Butler drain/plugged

[Clean Response]

I got a Butler and the drain seems to be partly plugged. I have the 210 waste tank and it is a L shape and I can not see the drain from the top when I open it up. What is the best way to unclog it? I tried really filling the tank up a few times hoping that a few 100 gallons of water would force it out but no luck not sure how or what is plugging it up.

Any idea or advice?

Notice how the drain it curved or snaked; so stick something in the drain is not the best option either.

 

[Cleanworks]

I got a Butler and the drain seems to be partly plugged. I have the 210 waste tank and it is a L shape and I can not see the drain from the top when I open it up. What is the best way to unclog it? I tried really filling the tank up a few times hoping that a few 100 gallons of water would force it out but no luck not sure how or what is plugging it up.

Any idea or advice?

View attachment 99854

Notice how the drain it curved or snaked; so stick something in the drain is not the best option either.

I would take that piping off. You really don't want it draining all over the place under the van. Replace it with a 2 inch vac hose. That way you can direct into a clean-out when dumping. Then you can run a snake or coat hanger into the plugged drain.

 

[Steve Lawrence]

We've had this happen on our Butlers a few times. Easiest way to fix it for us was to turn unit on, put a towel or rag to plug up suction, immediately open the dump valve and let the suction clear out the debris that was in the way. But, now the clog is in the waste tank, yikes, so it may dump out or float around or replug the dump piping. You may have to do this again, LOL!

 

[Dolly Llama]

We've had this happen on our Butlers a few times. Easiest way to fix it for us was to turn unit on, put a towel or rag to plug up suction, immediately open the dump valve and let the suction clear out the debris that was in the way. But, now the clog is in the waste tank, yikes, so it may dump out or float around or replug the dump piping. You may have to do this again, LOL!

I like that idea, but maybe reverse it if two TMs available
drop the spotting towel in the waste tank, open dump valve and suck it out with other TM ....


.L.TA.

 

[Dolly Llama]

Notice how the drain it curved or snaked; so stick something in the drain is not the best option either.

wouldn't seem to be hard or a big deal to cut that, clear it and glue back together with coupler

..L.T.A.

 

[steve_64]

I like that idea, but maybe reverse it if two TMs available
drop the spotting towel in the waste tank, open dump valve and suck it out with other TM ....


.L.TA.

How do you get it out of the other machine then?

 

[Dolly Llama]

How do you get it out of the other machine then?

not sure what you're asking
drop the towel in the tank (with water) open dump, towel will be pulled to drain hole.
Other TM vac hose to discharge end and give it the big suck

..L.T.A.

 

[Dolly Llama]

How do you get it out of the other machine then?

OH..now I get it

anyone that doesn't use an inline filter is A Bawb....

..L.T.A.

 

[scotty747]

wet vac. Iv used the one at the local car wash. At least I think it was a wet vac.

 

[Jimmy L]

Was going to say shop vac . Better switch out that crooked pipe and use a short hose to attach when you are dumping.

 

[steve_64]

Was going to say shop vac . Better switch out that crooked pipe and use a short hose to attach when you are dumping.

Or put a 45 in instead of 2 90s.

 

[Lee Stockwell]

Most of Butler's ideas are great.

That drain wasn't one of them.

I'd prefer the industry standard 3" drain. (RV industry)

 

[BIG WOOD]

We've had this happen on our Butlers a few times. Easiest way to fix it for us was to turn unit on, put a towel or rag to plug up suction, immediately open the dump valve and let the suction clear out the debris that was in the way. But, now the clog is in the waste tank, yikes, so it may dump out or float around or replug the dump piping. You may have to do this again, LOL!

This is the quickest and best way to do it. It puts the suction on your waste tank in reverse when you use this process. It takes only a split second to open up the clog

 

[Clean Response]

We've had this happen on our Butlers a few times. Easiest way to fix it for us was to turn unit on, put a towel or rag to plug up suction, immediately open the dump valve and let the suction clear out the debris that was in the way. But, now the clog is in the waste tank, yikes, so it may dump out or float around or replug the dump piping. You may have to do this again, LOL!

I like this idea the best I will give it a try tomorrow and let you guys know.

