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Author:
Nsmith04 (TX)
Hello all,
Was having trouble with a dripping faucet, so I replaced the seat, springs, and stem. I ended up having to have Delta ship me the parts, as it's an older faucet. After replacing all of that, I couldn't get the bonnet to tighten all the way down. While screwing it on, it will start to tighten but then pop loose. I initially thought the bonnet was stripped or cross threaded but I've tried 5 different bonnets and ok do the same thing. If I take the stem out of the valve, the bonnets go on just fine. I ended up taking the o-ring off of the stem and using a smaller size (same diameter) in hopes that stretching the o-ring would thin it out and it helped in that it'll let me get the bonnet much tighter but still ends up popping loose when I use the wrench to tighten it.
Any idea of a resolution? Thought about using the weakest loctite I can find but unsure if that's the proper solution.
TIA,
Nick
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Author:
packy (MA)
does the bonnet have the circular adjustment ring in the center. if it does, back it off as much as possible without removing it.
P/S, don't put any locktite on the threads..
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Author:
Nsmith04 (TX)
There's no adjusting the bonnet - only able to screw it down on the valve.
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Author:
packy (MA)
OK, i was thinking of a different bonnet.
silly question but have you tried pushing down hard on the cartridge as you begin to catch the threads?
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Author:
Nsmith04 (TX)
Yes, and that's what I initially thought the issue was, but i out the stem in without the o-ring and it fit flush, allowing the bonnet to fit like it should. I have to use an o-ring or it'll leak from the handle, so using a smaller o-ring definitely helped and allows me to tighten the bonnet as tight as I can got it by hand, but with a few cranks of the wrench, it pops loose again. My fear is that over time of turning the handle off and on, it'll eventually pop loose and shoot water to the ceiling...again.
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Author:
george 7941 (Canada)
Looks like the male threads on the faucet body which engage the female threads on the bonnet nut are worn out. Faucet replacement time.
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Author:
Nsmith04 (TX)
Yeah, that's what I was thinking but the fact that it gets a good grip without the washer around the stem throws me off.
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Author:
packy (MA)
it's not a case of threads are good or threads are bad.. yours seem to be somewhere in the middle. good enough to catch the bonnet but not good enough to take a fair amount of stress..
this is more common with plastic threads rather than metal.
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Author:
hj (AZ)
I assume this is a two handled faucet. If so, the two notches for the stem have allowed the upper thread to squeeze inward so the cap does not grab them adequately, but without the stem it catches the lower threads. I have "pushed" the top of the valve outward to get a better grip on the threads, but if done incorrectly the cap will not screw on at all. Is this a 4" centerset or 8" wide spread faucet?
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Author:
Nsmith04 (TX)
Didn't think of that!
It is a two handle faucet, with handles and faucet all independent from one another. I'll give that a try.
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Author:
hj (AZ)
If it doesn't work, call 1-800-345-DELT and have them send you a new valve body.
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