By-pass valve handle on water heater

I need to replace just the handle on the by-pass valve on the water heater. Does anyone know where to get replacement plumbing parts for a Cameo? 

Without seeing the problem or model I have a suggestion that might work. Have you looked at a by-pass kit sold in the stores to see if you could use a portion of that?

This is what the handle looks like. A tab has broken off the handle preventing it from turning the valve. I hate to replace the valve as it works OK with pliers. Replacement kits I have seen don’t have this handle and I have been told the valve hasn’t been made recently. I am thinking the trailer is a 2011 so the valve kit can’t be that old and obsolete already!

Dan

Dan,

That looks like a pretty typical handle. You might be able to buy a replacement valve and just salvage the handle for now and have the valve as a spare just in case.

Just a thought.

I did take a look at my 2012 Cameo and I have the same valve. There is not much working space there if you were to put in a new unit, so what I would do seeing that the valve works, but just the handle is broken is go to a hardware store or Home Depot/Lowes and see if they have a handle that would work. Take the broken one with you. The other alternative would be to Gorilla glue it on, but I would advise against that should you have other problems.

I have already looked at Home Depot, but not Lowes nor Ace Hardware (that is to come). Camping World, RV suppliers and other plumbing suppliers all refer to each other as a potential resource. None recognized the handle nor where to get a replacement. It would be useful to know who the manufacturer was, if that we’re possible.

Dan

Dan,

Sorry but I can’t offer the name of the manufacturer, but that handle looks just like the ones on our stick house’s toilet water cut off valves. If you can’t get just the handle, the valves should be in the plumbing dept pretty much every where, and I think the handle is held on by just a screw.

Could not find anything on the ‘net, but I had an idea. Perhaps Lifestyle uses the same knob and you could purchase one from them. It would not hurt to call or email them.

I had exactly the same problem on my 2010 Cameo. I’ve tried Camping World and a couple of RV dealers and parts warehouses, but no luck. I’m going to try the (former)Carriage dealer where I bought the rig. They have a pretty good parts guy who should be able to find the correct part. I’ll let you know if I’m able to locate one.
If that doesn’t work, I plan to just put the valve back on and turn the handle 90 degrees to the direction of flow to turn off the bypass. In my case, the stop tabs broke off so I’ll have to just visually orient the valve.
As you can see in the photo, I was able to Gorilla Glue one of the tabs back on.

Ok, since my original post, I stopped by my Carriage dealer and talked to the parts guy. He said that valve is no longer being manufactured and isn’t available anywhere.
I just put my old handle back on with one tab glued in place.
If your handle is broken, and you have the pieces, I wouldn’t hesitate to just glue it together and reinstall it. If the stop tabs are broken off, just orient it as I described above, and it should work fine.