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fresh water drain cap
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Zero419
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PostPosted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 3:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thank you all very much.
I will get the expandable bung. I have used them for other things before and had good luck.

I hope I just took it off for winter storage and I come across it soon.
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Perales
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PostPosted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 5:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Be careful you don't tighten it up too much or you might split the tank. If the tank splits when it is full, that would be one heck of a mess.
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ak_runner
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PostPosted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 11:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Timwhy wrote:
Perales wrote:
GoWesty has them
http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=2427&category_id=&category_parent_id=


1988-1991 only, I don't think it will work with an 87
according to GW?!




`87 Was a split model year that used two different caps. One is relatively generic and the other is oddball but one or more of the online vendors carry both.
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Zero419
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PostPosted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 11:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

What is the date of the split?
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ak_runner
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PostPosted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 3:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I do not remember at the moment but in the case of our van it did not matteras the build date called for one cap and the tank needed the other. Our van must have been built around the split and Westfalia used what ever parts they had in the bin at the moment. I think I purchased my cap from the Bus Depot as they had just found a supplier at the time and no one else carried them. I have seen a few creative improvised ideas but like using the correct part most of the time.
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westynova
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PostPosted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 5:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I bought a Ball Valve from Home Depot. If memory serves me correctly it is a 1 1/2 " National Pipe Thread (NPT). I had the luxury of having the cap. I went into the store and found a pipe that would thread into it and then bought the corresponding Valve. I think it cost $8. I used Plumbers Tape and screwed it on.

I have since removed my Fresh Water Tank as part of an interior conversion.

Here is a picture of the valve.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

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indytriple
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 11:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

My fresh water tank drain cap finally cracked after 23 years of use. I went to go order one from GoWesty, and I found that they are out of stock and they aren't sure when they are coming back in.

After reading recommendations in this thread, I drove to West Marine here in Indianapolis to get a 1" T-handle drain plug like this:

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Unfortunately, I found to my dismay that any of the 1" drain plugs are too big to fit into the tank drain. The I.D. of the tank drain is between 21-22mm. The O.D. of the 1" drain plug is about 22-23. It's tantalizingly close, but IT WILL NOT WORK. I also noticed that on the back of ALL of the drain plugs at West Marine it says,

"Warning: This product contains chemicals, including lead, known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. Wash hands after handling.

Possibly alarmist, but still a bit disconcerting considering that the plug would have constant, direct contact with the water in my tank.

I can't find any of these types of plugs in a smaller size so I'm off to the the hardware store to look for some type of flexible pipe cap that I can use with a hose clamp or some type of pipe-stopper that will fit the I.D.

I need to find some kind of temporary or permanent solution in the next 48 hours. The family and I are going to see Phish at Deer Creek and camping Thursday and Friday night, so I'm open to any suggestions that any one might have.
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Zero419
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 11:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I found my cap in the westy drawer Rolling Eyes Laughing

had a crack.
I put a hose clamp around it and put it back on, works fine.
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indytriple
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 12:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Crack is fatal. No hose clamp repairs on this one.
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Ahwahnee
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 12:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

westynova wrote:
I bought a Ball Valve from Home Depot.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


I have the exact same Home Depot solution. Mine is also an 84 & some posts think the threads changed along the way so maybe yes, maybe no for you.

The PVC valve was not a perfect fit but close enough that with teflon tape it threaded on far enough to seal w/o buggering the threads on the drain. Has worked fine for about 10 years like that. Much more convenient than the 'cap'.
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Vanagonner
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 12:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ahwahnee or westynova, do you remember about what size that valve needs to be? I have been plugging it from the inside with a cork up to this point, and I like your solution very much.
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Ahwahnee
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 2:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sorry, I do not recall and am away from the van/brick/wedge/bus for a few days. Westynova thought it was 1.5" and that may very well be right.

You don't have a lot of choices when you get to sizes that big so, if Home Depot isn't a hour away -- buy several sizes and return what doesn't work. Or park in the lot and try them there.

If its an Ace Hardware -- those guys usually let me take stuff out to the car to check it before I buy. Let them hold your credit card if they don't like the look of you.

It will be the size that just sorta threads on. You don't put it on a lot because the threads are not a perfect match (but reeeeal close). Teflon tape on the threads before fitting the valve will help it seal.
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westynova
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 6:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

1 1/2 " National Pipe Thread (NPT)
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indytriple
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 7:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have confirmed (unfortunately) that none of the ball valves will fit the post-86 style water tank. A 1 1/4" ball valve is very close to the correct diameter, but the threads won't even start.

I've been considering ditching the huge tank in favor of a 10 liter MSR Dromedary bag anyway. I currently have the GoWesty hand pump faucet so no need for water storage with a pump. This may spur me to do the conversion sooner rather than later.
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Vanagonner
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 8:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks guys, very nice mod. I love the huge tank, and I'm also glad that an early vanagon has an advantage in something!
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ak_runner
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 10:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ahwahnee wrote:
westynova wrote:
I bought a Ball Valve from Home Depot.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


I have the exact same Home Depot solution. Mine is also an 84 & some posts think the threads changed along the way so maybe yes, maybe no for you.

The PVC valve was not a perfect fit but close enough that with teflon tape it threaded on far enough to seal w/o buggering the threads on the drain. Has worked fine for about 10 years like that. Much more convenient than the 'cap'.


There is a change but it was in `87 though the exact date is unknown and not entirely reliable. Manufacturers will use what is on hand even during a change over and thus vehicles on either side of the change date can have the new or old style item on them. The tank cap for later model vans is not a standard size to any cap or fitting offered in the US. Try Bus Depot they were one of the first to find a source for these and carried both styles when I purchased mine.
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indytriple
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 12:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

GoWesty has the fresh water drain caps back in stock. Mine is on the way. Very Happy

On a sidenote, I have begun the process of adding an auxilliary water storage system that uses an 4 Liter MSR Expedition dromedary bag with an MSR spigot cap. I have a "T" into my main water line with a switch. The drom bag snaps onto its line coming off of the "T" with a quick connect. This way I can use the tank for long expeditions or use the drom bag to have smaller amounts of potable water from an easier to fill, cleaner source.
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Mac_Daddy_Westy
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 13, 2013 2:17 pm    Post subject: fresh water drain cap Reply with quote

see pics, it works perfect, the picture is self explanatory.
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Tobias Duncan
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 13, 2013 7:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Weed be gone? On a hippie van?
Major faux pas dude...major.
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indytriple
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 13, 2013 8:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Classic. I see what you did there.
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