Ford F-350 DRW, '19 315RLTSPlus
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Jshantz howson
Howard makes a good point that there is definitely value to making this connection "non-permanent". This would also eliminate the single-try-to-get-the-alignment-right insertion of the fitting with glue. The ideal assembly would be to glue a threaded insert into the tank and a matching threaded fitting to the gate valve . . . but, I don't think there is room for this.
I would be inclined to try a dry fit of the parts and see if the band clamp can actually tighten the tank material to the ABS fitting. If so, I would give serious consideration to silicone between the parts and the band clamp.
RobCate & Rob
(with Border Collies Molly & Angel + Kitties Hazel & Elsie)
2015 Reflection 303RLS
2022 F350 Diesel CC SB SRW Lariat
Bayham, Ontario, Canada
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Originally posted by Cate&Rob View PostJshantz howson
Howard makes a good point that there is definitely value to making this connection "non-permanent". This would also eliminate the single-try-to-get-the-alignment-right insertion of the fitting with glue. The ideal assembly would be to glue a threaded insert into the tank and a matching threaded fitting to the gate valve . . . but, I don't think there is room for this.
I would be inclined to try a dry fit of the parts and see if the band clamp can actually tighten the tank material to the ABS fitting. If so, I would give serious consideration to silicone between the parts and the band clamp.
Rob
i like the idea of a threaded fitting on the tank, but you are right as there is not enough room without making a lot of changes. I did talk to a rv tech that has done some work on my rig in the past and he suggested butyl putty and then something like flex-seal tape over the tank outlet and abs pipe to form an additional seal and to help hold the two parts together to keep them from sliding apart as the rig is bouncing down the road. I don’t know if that will work, but I’m going to give it a shot as it is removable and can try something else if it doesn’t work.
From the GD plant all of my tanks had some type of “putty” and band clamps on them. I’m including a picture of the connection with butyl putty installed between the tank outlet and the gate valve. So far with approx. 40 gallons of water in the tank over 12 hour it has not shown any signs of leaking. I also tested the gray tanks as well, so far so good. If it fails, I’ll go to plan B (whatever that is)?
Joe & Melissa Shantz
2018 Solitude 310 GK, Sailun S637 Tires 5/14/20, Mor-Ryde IS, pin box and disk brakes 6/16/20
2021 Ram 3500 DRW
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Jshantz
Sounds like a good plan!
BTW, I am glad that you have joined our owners forum. You not only bring questions . . . but, solutions too .
RobCate & Rob
(with Border Collies Molly & Angel + Kitties Hazel & Elsie)
2015 Reflection 303RLS
2022 F350 Diesel CC SB SRW Lariat
Bayham, Ontario, Canada
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