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Our SG is fitted with the combined hob/sink and not shown in the picture…..it seems to be the only fitting that doesn’t have the original fitting paperwork installation so I can’t confirm part numbers.
Fred
Hi Marley
The small calibrated knob above the window controls are to adjust the electric door mirrors – I’ll let you play with them.
The roller control for headlight is for Beam Height adjustment to compensate for load
Fred
Hello Jean & Irwin,
Not much more that I can add to Tom’s comments on the bed.
I believe that your van is already fitted with the increased pressure gas struts –see General Discussion ‘Bed Gas Supports’ page 5 June 2020.
Several comments there and a few of us fitted them. I still find they work much better than the old ones although the increased pressure does mean that the bed does not lie flat when unoccupied, but that helps with the raising of the bed – just push upwards behind the middle hinged part. With two of you perhaps one could push up the middle section and the other could push up the end and engage the locking mechanism.
Not used our conventional stand alone awning for many years – its about 18 years old and never had a problem fitting it.
Fred
It’s years and years since I touched that little blue pipe and never had a problem
It was a very tight friction fit, perhaps a little PTFE spray would help or even silicon if that’s all you have
Hope that whatever fix you use for the valve goes ok for you, I imagine that you don’t mind little challenges as you sorted a lithium challenge – that in time may be of benefit to some of us as we need to replace our current batteries
Fred
Hello Gary sorry for the delay,
Just read the Water Tank section in the Little Exsis Book and thanks to Tom, just about every option is covered there.
I believe the 20mm blue pipe stuffed into the end of the valve helps minimise problems with road dirt gunging up the thread – never had a problem since. Originally I connected the waste water pipe directly onto the blue pipe, but I modified it and fitted a washing machine end hose part into the end of the waste water pipe so that it is a loose fitting around the blue pipe and allows the valve to turn normally.
I have attached a photo of the valve outlet/blue pipe/end fitting of drain pipe
Note that I don’t use a cork in the end now as I use a speedfit end cap into plastic 22mm pipe .
See also the emergency kit that I carry if the water tank valve gets stuck in the open position – in this case the corrugated water pipe has to go directly onto the blue pipe inserted into bottom of valve……if the speedfit mod is not used then the cork in the end will seal it.
Please don’t think about drilling holes in tank and I would advise against removing / disturbing old valve!!
I will re-read the information in the Exsis book when I can, but the favoured options do not involve replacing the valve as I remember
I’ll try to photo open valve & and pipe to edge of van and cork temp fix.
You don’t really need to drain freshwater very often, if you use van regularly -also consider a separate submersible pump to drop into tank and pump out through back hatch.
Fred
There is a large section on water tanks at page 289. section 23 headed Water tank – Hein Koop Fix ( he is the guy who first posted a problem a long time ago)
Subsequently there have been additions of various fixes including constructing a whole new drive rod by Tom. A very long time ago someone had a new Hymer plastic valve fitted (there were photos on an older version of the Forum – now lost)……but that is a difficult process as a leak could develop from the seal at the bottom of the tank. Perhaps I should also warn that undue pressure on the plug may cause the fitting to loosen and leak.
There is also a post describing removing the inner plug from the underneath position – I have not had to do that.
I have also described somewhere about an emergency fix whereby you can leave the drain in the open position and fit a pipe under the base of the valve and block it off with a cork. I have such a pipe that I carry as an emergency. I have also modified mine so that it drains to the side of the vehicle.
Hope this helps for now.
Have read about the dangers of overcharging, but you are obviously much more electrically competent than me who has always managed with one leisure battery and no solar and mostly use a CL campsite with no electric.
Perhaps your Exsis SG is red and and was owned by Tony from Manchester with the plate EX51SIS?
He often contributed on the old forum and Motorhome Fun. There is a photo of that van next to mine at an Exsistravaganza meet (2 red van together)
Best wishes for an easy fix, which ever way you do it….. Mine has never let me down again.
Fred
Hello and welcome to our friendly group – what Exsis did you get?
Seems you may have done some pioneering work with the Lithium on the Exsis….perhaps would be of general interest if a short summary was posted.
I use Elsan Freshwater Tank Cleaner diluted into a spray bottle and just spray a few squirts before topping up with a 4 gallon travel quantity. I usually (always in Covid times) spray the drinking water supply with same and then add one spray into a 6 pint milk container which I use for on site topping up (can carry 4 to tap), If I use hose to top up then I spray into hose and also spray into filler on van. The Elsan is fairly tasteless but I only use small quantiities and we do not use water from tank for drinking or tea making – we use the 6 pint milk containers for fresh water. Lots has been said over the years on motorhome forums NOT to use Milton as this is allegedly corrosive to stainless steel in hot water tank etc – of course there are always contrary claims. The Elsan I do use trouble free.
There have been problems with the fresh water tank valve – have a look in the ‘Little Exsis Book’ compiled by Tom who still owns an Exsis (16years?). Its a very useful book of problems encountered and fixed over the years and there are several options available to you on not too difficult fix for the control rod/valve. Not sure that I have heard of plastic degeneration being reported on tank.
Keep posting for any help and best wishes for happy camping in our unique motorhome
Fred
Yes, my goodness, a very quick sell.
Perhaps not surprisingly, a well spec’d blue SG example of a design classic and demand for motorhomes is still high (Covid). We had interest in ours yesterday whilst parked up yesterday at a Stately Home.
Please remember to inform the new owners of all the invaluable information and help available here and the newer Facebook group ( although I am not on it or seen it).
Best wishes to yourself and the new owner.
Fred
Hello All.
Thanks to the alertness of Chris (see above) it became apparent that the very useful information in the pdf links that Barry had set up were no longer available. I am giving this thread a bump, because at this current time when there is a great demand for motorhomes and it seems that the Exsis still sells quickly , it’s a shame that it’s not an easy resource.
Please, Chris (webmaster) or Barry ex-webmaster advise if it is lost forever or needs technical help so that at least perhaps help could be found.
A question in the most helpful and polite way.
Thankyou, Fred
Gets scary when you say replacement parts are unobtainable……would have hoped that there were so many old Ducato’s that aftermarket spares or at worst scrap ones could be found.
Hoping you get to enjoy some good trouble free trips sooooon
Keep going you old fool – that’s me and the van!
Fred
Hello Vantopia, the taps on the SK (yours) are different to the SG (mine) – I forget the detail as it was a few years ago and I am a few years older and seem to forget detail!!
I had to replace the microswitch on my kitchen tap and I think the two pipes push in (fully to engage seal) and are held in place by a pin as you describe…..the bathroom fits the same. these pipes can be dislodged if water freezes in the tap sufficient to push pass the pin.
Yes its tight and tricky, think you need to remove shelves in cupboard & remove back panel. If I remember undo lock nut underneath and push tap up through hole to access base of tap, remove pin and push pipes fully into place.
Memory can be a dodgy thing, but hope this helps if your fitting is the same.
If the problem is elsewhere on the tap, I expect a replacement tap will be easy to source.
Fred
