Replacing toilet flush valve !?!?!? - Page 2

Jrn56 · 05-05-2014, 06:59 PM

Thanks for the pic Tim. Did you bring your trailer in to get it fixed? Since our leak started on our trip home last fall, I would think ETI would reimburse me. I am still waiting for a call back.

techfan · 05-05-2014, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jrn56

Thanks for the pic Tim. Did you bring your trailer in to get it fixed? Since our leak started on our trip home last fall, I would think ETI would reimburse me. I am still waiting for a call back.

I hauled it up to ETI because I hadn't yet figured out how to fix it. Valve should be covered by Thetford. I think ETI could send you the parts you need for the mod.

FMLNM · 07-07-2014, 08:12 PM

Well, we finally fixed our toilet. There had been a leak of unknown origin the first time we turned on water this Spring. We suspect the flush valve had a small amount of water in it over the winter which froze and caused a crack somewhere. Luckily, we had already installed a toilet water shutoff valve (having learned from experience on a previous Scamp!) so we could continue to use the trailer and toilet by flushing from a jug of water.
Our dilemma was that there was no room behind the toilet to reach the connector to the flush valve and remove the toilet for the repairs. The extremely "close to the wall" installation of the toilet is well documented on this forum and a major headache when repairs are needed!

After lots of head scratching, our solution boiled down to the following:
1) Cut through the gobs of silicone on the bathroom wall where the pex water supply line comes into the bathroom.
2) Unscrew the bolts holding the toilet onto the floor.
3) Cut the pex water supply line inside the drivers side hatch very close to the elbow using a pex cutter for a clean straight cut.
4) Lift and twist the toilet off the base, pulling the pex supply line remnant through the wall.
5) Replace the flush valve and flange.
6) Inside the hatch, cut off the open ended elbow left after the first cut and replace it with a Sharkbite push fit elbow. (This was originally the same kind of elbow you see in the foreground of the photo.)
7) Put the toilet back in place, threading the pex supply line remnant back into the hatch and connect the pex to the other end of the Sharkbite elbow.
Voila!
The beauty of this fix is that the Sharkbite elbow can be easily removed with their little disconnect tool in case the valve needs to be replaced again or the toilet needs to be removed for whatever reason.
We will probably not re-silicone the hole in the wall where the pex supply line comes in...maybe we'll stuff it with some non water absorbing material and put duct tape over it to prevent water getting into the wall. We rarely use the shower so this is not a priority.

SharkBite 1/2 in. Brass 90-Degree Push-Fit Elbow
SharkBite 1/2 in. Brass 90-Degree Push-Fit Elbow-U248LFA at The Home Depot

SharkBite 1/2 in. Disconnect Clip
SharkBite 1/2 in. Disconnect Clip-U710A at The Home Depot

FMLNM · 07-07-2014, 08:14 PM

We know that ETI has since changed the pex in the toilet supply line inside the trailer to a flexible pex but for everyone who has the existing solid pex, this could be a solution.

MyronL · 07-07-2014, 08:25 PM

Nice work! Hope I never have to do it.

holo · 09-22-2015, 06:49 PM

In the middle of a great trip to Yellowstone our toilet valve started spraying the back bathroom wall. Since we don't (yet) have a shut off valve we couldn't use the pump or connect to city water. Not critical to a good trip but it did get old.
So before I remove the toilet and replace the valve is there anything I should know before I dive in? I'm assuming it's like a household toilet except there is a flange instead of a wax ring. I can get to the supply line nut with my small hands but getting an exact fit during the replacement may be a pain. Why didn't they use flexible supply lines?
Thanks to Tim and Jon for the pics of shut off valve and flexible supply lines!

Eric

FMLNM · 09-22-2015, 07:26 PM

Unless you can get your hand back there to reconnect you might want to consider cutting off the supply line on the other side of the bathroom wall and removing the toilet with the supply line still connected. Then use the place where you cut the supply line as the location for your shutoff valve....see earlier posts....

Greg A · 09-22-2015, 08:16 PM

Eric,
On my 2005 17 B I was able to replace my flush valve without having to remove the toilet. Took less than 30 minutes and was pretty easy if you study the removal instructions closely first.

holo · 09-22-2015, 09:38 PM

Thanks, guys. I will look into both possibilities tomorrow. I did take the seat off to see if I could access the valve but it didn't look possible. I didn't want to get into it too much while on the road, far from any repair shops (just in case I screwed up!). If I can't reconnect I will go the behind the wall. thanks!

