Fresh water Tank Release Valve TIGHT

[kmiller19]

Hello all.... I have a 2019 Freedom Elite 26HE... after winterizing (Gander did it) the fresh water tank release valve was left open..when attempting to close it .. it was REALLY tight..and almost impossible to get to without tearing up my hand (under dinette seat closest to driver seat about 15in down). Do you guys have any suggestions on an extension tool I could use to grab it? I thought maybe a sprinkler valve key , but I dont know if it would grab it right because the valve isn't "X" shaped...

Thanks!

[ducksface]

Plastic ball valves are horrible.(I assume plastic and ball valve)
Don't apply the pressure you're hoping to or you'll snap it into fractured parts.
Take it off and replace it with a metal unit witha nylon seal. Better yet, a real gate valve.

For now you can try some food grade silicone spray inside the valve.

Aside:
It's the first I ever saw such a thing but this last winter I closed a ball valve and had water trapped in the ball. I've closed hundreds of them in winter. This one froze, water 2xpanded, and it split the stainless steel ball and the stainless steel housing.
It turned very hard, then sprayed me... Very hard.

[kmiller19]

do you have any advice as to how to reach it? also....when it's fully closed which position it's in? When it is parallel with the pipe is it fully closed? This is only my second year with he RV and first time winterizing it. ..

Thanks!

[ducksface]

It is, generally, unless it's been modified, open when the handle is in line with the pipe/hose.
It is closed when the handle is across the hose by 90 degrees.
The valve wrench you mentioned or an adjustable wrench will reach it as will an open end wrench where you use the wrench as two claw type turning points.

A drive and a 10.buckntipnwill get a clerk at an auto parts place to do it for you.
Ask, humble yourself and watch a nice person do it for you.

[Bob Denman]

Can you reach in, and grab it with a pair of Vise-Grips?
How about a picture?

[cavie]

Handle parallel with the pipe valve is open. 90 degrees with the pipe valve is closed. should not be hard to turn.