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Fresh Water System
Yahoo Message Number: 160048
I have an O7 Mid Bath.
I just cleaned the Fresh Water (FW) system after removing the antifreeze. When I put everything back together the strainer leaked at the inlet nozzle. This year LD uses a Shurflo slip fit system. I noticed when I first started doing this there was a lub gel on the fittings. I noticed there is no lub gel now. I suspect that is the problem as everything else looks fine and this is the one part I have been messing with while cleaning the system.
The lub gel resembled petroleum jelly. I am afraid to use just anything on the FW system. Does anyone know the proper gel to use? Also a source for said gel? John (all wet) DaCrema Green 07 MB
Currently: 2008 36' Tiffin Open Road
Previously: 2007 Mid Bath

Fresh Water System
Reply #1
Yahoo Message Number: 160050
John,

The grease you refer to may be "Food Grade Grease". I use it on my sticks-n-bricks bathroom faucets and gaskets to make it easier to disassemble.

Check the plumbing section at Home Depot or other home improvement center. It will be in the plumbing section with the Delta Faucet parts and such. Comes in a small tub like a compact. Inexpensive and goes a long way.

Hope that helps.

Kent

Sent from AOL Mobile Mail
2015 27' RB "MissB.Haven"

Re: Fresh Water System
Reply #2
Yahoo Message Number: 160051
Thanks, that sounds correct. It only takes a dab to make sure the o-rings seat correctly. None of (should) go into the water system. But because it is associated with the water system I want to use the correct stuff.
John
Currently: 2008 36' Tiffin Open Road
Previously: 2007 Mid Bath

Fresh Water System
Reply #3
Yahoo Message Number: 160052
It is suppose to be safe for ingestion. Don't think I'd spread it on toast (well maybe).

Good luck.

Kent

Sent from AOL Mobile Mail
2015 27' RB "MissB.Haven"

Re: Fresh Water System
Reply #4
Yahoo Message Number: 160053
That looks just like the stuff that was on there when I first took it apart. It seemed to do the trick for the joint, but the problem turned out to be the strainer bowl. It is cracked. I could probably run a quarter tank or water but I never liked this bowl. It is supposed to unscrew to clean. I never was able to make that happen. I am not a "brute force" kind of wrench turner so I suspect that this was an old issue and the glue finally let go. The crack is right at the threads and runs in line with the thread. I will take the assembly off and tomorrow go to a RV shop a few miles away to see if they have a replacement part.

We are taking off for an overnight trip to the eastern shore of MD tomorrow night. If the shop does not have the part I will order from the mother ship and use gallon jugs for water to flush and wash with on this trip.

Could be difficult to carry enough jugs of water, so I guess I better pack extra beer and wine so we can stay hydrated. ;~) John
Currently: 2008 36' Tiffin Open Road
Previously: 2007 Mid Bath

Fresh Water System
Reply #5
Yahoo Message Number: 160054
Ah, yes. Necessity IS the mother of invention. Best part of this group, often, is the creative solutions that come up to get us through a rough spot.

Have fun.

Kent

Sent from AOL Mobile Mail
2015 27' RB "MissB.Haven"

Re: Fresh Water System
Reply #6
Yahoo Message Number: 160060
Or just remove the strainer assembly and splice the ends together then replace the strainer at your convenience.
Ed

Re: Fresh Water System
Reply #7
Yahoo Message Number: 160061
Would it hurt the pump? I have a SHURflow Extreme strainer on order. For a one night trip we will rough it. We still way ahead of camping in my REI Half Dome from the tailgate of a MiniCooper.
Currently: 2008 36' Tiffin Open Road
Previously: 2007 Mid Bath


Re: Fresh Water System
Reply #9
Yahoo Message Number: 160129
UPDATE: I ordered a new Shurflo Extreme filter assembly off Amazon on the 24th. I received it and installed it today.
... So Ed, I will have to hold off on the mud. ;-) ... All, We did not have to resort to using beer or white wine to flush the toilet. We found we could get by on several gallons of water for an overnight trip to a dog show.
... The instructions say to lubricate the o-rings but do not mention what kind of lubrication to use.

... Finally a public apology to the two previous owners of my RV. The new filter assembly was equally difficult to take apart. It seems I am more destructive a wrench bender than I thought. The new filter was equally impossible to unscrew. I called the Shurflo help desk. The "Extreme Strainer" has not been in production for a long time and it took the guy a few seconds to figure out what I was talking about. Once we were on the same page he thought the assemble had seized. That if I wanted to clean the assemble it was probably better to back flush the assembly than trying to take it apart.
John 07 Mid Bath
Currently: 2008 36' Tiffin Open Road
Previously: 2007 Mid Bath

Re: Fresh Water System
Reply #10
Yahoo Message Number: 160130
Update We we got back from the overnight camping trip to find an Amazon package with the filter inside. I guess I will not have to worry about the mud in the pump. ;-) I tried to remove the filter bowl from the new Shurflo Extreme Strainer and found that it does not want to come off either. That leads to a couple statements: ... first, an apology to the previous two owners for accusing them of gluing the bowl.
... second, has anyone broke the code on how to unscrew the bowl with out breaking it? I suppose I will use the old (broken) assembly to learn on. The instructions just say turn the bowl counter clockwise. Perhaps I need a strap wrench so the force is even all the way around the assembly. In reality I will doubt I will need to do this. It is just one of those things that I feel I should be able to do.

Finally in the instructions do state to lubricate the o-rings before installing. They did not specify a lubricant. I guess it could be water but I feel better with the food grade grease. It takes very of a little bit to do the job.

John 07 Mid Bath
Currently: 2008 36' Tiffin Open Road
Previously: 2007 Mid Bath

Re: Fresh Water System
Reply #11
Yahoo Message Number: 160132
Have I mentioned that I am looking forward to then new website? I rewrote the above update when I did not see the first one post after some time went by. I thought I had flubbed the posting and just started over. Sorry for the double post.
John
Currently: 2008 36' Tiffin Open Road
Previously: 2007 Mid Bath

 
Re: Fresh Water System
Reply #12
Yahoo Message Number: 160142
John. I've removed the bowl time and again as part of the winterizing process. As long as the pump is off and pressure relieved from the system by opening a faucet, it's rather effortless. I use a dab of Vaseline on the o-ring. Haven't poisoned any of us yet. A micro-gram of Vaseline diluted by gallons of water doesn't strike me as a risky venture. But, whatever floats your boat.
BTW. I have never, ever seen even the slightest bit of crud caught by this screen. Bypassing it temporarily wouldn't concern me at all. If I didn't have to remove it to winterize, I would just look at it every few years to be sure it hadn't caught any tadpoles.
I suspect once you break the new one apart and just snug it back together, you won't have any more issues with it.

Ed