Resolved Servo moves the dump valve but no drainage happens.

[Av8r]

This one has me stumped. I attempted to dump my black tank. The switch lights up, I can hear a servo running, but no dumping happens. So, I tried the gray tank. Same exact thing... switch lights up, servo noises, no dump.

The manufacturer of the switches is Valterra. There is a reset "button" below each dump switch,which I pushed, but have very little confidence that anything happened.(And, since I hear the servos, I assume that my problem is not electrical.)

So I removed the access panel in the wet bay that allows you to see behind the stainless steel back wall of the bay. Now, I can see the servo physically moving the black tank's blade valve, , but still no dumping is happening. (The gray valve is buried somewhere far away, so I can't visually verify that the gray valve is being moved by the servo.

Any ideas? (2021 Newmar SuperStar)

 

[Neal]

As easy as that appears to be opening and closing my guess is it's disconnected from the actual gate valve itself. Is there an override in this system anywhere to manually open/close the gate?

 

[Bigblockyeti]

It does appear to be under little or no load while moving.

 

[Av8r]

I agree that the movement seems very smooth.
But this would seem to imply that the hidden end of the rod has separated from the actual blade.

Since the other valve is acting exactly the same, it seems unlikely that two valves would fail in the same (unlikely) manner at the same moment.

Im trying to come up with a logical way for this to be either a venting problem, or a clog in the common area downstream of both shutoff valves.
But in either case, it seems like SOME liquid would drain, and I’m getting precisely zero drainage.

I’ve been living a charmed life with this coach since the initial new coach issues, so maybe it’s time to call in a mobile pro for the first time!

 

[Neal]

I watched your video so many times, it's really hard to say. It almost looked like a metal gate valve vs the typical plastic. All the servo is doing is pulling and pushing the handle. If you can access it you could remove the servo part and try it by hand to feel what's going on.

I can't quite figure out the arrangement from your video. Can you take a pic of your wet bay and show where these gate valves are located? Typically they are not far from the wye valve which is what you connect a 3 inch sewer hose to.

Edit: I see from your attached picture the location of your gate valve. Just very odd placement I guess but not familiar with the Superstar and it's plumbing.

 

[Av8r]

Yeah, the SuperStar’s plumbing schematic is not likely to become a major selling point for Newmar anytime soon

Here’s a view from a little further out. Between the black tank shutoff and the hose connection are only a couple of elbows.

I disconnected the servo and manually operated the valve a few times, slamming it closed as hard as I dared, just in case the valve itself is gunked up. No joy.

It’s Sunday today , so I’ll likely call a mobile tech tomorrow to help figure it out…on a brighter note, the Verde Ranch RV Resort in Camp Verde, AZ is as good a place as any to wait it out!

 

[Neal]

I'm guessing you're out of warranty?

I'd call Newmar first thing or email your Superstar specific group. For example I use [email protected] and typically get timely responses.

My guess is the rod has separated from the gate, you definitely don't want to be slamming that plastic stuff around. As such you're probably going to have the joy of replacing the gate valve, quite frankly it's not that hard, I've done a lot of work with mods in my wet bay. It's four bolts, but you'll need to get a new one on the way, Newmar Parts can help with that but you can also find them on Amazon, eTrailer, and other sites.

If I verified the rod separated from the blade then we need to get the rod out. But I'd try screwing that rod clockwise and see if it can bit into threads somewhere on the blade assembly it seems to have separated from. If you screw it counterclockwise can you remove the rod from the blade assembly? I long screw may be something to try as you're trying to attach to the blade to get it to pull and open. It's a very simple design.

I found a video that may give you some ideas. And it's one of the most disgusting wet bays I've ever seen so don't watch during dinner!

 

[Neal]

Let's not avoid the obvious, can you confirm there is "stuff" in that tank you're trying to empty? Is it black or gray? Was it left open by accident and therefore may in fact just be empty? Close the gate, flush toilets or run a sink, then come back and test again.

 

[Av8r]

Thanks! I’ll hopefully post a resolution in a day or so..

 

[Av8r]

Let's not avoid the obvious, can you confirm there is "stuff" in that tank you're trying to empty? Is it black or gray? Was it left open by accident and therefore may in fact just be empty? Close the gate, flush toilets or run a sink, then come back and test again.

Yeah, they’re full. It’s both tanks failing at the same time, although the pics/video have been exclusively the black valve because I haven’t located the gray yet. (That Newmar plumbing scheme again).

 

[DennisT]

Following since we have a 22 Superstar and have had the same “charmed life” experience so far.

 

[Av8r]

Ok, confession time

The good news: the problem is resolved.

The better news: I must obviously be truly a genius, because I correctly diagnosed that the problem might be a blockage downstream of both shutoff valves.

Could we possibly just stop right there? I didn’t think so..

Said blockage turned out to be the slinky cap which was still neatly tucked into the end of the hose nearest the coach , thus preventing anything from exiting. Nice to know, I guess, that the darned thing is so extremely watertight!

Now, can anyone offer a solution to my wife’s uncontrollable laughter? I’m afraid she’s going to pass out!

 

[Neal]

Hmm, I'm not sure how you can connect hoses with any cap in place. And in your picture you show the cap hanging from the hose. Can you clarify maybe where this is in your picture?

Regardless, I'm glad you got it resolved.

 

[DennisT]

Appreciate the chuckle today!

Not at you but brought back some memories of similar things I’ve done in the past.

Glad to know I don’t need to watch for that one on our Superstar

Also glad my caps go on the outside of the hose and not inside or I’d probably do the same thing at least once.

 

[Av8r]

Sorry for the confusion!
The cap I left in place is not the one in the previous picture. That one is part of the coach.It’s this one:

Two of these are included when you buy a new slinky. They are intended to be placed at each end of the slinky to prevent leakage into the storage compartment when they are not in use. They fit down into the inside of the hose on this brand… not over the end.

How was I supposed to know that you have to remove them from the ends of the hose before you hook up?

There oughtta be a label!