Quick Q for a plumber about taps?

[EA2BA]

Ok here goes,

We just bought a house and some taps are leaking, so i went to fix them, but I cant dissasemble the tap to replace the washers, etc.

Now I believe and it has always been this way in other taps i have repaired:
TURN THE WATER OFF
1. remove the little hot/cold button on top (done this)
2. remove the handle to turn tap on/off (done this)
3. remove flange (the big chrome bit) should be screw off ... IT DONT COME OFF :( :jab:
4. undo the rest of the tap bits, replace washers seals etc and put it back together.


Step 4 is not happening, have I got it wrong and forgotten some basics.
I have tried a big pair of adjustable pliers, i can grip it, but with all the force i can apply it just slips and does not budge.

please help :

[S3SR]

maybe some WD40 may help i do this a few times a year at home and all i got to do is turn water off, dismantle the tap replace seals, washers rar rar rar and put it all together and done

hope this helps
FalconSR

Is it a reverse thread?

[max]

Try a bit of CLR applied around the base of the flange/rim where the contact is made. Use a concentrate solution and allow some minutes to penetrate. (May need to brush in vigorously for a while) Also using a small block of wood and hammer tap around the base of flange in intervals (i.e, four or more spots all the way around the fitting. Try to unscew again. Often calcification causes surfaces to bond together pretty firmly! If this doesn't work and if the tap is not enamel or plastic, try some moderate heat (somewhere between a hot hairdryer and a blow-torch, using discretion and care about leaving scorch marks)

Golden rules for loosening/undoing things:
1. Dissolve
2. Shock
3. Heat
4. Grip
5. Strength!

[EA2BA]

Originally Posted by max

Golden rules for loosening/undoing things:
1. Dissolve
2. Shock
3. Heat
4. Grip
5. Strength!

You forgot hacksaw and destroy ..... my Plan B

[pauljh74]

and if the previous person to work on the taps didn't and you manage to get them loose, put plumbers tape on the thread to help prevent bonding together like it seems you're experiencing.

[EA2BA]

thanks for that tip, we plan to get new taps as we dont like the current ones, but I have to stop the leaks for now, one it costs money and 2 it will case damp problems if left as is.

[rst2000]

sorry to hijack the thread, another plumbing question..how easy is it replace the 1/4 turn ceramic tap's(the washer kit costs about $25 to replace) with the conventional type tap that people have mentioned here??

cheers andrew

[rodderz]

Originally Posted by EA2BA

You forgot hacksaw and destroy ..... my Plan B

The previous owner hasnt put silastic/silicone behind the flange to waterseal the joint against the wall?

[EA2BA]

Originally Posted by rodderz

The previous owner hasnt put silastic/silicone behind the flange to waterseal the joint against the wall?

The taps in question are actaully on the sink in the ensuite.

[olfella]

Originally Posted by EA2BA

Ok here goes,

We just bought a house and some taps are leaking, so i went to fix them, but I cant dissasemble the tap to replace the washers, etc.

Now I believe and it has always been this way in other taps i have repaired:
TURN THE WATER OFF
1. remove the little hot/cold button on top (done this)
2. remove the handle to turn tap on/off (done this)
3. remove flange (the big chrome bit) should be screw off ... IT DONT COME OFF :( :jab:
4. undo the rest of the tap bits, replace washers seals etc and put it back together.

Step 4 is not happening, have I got it wrong and forgotten some basics.
I have tried a big pair of adjustable pliers, i can grip it, but with all the force i can apply it just slips and does not budge.

please help :

Sometimes these chrome covers get a lot of crap built up under them in addition to being put on to tight in the first place. I suggest, seeing you are replacing them, get some stillsons and give them the old heave ho. The stillsons will bite int the chrome and bugger it up but what the hell...
(Stillsons are an adjustable wrench with big teeth to dig in)

[olfella]

Originally Posted by EA2BA

The taps in question are actaully on the sink in the ensuite.

thats a bit flash!! they only had outside thunder boxes in my day :

[EA2BA]

Originally Posted by olfella

Sometimes these chrome covers get a lot of crap built up under them in addition to being put on to tight in the first place. I suggest, seeing you are replacing them, get some stillsons and give them the old heave ho. The stillsons will bite int the chrome and bugger it up but what the hell...
(Stillsons are an adjustable wrench with big teeth to dig in)

I agree .... starting to think i need to buy or borrow a pair.

