'89 PT36 blocked Paddle in the dump water valve

[RAMiREZ]

My Paddle of the Waste Water Valve is blocked!

I have two air-assisted water valves. The gray water valve works fine, but the waste valve does not open. I have just removed the piston. The piston works. Next I opened the two screws and tried to pull the paddle. The paddle cannot be moved or pulled out, even with a threaded rod.
The large screw of the waste water tank (fiberglass with insulation and paint) cannot be opened without cracking. I wouldn't care if it gets dirty. How do I get the paddle out and possibly be able to use it again, at least until Stephen sends me a replacement?
Or should I cut out the whole thing and replace it with a new one without air support?

Does anyone have a suggestion? Thanks in advance.
Ramin

[1984Lodge]

Can you get the top of the valve off? I am not sure of how the the air assisted valves are put together. If you can squirt some silicone spray down into it, just need to get something to free up the crust.. Mine are manual valves, I have to take them apart every now and then. I put petroluem jelly on all the moving parts, then they slide nice and easy.

[patticake]

Use Plummer's Grease, not petroleum jelly. Remember the paddle is rubber.

[Randy Dupree]

He has to get the thing open before he can lube it.
I don't understand what you have done so far.


You say you took the piston off,explain that.
you say you took the 2 screws out,ok,did you take them out to get the piston off?
How did you get the piston off?
Once you took the 2 screws out,did you pry off the end cap on the valve body?
You said you used a threaded rod,explain that.

[1984Lodge]

Originally Posted by patticake

Use Plummer's Grease, not petroleum jelly. Remember the paddle is rubber.

Good tip.. I try to keep it on the plastic parts.. not the rubber.. but if the rubber is hard it actually helps soften the rubber. Yes it will probably break down eventually, but that is going to happen sooner or later anyway..

[atckip]

I had the same issue with my 88. Rubber separated and lodged closed. I was able to convince my wife with small hands to reach in the outlet tube and wiggle it free

[RAMiREZ]

Originally Posted by Randy Dupree

He has to get the thing open before he can lube it.
I don't understand what you have done so far.


You say you took the piston off,explain that.
you say you took the 2 screws out,ok,did you take them out to get the piston off?
How did you get the piston off?
Once you took the 2 screws out,did you pry off the end cap on the valve body?
You said you used a threaded rod,explain that.

I tried to move the piston with air - not possible.

Then I opend the 2 screws and the piston moved like 0.5 inch.
I turned the axis of the cylinder and the piston came off the paddle.
But the paddle is still blocked in the closed position.
I injected a lot of wd-40 into the opened case with the blocked paddle. I tried to release the paddle. Unfortunately without success.

[RAMiREZ]

Originally Posted by atckip

I had the same issue with my 88. Rubber separated and lodged closed. I was able to convince my wife with small hands to reach in the outlet tube and wiggle it free

Good idea - but in my case the valve is on the other side of the BlueBird - even an orangutan couldn't do it - maybe with a cleaning lance from the pipe cleaner. I will try.

[sfedeli]

Somewhere, someone is going to get stinky... I don't envy you. Have you tried tapping DOWN on the valve shaft gently (further seating the paddle) and then tried to pull it up- or have you just been pulling up?

At least you're not in India or Pakistan..... Curry would make this job unbearable.

[Butch Charpentier]

Cut the G. D. thing out and go electric. They work great and these kind of problems don't occur.