Toilet flush valve stuck

RW Cal · 03-22-2016, 01:34 AM

While de-winterizing my 2015 38RL today I discovered the toilet would not open the valve from the bowl to the black tank. There had been antifreeze in the bowl for a few months and I think it might have attacked the seals. Any ideas as how to unstick this? If the seal is shot, can I replace it?

JerryL · 03-22-2016, 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RW Cal

While de-winterizing my 2015 38RL today I discovered the toilet would not open the valve from the bowl to the black tank. There had been antifreeze in the bowl for a few months and I think it might have attacked the seals. Any ideas as how to unstick this? If the seal is shot, can I replace it?

I've put rv antifreeze in every unit I've owned, while winterizing, with no ill effects. There needs to be something there to keep the seals from drying out, and water isn't an option during the winter.

RW Cal · 03-22-2016, 02:18 AM

Thanks. Does anyone know where I can get a diagram of the toilet innards?

atom ant · 03-22-2016, 02:20 AM

It's a Thetford. Should be able to get it from the website.

r time soon · 03-22-2016, 02:57 AM

Not sure if your toilet is the same as in my 2012 36RL, but here is the manual for mine. It might help.

Chris

Rick and Mindy · 03-22-2016, 03:07 AM

Mine stuck briefly and I used RV antifreeze as well. I try to make sure that there is always some form of liquid in the bowl to prevent the gasket from drying up. Once I was able to open the valve I just kept opening and closing several times and it seems to be fine now.

Tomkidder · 03-22-2016, 03:31 AM

I put a glove on turn off the water, open the valve, and apply Vaseline to the seal once or twice a month depending on use.

JerryL · 03-22-2016, 09:59 AM

You might try some type of Teflon spray around the knife seals to get the valve going smoothly. Not sure.

RW Cal · 03-25-2016, 11:41 PM

I can manually open the waste valve now and have lubed the seal. The foot pedal still doesn't move it, but it looks easy to fix if I can get the foot pedal off. Has anyone ever done that?

atom ant · 03-26-2016, 12:03 AM

Usually they fall off for you

travelin' texans · 03-26-2016, 05:39 AM

Pull firmly straight to the right. There are 2 stubs that have to line up into separate slots, 1 operates the flapper the other operates water valve. I would wager one of those broke off or wore the slot out.

almcc · 03-26-2016, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atom ant

Usually they fall off for you

Absolutely correct!

Ours fell off after 2 years in service and others have water running causing overflows etc. Folks have installed shut off valves and water alarms to "fix" the problem. When our pedal fell off there was a lot of damage to the plastic that the pins for the water valve and sewer valve fit into.

I chucked that toilet for a Dometic which has worked great since.

RW Cal · 03-26-2016, 03:57 PM

Did the Dometic have the same bolt spacing? I have a couple months left on my RW warranty, but it sounds like the Dometic is the way to go.

almcc · 03-26-2016, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RW Cal

Did the Dometic have the same bolt spacing? I have a couple months left on my RW warranty, but it sounds like the Dometic is the way to go.

Yes, it was completely "plug and play", same bolt spacing and same water connection, just unscrewed the water line and screwed it into the Dometic (think the model is a 302). A little tighter at the back but it fit fine.

RW Cal · 03-26-2016, 09:55 PM

Bit the bullet and ordered a Dometic 310 from Amazon. I'd rather have a 320, but I need an inch more behind the toilet to make that fit.
BTW, the foot pedal on the Thetford was ok. It was the part in-between the pedal and the waste valve that was broken.
Thanks to everyone for the help.

**hoosierguy** · 03-26-2016, 11:12 PM

My 2012 36RL (built in 2011) originally came with the Dometic 310 toilet and it has worked well for 4 1/2 years.

rob_fla · 03-27-2016, 03:21 PM

I had problems with the factory installed Thetford Toilet leaking into the Toilet pedestal (plus I just always had constant problems with it) so I installed a Dometic 320, nice toilet, so far it works great.
Easy install, the toilet layout in a FL has plenty of room behind it for extra length for the Dometic 320 to fit.

atom ant · 03-27-2016, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hoosierguy

My 2012 36RL (built in 2011) originally came with the Dometic 310 toilet and it has worked well for 4 1/2 years.

Redwood must have went to war with Dometic in 2013. The 2012 had some Dometic toilets, refrigerators, etc. but then nothing, not one Dometic fixture or appliance installed on the Redwood.

**hoosierguy** · 03-27-2016, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atom ant

Redwood must have went to war with Dometic in 2013. The 2012 had some Dometic toilets, refrigerators, etc. but then nothing, not one Dometic fixture or appliance installed on the Redwood.

Brad, I agree. I don't know what happened between Redwood and Dometic. I also have the Dometic RM1350 refrigerator. It has done quite well overall.......if I have a complaint, it is that the freezer doesn't get cold enough.

Jim & Mary · 03-27-2016, 09:43 PM

Our 2013 Norcold doesn't either. If I set the temp set point so the refer section is the right temp (37-38) the freezer doesn't get cold enough. The ice cubes are slippery wet and ice cream is always mushy. Set it any colder, and the stuff in the refer gets frosty.

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