Black and Gray drain cable handles

[sailski]

Oops 50 years of experience I would bet it is. However, in todays global market it is likely the manufacturer is on the other side of the world where the measuring system is metric. You may need to make some field adjustments to make it work.

[HomeOnWheels]

Originally Posted by sailski

Oops 50 years of experience I would bet it is. However, in todays global market it is likely the manufacturer is on the other side of the world where the measuring system is metric. You may need to make some field adjustments to make it work.

Thank you so much. With Amazon prime and a good return policy, I'm willing to try 5/8" and see what happens.
Happy holidays!

[HomeOnWheels]

5/8" worked w/o any adaptors

[FordHauler]

I have been able to lubricate my cables by disassembling them from wall in the water bay at the handle, holding them in the air, squirting Teflon spray lube into them and then using my air compressor to force the lubricant further along the cable.
Travel safe

[andymil]

Search “cable lube tool” on Amazon. These work well on motorcycle cables. Not sure how well they’ll work on cables without a plastic outer jacket.

[davec2]

Same thing just happened to me. I have a 2017 mbs 2400w. Left Georgia with empty black and grey tanks yesterday. Overnighted in VA and woke up to 9 degrees and an open valve door . Both handles are frozen. I am hoping that this hasn’t damaged the valves and they will be ok when thawed.

These cables have always been stiff and hard to close. I am also looking for a way to lube the cables. Will that make these valves work more smoothly? Suggestions?

[davec2]

Define “never been the same”. This has to be caused by residual water at the valve freezing and pushing it open. Seems like this will cause permanent damage. Hope not. I am kicking myself for not putting antifreeze in each tank. Seems like this would prevent the push out from happening. Can anyone speak from experience.

[davec2]

So all was ok after thaw?

[bob5560g]

To davec2,

Both my cables were stiff and hard to pull when my 2015 MBS 2400W was new. Plus, the colors were backwards. Within a few months, something broke on the black tank cable (probably the other end of the cable popped out?) Anyway, my local Forest River dealer agreed they were too stiff and replaced both valves under warranty.

[FFred]

When it warms up enough to spend some time under the coach I will figure out the size for marine outboard shift cables.

These should operate the valves with fingertip pressure and are very modestly priced.

Will post results after conversion.

[rkreusel]

Have a 2016 MBS 2400W and the grey handle was sticking out too far so that the cover would close but not easily. I undid the nut and readjusted so I could close the cover ok. This Fall when winterizing I pushed the grey handle in and pop .... got no resistance and could not close valve. I looked underneath and found that the cable sheath had broken in half and separated by an inch or so. Apparently when I re-adjusted the grey cable handle I altered the path of the cable and it must have gotten too close to the generator exhaust. I was able to pull it together enough and hold it so that I could get the grey water valve closed (and hold in my antifreeze). But now I will have to get it repaired prior to Spring de-winterization and a new RV season. This is just another of many very poor quality control issues that I have had with my Forest River RV. The cables should have been adjusted properly and quality control tested before this unit left the factory. Very disappointed with FR. We have made many fixes and have enjoyed our 2400W, but my confidence level is not great. I want to RV without worrying about what's going to go wrong next. After only two years with this unit we are considering going to another brand that has better quality control ..... and there are a few out there.

My two cents!

[ddhansen]

I had the same problem with black/gray tank handles. I took RV to my dealership and the shortened the gray tank (black tank handle was OK) cable and now it is fixed. Glad it was under warranty.

[ValleyRoad50]

Originally Posted by bob5560g

I HAD MINE FIXED TODAY! 2015 Forester MBS. The tech who did it was off, but another tech said that the far end of the cable goes into a hole and is held in place with a set screw. So they pulled the cable out of it's termination hole at the valve, cut a little off to shorten the cable a little, then re-inserted and tightened the screw to secure it once again. Makes sense to me!

My husband did the same on our 2016 2401W 2 years ago. It's still a little tight so he may go in and trim it a little more.

[chengdave2003]

Mine did the same thing. I permanently fixed it by removing both handles, and drilled and tapped the holes deeper. Then I used a flap disc on a right angle grinder to shorten the shaft by about 1/2". Cleaned up the end and reinstalled handles. Door closes and stays closed now. I'm sorry, but I don't remember the thread pitch, but the shaft is aluminum and drills and taps easily.

[sailski]

Originally Posted by chengdave2003

Mine did the same thing. I permanently fixed it by removing both handles, and drilled and tapped the holes deeper. Then I used a flap disc on a right angle grinder to shorten the shaft by about 1/2". Cleaned up the end and reinstalled handles. Door closes and stays closed now. I'm sorry, but I don't remember the thread pitch, but the shaft is aluminum and drills and taps easily.

I did the same thing with mine before I read about the adjustment at the valve end of the cable. Seems like adjusting the cable is a lot impler than cutting drilling and taping the handle end. That's the beauty of this forum learning from others. By the way the tap size is 8-32. I know because I broke one of the self tapping screws when I did mine.

[davec2]

I was under the coach looking at the cable termination at the valve. I saw no way to adjust the length of the cable. What is the make of these valves? I would like to look them up on line to see where the setscrew is. They don’t look like Valterra.

[Noah4448]

Originally Posted by gmccullers

My grey water drain handle pushes out and pops the cover door open in cold weather. Temps below freezing. Can not keep door closed when this happens because handle sticks out and prevents closure of door. Anyone else have this problem and did you find resolution?

Took to dealer before 30 days. They say they have ordered repair part. We will see?

[Polariste]

I had the same problem this winter the handles were pushing against the door and pop it open. I took the RV to the dealer and they replace the lock at no charge.