Autograph 79-4T water tank drain.

[Kev and Ju]

I decided to give the fresh water tank a much needed clean on my 2017 Autograph 79-4T. After removing the large screw cap off the top of the tank I spotted on the inside of the tank a red plug / rubber bung on the base of the tank attached to a silver chain the sort you'd have on your bathroom sink - in the 80's . As far as I can see this must be a plug that can be removed to drain the fresh water tank as the drain tube (with a tap on it) under the van is a very small gauge and takes ages to drain.

My question is before I try and remove something that shouldn't be removed can I remove this rubber plug / bung to empty the tank?

My concern is that if I removed it I wouldn't be able to get it back in or it would need sealing / expensive trip to the dealer?

 

[Jenka]

Yes that's the one

 

[Gerby]

Kev and Ju yes, use ours every time we want to fully empty it on our 79/6, just be careful when you pull it as the chain isn't that strong but the plug has a sticky up bit you can pull

 

[Solwaybuggier]

If it’s the same as on our old 2013 Approach 740, yes you can - we did it several times, or rather my wife did, the diameter of the screw cap meant I stripped skin off my arms trying to do it.

The key thing is to be very careful - the bung wasn’t very securely attached on ours, and the chain broke away. Without the chain, the bung can be very difficult indeed to retrieve! We ended up improving the fixing with a cable tie.

 

[David and Sally]

Go for it Kev.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[DigglyDog]

There’s a similar item in the waste tank - just the job when you get bored waiting for it drain provided you can park right over the collection point....

 

[Gellyneck]

My question is before I try and remove something that shouldn't be removed can I remove this rubber plug / bung to empty the tank?

NO! Quick stick it back in. Look what you've done!

 

[Kev and Ju]

Brilliant and thanks guys.
You know what its like and we've all been there, once removed these things never go back the same and I was just a little concerned that after refitting I'd have a 'drip drip drip' from under the van and I wished I'd never bothered in the first place. Just like the hassle of refitting a radiator after removing it to paint behind when decorating. Wont be doing that again either.
Anyway, when the time comes I'll be pulling the chain, I mean the plug.

 

[David and Sally]

Kev,

Get Ju to lie under the van as you remove the plug to check that you are taking it out properly. If flushing the tank best to fill it fully before so that you get a decent surge and most of the debris out first go. Ju will let you know if it worked.
You ask her. I'm not brave enough!

 

[Simon Select]

I decided to give the fresh water tank a much needed clean on my 2017 Autograph 79-4T. After removing the large screw cap off the top of the tank I spotted on the inside of the tank a red plug / rubber bung on the base of the tank attached to a silver chain the sort you'd have on your bathroom sink - in the 80's . As far as I can see this must be a plug that can be removed to drain the fresh water tank as the drain tube (with a tap on it) under the van is a very small gauge and takes ages to drain.

My question is before I try and remove something that shouldn't be removed can I remove this rubber plug / bung to empty the tank?

My concern is that if I removed it I wouldn't be able to get it back in or it would need sealing / expensive trip to the dealer?

You can remove it, it will go back in, do not panic!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Kev and Ju]

Kev,

Get Ju to lie under the van as you remove the plug to check that you are taking it out properly. If flushing the tank best to fill it fully before so that you get a decent surge and most of the debris out first go. Ju will let you know if it worked.
You ask her. I'm not brave enough!

That's a great idea and I'll make sure she's directly underneath as I need her to see the plug coming out. Also, I'll make sure that she's under the fresh water tank and not the grey waste as I'm always getting those two tanks mixed up . I'm sure it'll all be clear in the Decree Absolute! Thanks for that David

 

[Kev and Ju]

I can report that operation, "Down the plug hole" was a complete success. The plug had obviously never been removed before and offered considerable resistance but after applying brute force it gave in and 70 litres of not so fresh water disappeared in seconds. Shame that the owners manual doesn't mention this plug in the tank as draining the tank through the drain tube that has the diameter of a drinking straw takes hours.