Chinook RV

Help!!! Looks like I’ve got a busted valve. Anyone know of a good replacement?

I don't specifically know of the exact one, but something for your consideration:

(Pardon any obvious knowledge - I don't know how familiar you are with PEX plumbing)

1) First of all, just know that our Chinooks use "PEX" plumbing for the supply lines (1/2" for all as far as I have seen). Remember how plumbing used to be an art, involving soldering copper, working with lead pipes, etc.? Well not anymore with PEX. It's like a forgiving set of tinker toys It can take bends (and can be bent a bit with heat if necessary) and, while it does need support, it's fairly forgiving. Yay!

2) See that dark metal band on "white" piping just before your broken valve? That's one way to connect PEX plumbing. You slide the piping on over a fitting (having put the band band loosely on the pipe first), then put the band in place and crimp it with a special too. The BIG plus is that the bands are really cheap, and they don't take up too much space. So they are the usual OEM choice.

3) BUT, if you don't mind spending a bit more, you can get quick connect fittings that you literally just push on (and can remove and push back on numerous times). These are a bit bulkier and would be expensive if you were installing hundreds, but can be just the thing when re-doing small projects. You might not have space there, depending on what the fitting looked like, but you can check it out. The expensive brand is the metal "Shark Bite" (you can get these at Lowe's, Home Depot, etc. typically). They are very nice, although hard to remove (which may not be an issue). There are also plastic versions. There are valves, Tees, really any connector that you'd want.

4) With quick connect fittings it's important to have a nice, square cut on the pipe. They make fairly inexpensive plyer type cutters that you can also get at Lowe's, etc. (PEX is not RV specific, also yay).

5) Or, if you want to replace with a like valve, you can probably rent the crimp tool (you'd buy the band and the valve). You'd just need to make sure you have room to "swing" the tool. I like the quick connects as long as there is space.

PS: What you'd want to check on (I'd remove the old valve to see, since I don't think you can repair the old valve) is what is the size/type of pipe that goes through the floor. Is it another 1/2" pex? Or?

Since the end of the Pex that you have, after you remove the band, will likely be kind of "messy," I'd consider the following.

1) Cut it back to a "fresh" point.

2) Figure out what valve you are going to use. If you can't find an appropriate angle valve, you could perhaps use a straight valve then almost right away an elbow through the floor (plus this would allow you to cut pipe back to fresh end).

3) Or use a union at your fresh end, then a little bit of straight 1/2" PEX, then an angled stop valve like you have now.

So you'd get the following if using quick connect fittings.

1) Valve

2) 12" or so of 1/2" PEX tubing (pipe)

3) Cutters

4) Maybe a union (straight fitting with push connect females on both ends)

6) If you get the metal Shark Bite brand, then get one of the little orange plastic horseshoe shaped fittings that allows you to remove the fitting (other types just remove by hand).

You can practice with spare tubing since you can use the PEX fittings over and over.

This will likely all be available at any Home Depot or Lowe's.

Thanks for the advice.....I'll keep you posted on the final outcome....with pictures to follow, of course.

We love photos! And reports, of course

Try removing the packing nut on the valve, then remove the broken spindle. Check out the seat in the valve body, and if it looks OK, bring the spindle assembly to a pluming supplier (and a photo of the valve). If they can match it, then you'd have an easy repair (drop-in replacement with all new guts). If they can't match it, then you'll have to do the surgery as Blue outlined.

This one from Camping World looks like a close match to the original: http://www.campingworld.com/brass-water ... QgEALw_wcB