MyronL · 09-23-2015, 04:52 PM

I went behind the wall. Why take a chance?

holo · 09-23-2015, 06:00 PM

I was able to replace the leaky valve. I had to remove the toilet but the hardest part was the trials and errors to thread the stiff supply line to the new valve. Next step is to add in a shut off valve similar to Jon and Myron. In my 17B the line is very close to the wall so I hope I can get a clean cut for the Sharkbite fittings.
Thanks to all!

gocamp · 04-08-2016, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FMLNM

We know that ETI has since changed the pex in the toilet supply line inside the trailer to a flexible pex but for everyone who has the existing solid pex, this could be a solution.

Anyone know if the shark bite fittings and shutoff valves in this thread can also used on the flexible pex tubing escape is now using on the toilet supply line? Is escape still saying no to customer requests for this shutoff vale on new builds?

FMLNM · 04-08-2016, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gocamp

Anyone know if the shark bite fittings and shutoff valves in this thread can also used on the flexible pex tubing escape is now using on the toilet supply line? Is escape still saying no to customer requests for this shutoff vale on new builds?

I thought I read that the shut off valve is now either an option or standard....can anyone confirm?

Patandlinda · 04-08-2016, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MyronL

I went behind the wall. Why take a chance?

Myron I had talked to you awhile back about putting in a shut off valve . I can't use the shut off value you used , or go in dinette . Seems they have a very short plex about 3 in total then it goes into bath . It appears it is opposite side from yours . Then in bath it looks like a white flexible flex? Line . I got the shut off from "little house customs ". Hopefully I can cut line and install behind toilet in bath . It pushes on and I think is shark bite ? It doesn't have handle like on yours and I wouldn't have room if it had handle . So glad I saw this today . Wondering if I cut line and removed toilet would make it much easier , then push on one side , put toilet back then push on other side ? Pat

Jim Bennett · 04-08-2016, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gocamp

Anyone know if the shark bite fittings and shutoff valves in this thread can also used on the flexible pex tubing escape is now using on the toilet supply line? Is escape still saying no to customer requests for this shutoff vale on new builds?

Shark Bite connectors work on any water pipe, including PEX. I much prefer crimp connectors, cheaper, simpler, and less likely to leak. You do need to own, borrow, or rent a crimper though.

Patandlinda · 04-11-2016, 02:47 PM

Toilet valve put in after 2 days . Needed plumbing supply to open today . walked in showed her pictures , walked out with solution . Clean and fast . As you can see I had 3 1/2 in between bands to install shut off on plex. Would not work . So went in bath and was trying to install inline . Would of required all kinds of connections 3/8 to 1/2 . A mess. This is so easy and takes a few minutes, this solution . Cut off Plex connection with a sprinkler PVC cutter . Cut it like butter . Posting this in case others need to install shut off . Pat

Patandlinda · 04-11-2016, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patandlinda

Toilet valve put in after 2 days . Needed plumbing supply to open today . walked in showed her pictures , walked out with solution . Clean and fast . As you can see I had 3 1/2 in between bands to install shut off on plex. Would not work . So went in bath and was trying to install inline . Would of required all kinds of connections 3/8 to 1/2 . A mess. This is so easy and takes a few minutes, this solution . Cut off Plex connection with a sprinkler PVC cutter . Cut it like butter . Posting this in case others need to install shut off . Pat

More pictures of toilet shut off

Patandlinda · 04-11-2016, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patandlinda

More pictures of toilet shut off

Can someone move this to thread toilet shut off ? I am in wrong thread . Pat

cpaharley2008 · 04-11-2016, 03:08 PM

nice job, just remember to drain or get antifreeze in the loop(last picture) you have created. Will ETI install one from factory?

Patandlinda · 04-11-2016, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

nice job, just remember to drain or get antifreeze in the loop(last picture) you have created. Will ETI install one from factory?

Hi Jim never have had to use anti freeze . Guess I could get shorter line . They only had stainless , not nylon . The fitting will swivel if I need . Pat

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