 

[Cleanworks]

I like this idea the best I will give it a try tomorrow and let you guys know.

I'm curious, with a setup like that, where are you dumping your truck?

 

[Lyman]

There is a 12 by 12 opening in top of that tank. Open it up and flush every thing out with garden hose.

 

[D Luke]

I'm curious, with a setup like that, where are you dumping your truck?

There is a port with a Banjo fitting under the truck. Hook up an old section of vac hose and direct it wherever you need to.

 

[Clean Response]

There is a 12 by 12 opening in top of that tank. Open it up and flush every thing out with garden hose.

I did that the other day the L tank makes it so I can not see the drain port and can not clear it out. I was hoping to flush it out with 100 gallons of water to drain but that did not do either

 

[Rob Grady]

Most vac tanks are environmental hazards. Take some time to properly clean the inside while your at it. Thence do it on a regular basis.

 

[Rob Grady]

Here's what I did to the one I have.

 

[Clean Response]

Well I got it out it was a combo of lint, large lego and a toothpick flosser that was plugging it. I did the reverse vac with and had it suck up the water from a hose a few times then did a job and suck the fresh water tank half dry to flush it out good and it came out.

 

[Brian H]

I would take that piping off. You really don't want it draining all over the place under the van. Replace it with a 2 inch vac hose. That way you can direct into a clean-out when dumping. Then you can run a snake or coat hanger into the plugged drain.

That's exactly what we do with all our Butlers.

 

[BIG WOOD]

Brad just admitted he doesn't vacuum the carpet, nor does he have a basket filter

 

[Clean Response]

I got an inline filter but I use the paint filters and they do tear sometimes.

 

[Clean Response]

I got an inline filter but I use the paint filters and they do tear sometimes. I usually do the edges with my vac and get all sorts of junk... Who knows how long that stuff been in my tank.

 

[BIG WOOD]

Excuses.

 

[Numero Uno]

Prior to helping Dad here.I worked for moron.Due to the fact he prefered playing handball versus running his shop.He let his people clean with out filters in there Butlers.I hear one of the guys telling him ,I cant dump truck...I get asked to clear out the problem.I open lid an 208 gallons of silt-muck gooey muddy s--t. 2-3 inches of water on top.6 hours later and 5 trash cans of dug out junk.The moron returns and his crew is all happy there truck is cleaned and can dump again.He looks at me yelling it took 6 hours to clean that .I could have done it in 15 minutes...His crews and I are all WTF? According to him a portable could have cleaned it out in record time.I asked so a 10 gallon tank in a portable plus dump and re sucking 15 minutes ?
An when done you have to clean portable out ? So ya use filters lol... But if it does get jammed again.I know a so called carpet cleaner who can do it in 15 minutes lol...
Horror Stories from carpet cleaners are simply the best...We need a reality show lol ...

 

[Lee Stockwell]

I'd love to talk to him.

 

[bob vawter]

OH..now I get it

anyone that doesn't use an inline filter is A Bawb....

..L.T.A.

Dumb Larry......my filter was IN the tank and you jus reached in and pullt it out OR...
Jus hose it off inside the tank

 

[bob vawter]

Prior to helping Dad here.I worked for moron.Due to the fact he prefered playing handball versus running his shop.He let his people clean with out filters in there Butlers.I hear one of the guys telling him ,I cant dump truck...I get asked to clear out the problem.I open lid an 208 gallons of silt-muck gooey muddy s--t. 2-3 inches of water on top.6 hours later and 5 trash cans of dug out junk.The moron returns and his crew is all happy there truck is cleaned and can dump again.He looks at me yelling it took 6 hours to clean that .I could have done it in 15 minutes...His crews and I are all WTF? According to him a portable could have cleaned it out in record time.I asked so a 10 gallon tank in a portable plus dump and re sucking 15 minutes ?
An when done you have to clean portable out ? So ya use filters lol... But if it does get jammed again.I know a so called carpet cleaner who can do it in 15 minutes lol...
Horror Stories from carpet cleaners are simply the best...We need a reality show lol ...

Since my tank drain is two inches above the bottom...I would always get 2 inches of coins on the bottom in my yearly cleaning