Improving Grey waste pipe emptying

[Robmac]

This is the setup on my swift
View attachment 143610

Very similar to my fishpond filtration tank drain.

Very easy and cheap to make up a setup like that, if you wrote the words "For Motorhomes/Campers" on the parts you could probably treble the price.

 

[barryd]

Think I would extend the existing metal hanger so valve in level with bottom of tank and clamp valve to hanger, similar mine.
If the valve is the same height as the tank it's unlikely to get hit and if it does so will your waste tank. It's never never a problem on mine other than I wish it was 4" longer so I could reach it easier from the side
. What's the point of having it detachable on a flexy pipe?

I think the problem is the flexible pipe which extends a fair bit is too long even with it compressed down to the minimum. If I lower it I think there will be too much excess, it will stick out even further and the end with the valve on will flop down too low and will get bashed. I'm going to go just now and see what I can do with a Bungee.

 

[Robmac]

I think the problem is the flexible pipe which extends a fair bit is too long even with it compressed down to the minimum. If I lower it I think there will be too much excess, it will stick out even further and the end with the valve on will flop down too low and will get bashed. I'm going to go just now and see what I can do with a Bungee.

Pffft! how the hell is that supposed to affect the future of mankind - what kind of evil genius are you?

 

[barryd]

Fcuk this for a game of soldiers! I've given up. Well not quite. One good thing thats come out of this is the long metal bracket that comes down to house the clip was loose. Four screws into the bottom of the van all loose. Another victim of Arrans bloody rattling roads I bet combined with my new ludicrously expensive rock hard camping tyres. So I have tightened them at least. In the end I have just tied the hooky bit of cord that hooks onto the attached chain to the chain so with a bit of luck I can unhook it all with one hand and drop the bleeding pipe to the floor do to do its thing or hang it down low enough so it drains.

It might well be ok without being chained into the clip but Im not chancing it. So ill have a summer of crawling about French service points to look forward to.

 

[Nabsim]

90 degree bend where it comes off the tank then run pipe to the rear of the van securing it to the chassis rail.

 

[barryd]

90 degree bend where it comes off the tank then run pipe to the rear of the van securing it to the chassis rail.

Yeah I think so. It will have to wait now though. Another failure today. I think I need a drink.

 

[Chasn]

Fit one off these on the drain pipe wired up 'Press to Dump'

Amazon.co.uk

I bought one of these but not fitted it as the solenoid valve has a very small aperture and windy route for waste to flow when open. Even if you avoid food waste going into the grey tank it wouldn't take very long for it to start blocking up. I think a 3/4" motorised ball valve might do a better job.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

The grey waste pipe on my van is a right PIA. On the old van it was kind of hanging down on a chain below the height of the tank but on this one as you can see from the pictures its got a curve and where its clipped into a rather naff jubilee type clip thing and then held in place with a chain you have to wrap around it and its higher than the outlet on the tank so it never just drains without getting down on your (very dodgy) knees unravelling it all and dumping it on the floor before opening the tap.

They are not very good photos as the van is on the drive so I cant get to it but you get the idea.

I could do what the old van had and just leave it swinging low on a chain or bungee but I think on this one it will be too low and will get clattered by something.

I know some vans have a switch inside to just dump the lot but I am guessing thats a big modification.

Any thoughts on making it easier or maybe just a better clip that does not involve the chain to keep it in place?

View attachment 143345View attachment 143346

I just leave mine wot Merlin made dangling.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Oh c'mon Barry.....think Cava cork mate surely

Tell im he needs to use his inner cyclist Merlin.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Mine has broken off the tank twice while we've had it, more crappy Swuft design, the thing Merlin and moi have cobbled together looks crap as we used what we had, but it'll never break off again, and causes much mirth when I look in the NS mirror.

 

[Robmac]

Mine has broken off the tank twice while we've had it, more crappy Swuft design, the thing Merlin and moi have cobbled together looks crap as we used what we had, but it'll never break off again, and causes much mirth when I look in the NS mirror.

I bet it causes you much mirth when you look in any mirror Kev!

(no offence)

 

[yeoblade]

I bought one of these but not fitted it as the solenoid valve has a very small aperture and windy route for waste to flow when open. Even if you avoid food waste going into the grey tank it wouldn't take very long for it to start blocking up. I think a 3/4" motorised ball valve might do a better job.

I was looking for a full bore 12v actuated valve but couldn't find one, if you do let us know

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I bet it causes you much mirth when you look in any mirror Kev!

(no offence)

Intensively

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I was looking for a full bore 12v actuated valve but couldn't find one, if you do let us know

I looked at getting one, but the messing about to fit one and then get the wiring and switch position sorted was more trouble than it was worth tbh, and that was 12 years ago.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

We used a length of 28mm convoluted pipe, onto a ball valve, we wanted to suspend it with bowden cable to allow fore and aft as well as up and down movement,but we didn't have any so Merlin sacrificed a cycle inner tube at the end and in the center, and it's been working well.

 

[barryd]

We used a length of 28mm convoluted pipe, onto a ball valve, we wanted to suspend it with bowden cable to allow fore and aft as well as up and down movement,but we didn't have any so Merlin sacrificed a cycle inner tube at the end and in the center, and it's been working well.

Oh here he is! Motorhomo Kev! WTF does any of that mean? Do I need to plan another cider visit to Merls?

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Tw@, as said temporary unless I don't get around to a proper fix.


The shrader valve is there to add stiffness for bumpy roads, I inflate it from the cabs air suspension controls as and when.

 

[barryd]

Tw@, as said temporary unless I don't get around to a proper fix.


The shrader valve is there to add stiffness for bumpy roads, I inflate it from the cabs air suspension controls as and when.

View attachment 143682

Yours looks even closer to the ground than mine. Might be the camera angle. How would I know what a "Shrader" valve is? Is it that big red leaver? Looks like its all held on with one of your old ties.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I can't teach you much can I?

 

[barryd]

I can't teach you much can I?

No. I know everything. Well apart from what a Shitear valve is.