[Laminge]

Need pictures to answer you correctly

[max]

Originally Posted by olfella

thats a bit flash!! they only had outside thunder boxes in my day :

'Tis a bit flash, isn't it? Some people have all the luck....
Anyway, how's it going ? You got it undone yet?
Chances are the seats will be pitted and corroded too so you'll have to re-grind them too. Bloody little jobs always turn into Ben Hur productions!!!
I'm thinking bite the bullet and get the new taps now, cause your best to get a plumber to install them. Can be pretty tricky.

[nugget378]

Originally Posted by olfella

Sometimes these chrome covers get a lot of crap built up under them in addition to being put on to tight in the first place. I suggest, seeing you are replacing them, get some stillsons and give them the old heave ho. The stillsons will bite int the chrome and bugger it up but what the hell...
(Stillsons are an adjustable wrench with big teeth to dig in)

Yep stilsons or footprints/multigrips,I see this all the time,thay just get so there almost fused together.

[nugget378]

Originally Posted by rst2000

sorry to hijack the thread, another plumbing question..how easy is it replace the 1/4 turn ceramic tap's(the washer kit costs about $25 to replace) with the conventional type tap that people have mentioned here??

cheers andrew

Not that hard,but be careful if its not a wall mixer as the basin mixers can be different lengths and you need to cut the pipe back,unless it has flex's, just get new 1/4 turn spindles of the same brand,there better than normal ones and last longer.

[rob351]

Originally Posted by rst2000

sorry to hijack the thread, another plumbing question..how easy is it replace the 1/4 turn ceramic tap's(the washer kit costs about $25 to replace) with the conventional type tap that people have mentioned here??

cheers andrew

Easy if it's on the wall, cause all wall fittings are standard, if it's a basin you will probably need a whole set as the bits underneath usually only fit the spindles they come with. Easiest way is to take them out and take em to bunnings or something then get them to find you something that matches.

[nugget378]

basin set will cost you more than $25, just buy the spindles if its on the basin

[EA2BA]

Need to get the stilsons out, well buy/borrow some to fix this tap, got all the bits to go in, just can't get the tap apart to put the bits in.

[olfella]

Originally Posted by EA2BA

Need to get the stilsons out, well buy/borrow some to fix this tap, got all the bits to go in, just can't get the tap apart to put the bits in.

Be ruthless.. and maybe if you had some sand paper or emery paper you could try putting the 'rough' side to the chrome and give it one last go with the multi grips...

[rst2000]

Originally Posted by nugget378

Not that hard,but be careful if its not a wall mixer as the basin mixers can be different lengths and you need to cut the pipe back,unless it has flex's, just get new 1/4 turn spindles of the same brand,there better than normal ones and last longer.

my tap set are the ones that go from being off to fully open in about 1/2 turn(sorry not 1/4 turn) and have a fully enclosed spindle that needs to be completely disassembled every time it needs a washer kit(ceramic & plastic peices) put thru. with lengths, i think the cold is slightly shorter than the hot(or vice versa) are these the ones you are referring to??

thanks andrew

[rst2000]

Originally Posted by rob351

Easy if it's on the wall, cause all wall fittings are standard, if it's a basin you will probably need a whole set as the bits underneath usually only fit the spindles they come with. Easiest way is to take them out and take em to bunnings or something then get them to find you something that matches.

it might sound stupid, does that mean the replacement spindles would have to be the same 1/2turn type as i mentioned in my reply to nugget378, or can i get away altogether from this setup to the conventional tap set (with 1 peice washer) which gives me alot more choice to choose from.

cheers andrew

[nugget378]

Originally Posted by rst2000

my tap set are the ones that go from being off to fully open in about 1/2 turn(sorry not 1/4 turn) and have a fully enclosed spindle that needs to be completely disassembled every time it needs a washer kit(ceramic & plastic peices) put thru. with lengths, i think the cold is slightly shorter than the hot(or vice versa) are these the ones you are referring to??

thanks andrew

They are called 1/4 turn spindles,there are a heap of different brands out there and alot of nasty chinese crap coming in these days,mostly what is stocked in bunnings etc. you can put standard types in some mixers,best to take your spindles out and go to a proper plumbing supply shop and see what they can find that will work. you will get no help from the salespeople in a big hardware chain. If its a wall mounted mixer just get a pair of spindles and handles to suit and whack em in. if its a basin mixer do what I said above or call a plumber.