how to fix a leaking tub/shower handle?

[nonlinear]

one of the bathrooms has a 'knob' that switches the water flow from the tub up to the shower head (I think it's called a rotating diverter valve), but it leaks a bit when we turn on the shower so that there is some water loss (we want all of the water to go to the shower head). I'm assuming that there is a gasket or something in the valve that just needs replaced, but before taking the knob off and trying to figure it out myself i thought i'd ask on here and see if anyone else has had this problem before and had any suggestions....

cause right now my strategy is to just take the thing apart and take it all to rona and replace all the seals/gaskets that i can find heheh

thanks

[sillysod]

i would suggest you take a picture.

then people here can tell u what to do.

[nonlinear]

ok, well i took off the handle and underneath there is a large brass nut or something. i don't have a deep enough socket to take it off, and i'm not exactly sure what size it even is so i'll have to get a new socket to proceed with my plan hahah

does anyone have any idea if i need to remove or adjust that nut? or what size the nut is? i tried to take a pic of it but i pretty much suck at photography so not sure how helpful it is:

[nonlinear]

but there is no leaking around said brass nut - it just seems like when i try to turn the shower on, the knob turns all the way, but there is still water leaking out of the tub spout... if that makes any sense

[TomcoPDR]

Is that a Wal-Tec brand unit?

You'd probably need a facet wrench, about $15-$30 at the hardware store.

[civicrider]

duct tape

[nonlinear]

Originally posted by TomcoPDR
Is that a Wal-Tec brand unit?

You'd probably need a facet wrench, about $15-$30 at the hardware store.

hey man, i'm not sure what brand it is... where would it say that?

i'll go to rona and take a look at those wrenches... but how do they work? cause it looks like my brass nut is like an inch or so. those wrenches just look like they have screwdriver ends (?)

[swak]

Originally posted by civicrider
duct tape

Damn...
Beat me to it.

hahaha...

Duct tape fixes it all.

[TomcoPDR]

Originally posted by nonlinear


hey man, i'm not sure what brand it is... where would it say that?

i'll go to rona and take a look at those wrenches... but how do they work? cause it looks like my brass nut is like an inch or so. those wrenches just look like they have screwdriver ends (?)

Can you get close up of the inside of that brass nut?

The facet wrench ends are just special shapes used in the plumbing industry I suppose, not just any screwdriver tho, but I know what u mean cuz I was upset to spend $25 just for 1 quick fix (tightening) 3 years ago. Should had refunded it but I don't wanna be the 1 to wreck the system.

[AZ REALTY]

First off, shut off the water, then unscrew the chrome cover that surrounds the cartridge. Once you have the cover off, you can unscrew the cartridge with a crescent wrench. Take the cartridge into Home Depot and replace all the gaskets and possibly even the cartridge itself.

[jaylo]

Originally posted by nonlinear
ok, well i took off the handle and underneath there is a large brass nut or something. i don't have a deep enough socket to take it off, and i'm not exactly sure what size it even is so i'll have to get a new socket to proceed with my plan hahah

does anyone have any idea if i need to remove or adjust that nut? or what size the nut is? i tried to take a pic of it but i pretty much suck at photography so not sure how helpful it is:

Hey,
I've done this many times. There is an o-ring gasket between the big nut and the middle part.

You have to remove the big nut, which is a whole assembly and replace the said o-ring gasket.

You can get these gaskets at Rona

[nonlinear]

thanks for all the help guys! just bought a new assembly at rona for like $22. works like a charm, thanks again!

now, on to the sink!

we had a single-lever sink faucet that was leaking cold water. i went and bought a ball assembly and repair kit.

i took everything apart and replaced the springs and plastic seals for the springs. then i put in the new ball assembly, seal, etc.

however, now when i turn on the tap, i hardly get any water coming out of it. is there some way I amm supposed to adjust it or something? i see the adjustment ring on top of the chrome cover, but it doesn't seem to do anything when i loosen or tighten it

thanks

here's a diagram of the situation if anyone is interested:

[TomcoPDR]

Maybe check the seats and springs, they could had got mis-aligned as you were screwing the assembly together.

[nonlinear]

yea, i've checked them a few times. it's kinda a bitch. are they supposed to be flush with the inside of the faucet? cause they want to push out a bit. i'm assuming that's to push it against the ball assembly or something

what is the role of the adjuster ring?

[TomcoPDR]

Originally posted by nonlinear


what is the role of the adjuster ring?

And I'm not a plumber neither, BTW.

I would think that could be the part you tighten or loosen, that keeps the tension on the steel ball strength.

[nonlinear]

yea, i can't seem to figure it out. i think i might just call a plumber.

also, after turning the cold water shut off a few times, i got a leak in that! not sure if i can fix that by tightening the screw in the handle (it's dark and i'm getting bored of this for today)

[sillysod]

you don't need a plumber for that. obviously you put it together wrong, or else you have something that is plugging the stainless diffuser on the outlet end of the faucet.

is it posible that you have the stainless blending valve in 180degrees?

[nonlinear]

is the stainless blending valve the same thing as the ball assembly? cause the white plastic thing holds is in a certain configuration, i'm guessing to line up and mix the hot and cold water inputs. i can't seem to get the screen airator off, but i'm not sure that's the problem cause the hot was working at full blast before i touched anything. unless some corrosion got stuck in there when i took everything apart.


how can i remove the screen? i tried to unscrew it with a needle nose, but it wasn't unscrewing.

[Guillermo]

LOL, sorry to bump this thread but I was just reading it because I have a shower that needs to be fixed, like described above. I just wanted to say that you guys are fucking awesome. this is a really old thread, but I get a kick out of what an idiot nonlinear is , and how cool you guys are helping out, etc. big ups