I am a homeowner and I'm trying to replace the tub diverter spout on my bathtub. I watched several YouTube videos and have discovered that I have the type of diverter spout that has a hole underneath for a setscrew. I have used a flashlight in the mirror to look into the hole under the spout and I do not see any type of screw. I understand from watching videos thait should be either a setscrew are Phillips or another type of screw. I even put my finger up there and do not feel any type of screw.

I had my whole bathroom remodel about 10 years ago and had the spout put in at that time. I have always noticed that the spout is not tight against the tile on the wall. I have also noticed that the contractor who put it in caulked around the outside of the spout. I have not seen one YouTube video where they suggest putting caulk around the edge on the outside of the diverter spout where it meets the wall.

I am wondering if it's possible that the contractor never put the set screw in and simply put caulk around the outside of the spout? I don't want to damage the pipe. What would be the best way to go about removing the spout? If I cannot feel any setscrew should I just start turning it counter clockwise?

Has anyone ever seen a contractor put the spout on this way could that possibly be the reason why it's always been a little Wiggley against the wall??

Any help would be appreciated thank you.

Most likely your spout is threaded directly onto a pipe nipple. To remove, use a utility knife to cut the caulk all around the spout and it should unscrew. The spout should either unscrew from the nipple, or the spout and nipple will unscrew from whatever is behind the wall, depending on how it was constructed. Take it from me, there's no telling what the previous guy did to connect it. A drop ear to brass nipple? A solder copper stub out to male sweat fitting? A CPVC glued nipple to male adapter? Who knows? You could open a can of worms. Is the 90 in the wall secured to any framing? If not, it will be loosey-goosey and you could warp/break something until the 90 is secured behind the wall to something solid.

If it is sturdy, you may cut the male adapter off and use a universal fit spout WITH a set screw to snug it up. If it were me, I'd just cut the old caulk, clean it up and put a pretty bead of new silicone caulk around it and forget about it.

I suggest using a small mirror and a flashlight to get a better look at the problem. If it has a set screw, it is probably requires an allen wrench and not phillips. Identifying the attachment method with 100% accuracy is the first step to removing it without causing damage to the piping.

Even spouts without the setscrew have the slot in the bottom for drainage, so if you cannot see, or feel, a setscrew it probably does NOT have one and the spout is screwed on to a pipe.