[VAC] Re: Gray Water Tank '73 International 31' ??

[Harvey Barlow]

Charlie,   Thanks for the info.  As usual, you were able to add fact to the exchange of opinions and guesses.   I can attest to the accuracy of your warning regarding cutting the angled dump valve fitting.  I cut mine off with a Sawzall (sp?) to get the tank out of my '66 Safari.  It was broken anyway from supporting the weight of a broken tank and hardware.  Now I'm engaged in "a serious replumbing job" exactly as you said.   I couldn't locate a replacement for the original tank so purchased a rectangular-shaped tank which fits but leaves no room under the trunk compartment for the dump valve and plumbing.  I am slowly working out a home-made mount for the dump valve and y fitting behind the tank, inside the bumper compartment and will reroute the gray water plumbing to reach the y.   I bought the trailer right so can afford to invest some time, labor, and frustration in it but it is not a simple task as you know.   Harvey ----- Original Message ----- From: Charlie/Betty Burke To: Multiple recipients of VACList Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2001 11:27 PM Subject: [VAC] Re: Gray Water Tank '73 International 31' ?? Harvey, The records show that only the newly introduced 1973 Excella 500 had a gray tank. Starting in 1974 all models had them. Some of the early rear bath designs had some pretty convoluted arrangements of tanks and valves. Tank capacities were pretty small. These problems were one of the prime drivers for moving the bath forward in the coach. All Airstream's came with a single drain water outlet. A coach with a black tank only had only one valve with the gray water passing by in a 3 inch Y going to the outlet. Valve locations were pretty obvious being at the back, side or bottom of the one tank, usually pretty close to the toilet. With introduction of the gray tank the plumbing and valve locations went every where. One word of caution for folks with older coaches with the single black tank valve that comes up at a 45 deg angle from the back center of the tank. That angled pipe/valve mount fitting is no longer available. While the valve can be replaced, you must not cut the old fitting to get to it. To do so will require a serious replumbing job. Can't tell you how many times someone has come in with part of the fitting expecting to find a new one. ("They're common parts, aren't they?") Charlie