Fork in black water tank May 15, 2016, 01:32:18 pm (Ahem) title says it all. One moment of unattention with waste water led to a fork going into black water tank. Question for those that or heard of this situation - how to get said fork out.
Re: Fork in black water tank Reply #1 – May 15, 2016, 02:31:38 pm Well, since you have a twin/king, you have a straight drop from the toilet into the tank, unlike my midbath, where the pipe takes a couple of bends. That should make it easier less difficult.If the fork is made of metal that a magnet can stick to, you could try fishing for it that way. (Even some stainless flatware can be picked up with a sufficiently powerful magnet.)If that isn't feasible, you may be able to latch onto it it with a flexible grabber. These are available at most hardware stores. Or try to fish it up with a straightened coat hanger with a hooked end.Of course you'll have to be able to see it to do that. But even if the fork has sunk below the surface (as is probable), you might be able to see it with an inexpensive flexible borescope. These borescopes have built-in LED lights, so even in the muck of a black tank, if you get right up to the fork you should be able to see it. Wrap a plastic bag around the borescope's end to protect it, and shove it down there and gently poke around. You might get lucky.It goes without saying that you should stop using the toilet, and above all, don't drive, until you recover the fork. If it fell straight down, it should be below the toilet, where you have a chance of getting it. If it has slid backward or forward in the tank, your task is going to be a lot harder, especially if the tank was relatively full when the fork was dropped.Good luck, and let us know how you make out!Andy Baird <-- many years ago, flushed glasses down a residential toilet--no getting those back! As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: Fork in black water tank Reply #2 – May 15, 2016, 06:31:17 pm A T/W's black water tank is small, with the dump valve right at the end of the tank. I would imagine you could look into the tank, when empty.I would fill and flush it, watching for the fork to possibly exit on its own. Flush it until it is clean enough not to make you gag.The fork isn't going anyplace where it is going to cause problems, other than blocking the outlet.If that happened, grab onto it with a long needle-nose pliers.You may also be able to see it, once the tank is empty, by looking down the toilet. Use a piece of stiff wire, a close hanger maybe, to probe the bottom of the tank. Bend a 90 degree angle in the wire to get in the spots you can't see.The tank may be more accessible through the dump valve, so give the wire a try here.Once you are done, it will make a great story.Larry
Re: Fork in black water tank Reply #3 – May 16, 2016, 02:35:12 am Quote from: Andy Baird - May 15, 2016, 02:31:38 pmAndy Baird <-- many years ago, flushed glasses down a residential toilet--no getting those back!Thank you...I do feel better--nearly thirty years ago the plumber fished a missing toothbrush out that my toddler had apparently dropped in without us noticing (expensive lesson for new parents to learn to put the lid down at all times when not in use, but cheaper than the septic system we thought was dying). I never understood how something rigid made the turns to get past where we could have seen & retrieved, but not as strange as the folks on a nearby farm who lifted their lid to find a blacksnake had somehow swum "upstream."
Re: Fork in black water tank Reply #4 – May 16, 2016, 11:09:27 am Luck was on my side today. As I was camping in a State Park I had no access to my 'home' tool set. I drove over to the dump site. I dumped the black water side first then the gray water. I use the clear extension to keep track of dumping 'progress'. As I was doing a second wash out of the black tank I heard the fork rattle down the hose. Seems a T/K black tank can take the abuse of a fork and keep on working.
Re: Fork in black water tank Reply #5 – May 16, 2016, 12:19:39 pm Quote from: G Plam - May 16, 2016, 11:09:27 amAs I was doing a second wash out of the black tank I heard the fork rattle down the hose. Seems a T/K black tank can take the abuse of a fork and keep on working. GGlad it worked just as I suspected it would.Both of the T/K tanks have straight shots coming out, making them very was to clean.There is nothing inside a holding tank than could be damaged by a fork, everything is tough ABS plastic.Larry
Re: Fork in black water tank Reply #6 – May 16, 2016, 07:16:33 pm Leaving the unanswered unasked question -- did you get your fork back or merely observe its passage from one wastewater facility to the next one?
Re: Fork in black water tank Reply #7 – May 16, 2016, 09:22:47 pm I'm more interested in how it got dropped in the first place. Eating on the toilet? Or...? 1 Likes
Re: Fork in black water tank Reply #8 – May 16, 2016, 10:04:09 pm FU & Andrea-- Just had folks looking at me here in McD's because I had a great guffaw/LOL. Thx for helping me look younger & thinner (in case you missed it, recent research indicates that people who smile are perceived as looking younger & thinner than they are/folks who frown are perceived as older & heavier)--ya'll are certainly cheaper than a facelift & gastric bypass, without the potential surgical complications!
Re: Fork in black water tank Reply #9 – May 16, 2016, 10:05:54 pm By the way, FU-- Love the avatar--reminded me of how I spent many mornings before Captain Kangaroo came on. 1 Likes
Re: Fork in black water tank Reply #10 – May 17, 2016, 09:36:26 am Quote from: thefuofus - May 16, 2016, 07:16:33 pmLeaving the unanswered unasked question -- did you get your fork back or merely observe its passage from one wastewater facility to the next one? As an older person my reflex is not as good as it used to be that and the idea of reaching into a stream of black water slowed me down to the point of letting it go into a state owned wastewater treatment plant. 1 Likes
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