Post by Ten on Jul 9, 2015 14:21:25 GMT -8
Subject: 1970 Shasta 16SC
Problem: Concealed leak between the toilet and the tank.
I've been working on a lot of aspects of the camper all together, and approached the point where it is time to reinstall the water heater, which really crowds the corner where all the utilities seem to come together. The problem with the holding tank has been concealed between the tank itself and the shower floor in the wet bath. All the other plumbing seems to work so far, but when I test-filled the tank following a leak repair, water ran out from above the tank and down the sides on all sides. It is an impossible spot to get into. Even the camera could not fit into the space to show the problem.
I know that a lot of these old black tanks were disposed of from these models, as well as many others too, and with good reason. Most people would not bother to fix this stuff, only remove it and work around it. The easiest possible solution is the use of a porta-potty in the place of the toilet. With a little simple scheming and measuring I built a platform for the porta potty to sit on. Made of 3/4 plywood, and then painted with acrylic paint for waterproofing, first a piece to protect the flange:
Then a piece to cover the platform:
Just as simple as that, problem solved.
Well ... almost.
There is still that "52% purist" living in me to contend with....
Well, here goes.
A couple weeks back, I tried removing the tank to see what was broken. It appears the tank is wedge-shaped, and it is wedged from the top...makes sense I suppose. It seems that it was installed and then the floor and the rest of the bathroom built over it. It is wedged on its forward end by what amounts to a 2" x 3" square piece of plywood, and that thickness keeps the tank from moving far enough forward to clear the bracket at the rear. The outlet plumbing is enough to prevent any movement and can't be removed from the tank without cutting it out.
After a little wrestling and cursing, the tank finally let go and the mysteries revealed.
Top of the tank, obviously "roughed out" or broken...
What was left of the "entrance" beneath the floor:
It was impossible to pull the flange and tube up through the floor.
Then the real surprises... after the flange was screwed back down for stability, the "tube" unscrewed from the flange, and also from the "tank inlet"...
The tank was built with a threaded fitting installed. The tube is actually a 3" pipe nipple of ABS plastic. Also, you can still see the putty which was used in the flange installation in the floor. The fitting has broken completely out from the top of the tank.
I'm really happy that the tank was as clean as it was. It appears it was quite possible that it was not used, though the first "flushes" I did with it brought out some paper and nut shells... most likely entered the tank through the break, from the mouse (GAWDIHATEMICE!!) leavings under the floor...
Now to figure out how to fix that inlet in the ABS tank....
Problem: Concealed leak between the toilet and the tank.
I've been working on a lot of aspects of the camper all together, and approached the point where it is time to reinstall the water heater, which really crowds the corner where all the utilities seem to come together. The problem with the holding tank has been concealed between the tank itself and the shower floor in the wet bath. All the other plumbing seems to work so far, but when I test-filled the tank following a leak repair, water ran out from above the tank and down the sides on all sides. It is an impossible spot to get into. Even the camera could not fit into the space to show the problem.
I know that a lot of these old black tanks were disposed of from these models, as well as many others too, and with good reason. Most people would not bother to fix this stuff, only remove it and work around it. The easiest possible solution is the use of a porta-potty in the place of the toilet. With a little simple scheming and measuring I built a platform for the porta potty to sit on. Made of 3/4 plywood, and then painted with acrylic paint for waterproofing, first a piece to protect the flange:
Then a piece to cover the platform:
Just as simple as that, problem solved.
Well ... almost.
There is still that "52% purist" living in me to contend with....
Well, here goes.
A couple weeks back, I tried removing the tank to see what was broken. It appears the tank is wedge-shaped, and it is wedged from the top...makes sense I suppose. It seems that it was installed and then the floor and the rest of the bathroom built over it. It is wedged on its forward end by what amounts to a 2" x 3" square piece of plywood, and that thickness keeps the tank from moving far enough forward to clear the bracket at the rear. The outlet plumbing is enough to prevent any movement and can't be removed from the tank without cutting it out.
After a little wrestling and cursing, the tank finally let go and the mysteries revealed.
Top of the tank, obviously "roughed out" or broken...
What was left of the "entrance" beneath the floor:
It was impossible to pull the flange and tube up through the floor.
Then the real surprises... after the flange was screwed back down for stability, the "tube" unscrewed from the flange, and also from the "tank inlet"...
The tank was built with a threaded fitting installed. The tube is actually a 3" pipe nipple of ABS plastic. Also, you can still see the putty which was used in the flange installation in the floor. The fitting has broken completely out from the top of the tank.
I'm really happy that the tank was as clean as it was. It appears it was quite possible that it was not used, though the first "flushes" I did with it brought out some paper and nut shells... most likely entered the tank through the break, from the mouse (GAWDIHATEMICE!!) leavings under the floor...
Now to figure out how to fix that inlet in the ABS tank....
That is another reason I like to tow them on their own wheels when ever possible.