sunshine2964
11-04-04, 08:13 PM
any help would be greatly appreciated!!! ok, my shower has 3 knobs built into the wall. the hot is leaking, getting worse, it won't turn off, the handle on the cold came off easily,but i cannot get the hot knob off to check the stem, this is on a funky colored tile wall so i do not want to do any damage that i cannot repair if possible. also the middle knob which is the diverter broke a few months ago so it runs from both the spout and the shower head at all times. so i know i need to call a plumber but i can't... so please help... how do i get the hot knob off & how do i fix the diverter stem??
DUNBAR PLUMBER
11-05-04, 01:35 AM
Penetrating oil on everything that is calcified together.
You will need a handle puller from a local big box store.......and a set of stem socket wrenches if your faucet is inset deeply into the tile wall.
Once you have full access to the stems, remove them, inspect the seats for cracks, chips, or imperfections, replace if necessary.
Then, inspect the stems; 95% of stems can be rebuilt and reinstalled if there are no chips in the seat disc at the end of stem, cut splines on the other end of stem are not stripped.
Replace the packing, plastic ring, seat washer and bibb screw on stem using plumber's grease on all moving parts and fine threads of stem.
Reinstall stems with the stems wound out in the OPEN position. This will keep the stems from accidentally be installed without fully grounding out into the body.....like it should.
Then, screw the stems in to check for operation, reinstall chrome trim and handles.
These types of repairs can be very difficult if you have never done this before, along with not having the right tools can make it virtually impossible.