Dreaded LE1 Black Tank dump valve replacement FIX!

[bugeyedriver]

To all single axle Ollie owners, have you ever needed to have the black tank dump valve replaced?  How much fun was that?!  There is virtually NO room underneath to wrangle a wrench into in order to remove the bottom bolt.   I’ve owned The Wonder Egg for 18 years now and it seems about every 9 years, the black tank dump valve begins to seep “water”. The first time I took it to my local, reliable, RV repair shop, Boerne RV, the technician stated that job was so difficult he almost quit being an RV tech!  Well, here it is, 9 years later and I just had Beorne RV replace that *!%#! Valve again,  I told them to feel free to make any modification to the trailer to simplify the process.  Here’s the brilliant idea they came up with . . . A sealed, water-tight exterior access panel directly underneath the valve. 

[Mike and Carol]

2 hours ago, bugeyedriver said:

…my local, reliable, RV repair shop, Boerne RV…

Pete, Ron does great work at Boerne RV!  Our go-to shop as well.  Mike

[Olive2Roam]

Makes me thankful we went with the composting toilet! 🙂

[srthomsen]

On 7/7/2026 at 5:40 PM, bugeyedriver said:

To all single axle Ollie owners, have you ever needed to have the black tank dump valve replaced?  How much fun was that?!  There is virtually NO room underneath to wrangle a wrench into in order to remove the bottom bolt.   I’ve owned The Wonder Egg for 18 years now and it seems about every 9 years, the black tank dump valve begins to seep “water”. The first time I took it to my local, reliable, RV repair shop, Boerne RV, the technician stated that job was so difficult he almost quit being an RV tech!  Well, here it is, 9 years later and I just had Beorne RV replace that *!%#! Valve again,  I told them to feel free to make any modification to the trailer to simplify the process.  Here’s the brilliant idea they came up with . . . A sealed, water-tight exterior access panel directly underneath the valve. 

Can you provide a pic that is taken from a bit further away from that panel?  

[Geronimo John]

Many owners with years of service of their Gray, Blalck and Vent valves find them more difficult to operate.  Mine got to that point and I learned that the problem with mine and others on the internet is not with the cables, but with the slde valves themselves.  I have attached a DIY for the effort that is a simple fix that can be done almost for just your time and likely tools and supplies you already have.

Hope you find the below helpful.

GJ

DIY - Sanitary Drain Valve Cables.docx

Edited 19 hours ago by Geronimo John

[bugeyedriver]

On 7/24/2026 at 8:21 AM, srthomsen said:

Can you provide a pic that is taken from a bit further away from that panel?  

Here you go, taken with a little wider perspective. in order to find the position from below, Ron first positioned a long, skinny drill bit next to the valve above and drilled a pilot-hole which he measured from before cutting from below.