Holding Tank leak

292BHDSCoachmanMN · 06-24-2016, 08:53 AM

I have a leaky black water tank at the connection point to the drain pipe. The MFG seals these up with puddy/silicone and a hose clamp. the clamp was removed in the picture. Has anyone successfully repaired these? It's on a FR Coachmen. it's the black tank. the grey tank is setup the same way. The tanks are not even mounted to the frame. they can shift and move around. Seems like a bad design to me.

SeaDog · 06-24-2016, 08:56 AM

Your pic did not come thru

292BHDSCoachmanMN · 06-24-2016, 09:43 AM

2 pictures attached.

SeaDog · 06-24-2016, 10:15 AM

I have not attempted this repair I'm sure you have a good idea of what you need to do. Looking at your pics I think I would remove the valve and pipe at the tank clean both mating areas super clean and then reinsert the pipe as far as it will go and double clamp with wide clamps and silicone the joint just my thoughts I'm sure other will share their thoughts.

292BHDSCoachmanMN · 06-24-2016, 10:19 AM

That's about what I was thinking. However, I just don't think it's going to hold up over time. the tank shifts around and the hard plastic tank will not compress enough since it's so ridgid.

5picker · 06-24-2016, 10:21 AM

You can remove the dump port and try to reseal as advised.
I would also think about adding a FERNCO type connector to the joint.

SeaDog · 06-24-2016, 10:22 AM

Maybe you could fasten some sort of brackets to hold the tanks in position and stop the movement.

northstar1960 · 06-24-2016, 10:28 AM

easy fix . go ahead and pull it out , clean up the mating surfaces good , get some abs cement . coat both surfaces real good put together and reclamp and you should be good to go

Mr Havercamp · 06-24-2016, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by northstar1960

easy fix . go ahead and pull it out , clean up the mating surfaces good , get some abs cement . coat both surfaces real good put together and reclamp and you should be good to go

It won't work. The piping is ABS, the tank is MDPE. They use a gray sealant that does not dry in that joint and then clamp it. I believe its some type of a butyl product. I'd call Coachmen and ask what they use. The tank is most likely made by Alpha Systems but you'll get no help there. Their customer support does not exist.

5 picker has the right idea although I doubt you can get a Fernco fitting that will fit the outside diameter of the 3" coupler, and the outer dimension of the outlet of the tank, which is a bastard size.

As far as securing the tank, on the Roo's Rockwood jams a couple pieces of bead foam in between the tank and floor and boogers it all up with caulk. Its a highly technical way of doing things and very cheap and fast. I guess Coachmen does nothing? Maybe you could try the Rockwood method.

SuicideSaints · 06-24-2016, 11:05 AM

Just have to ask, what year is it, any warranty left? I would go that route first but if not available I would try to get the fernco fitting and do whatever I could to make it work, it that doesnt work (due to size and fit) then take it all out clean it real good and do it the same way the factory has it with the putty and try and keep up on "routine care" to try to extend the life.

northstar1960 · 06-24-2016, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Havercamp

It won't work. The piping is ABS, the tank is MDPE. They use a gray sealant that does not dry in that joint and then clamp it. I believe its some type of a butyl product. I'd call Coachmen and ask what they use. The tank is most likely made by Alpha Systems but you'll get no help there. Their customer support does not exist.

5 picker has the right idea although I doubt you can get a Fernco fitting that will fit the outside diameter of the 3" coupler, and the outer dimension of the outlet of the tank, which is a bastard size.

As far as securing the tank, on the Roo's Rockwood jams a couple pieces of bead foam in between the tank and floor and boogers it all up with caulk. Its a highly technical way of doing things and very cheap and fast. I guess Coachmen does nothing? Maybe you could try the Rockwood method.

Yesthe materials are different but the abs cement will work and then clamped . it not really under pressure and it will seal with the use of abs cement and a clamp . if that's not the way one would want to go then just a good silicone will also do the trick , no sense turning a mole hill into a mountain this is not rocket science

292BHDSCoachmanMN · 06-24-2016, 02:15 PM

it's a 2016 and it's just out of warranty. I have a service contract/warranty with Easy Care. Just found out the tank is leaking from the top also. How hard is it to drop the tank and find a replacement tank/parts? How quickly can a tank be delivered? Trying to camp!

SuicideSaints · 06-24-2016, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 292BHDSCoachmanMN

it's a 2016 and it's just out of warranty. I have a service contract/warranty with Easy Care. Just found out the tank is leaking from the top also. How hard is it to drop the tank and find a replacement tank/parts? How quickly can a tank be delivered? Trying to camp!

If it is a 2016 I would think it is still in warranty, how long is the warranty period? I thought it was a standard year with some having an additional year.

northstar1960 · 06-24-2016, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuicideSaints

If it is a 2016 I would think it is still in warranty, how long is the warranty period? I thought it was a standard year with some having an additional year.

a 2016 unit can be up 2 yrs old now . the manufactures love to have post dated units . you can and have been able to get 2017 units for several months now if not longer

292BHDSCoachmanMN · 06-28-2016, 07:18 AM

it is just out of warranty. Is it best to get the replacement tank from the MFG or from another source? What is on top of the tank that connects to the toilet and vent pipe?

ADVtraveller · 06-29-2016, 11:04 AM

Aren't most of the black tanks hard plumbed to the toilet? So if your black tank is moving around wouldn't that also give you a loose toilet? Just wondering...

I did notice on my 2714 FR Stealth that the fresh water tank could move around a bit. But it is mounted btwn two strips of angle iron welded to the frame. I simply took some large rubber cubes and screwed them into the angle iron at each end of the tank, allowing for 1/2" expansion. The rubber cubes are from a spare tire carrier I had from my project Jeep. They are about 2" x 2" x 3". I suppose wood chunks would suffice in my case, but I had the rubber parts so I used them. It stopped the movement which really wasn't damaging anything except maybe wearing grooves into the tank edges.

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