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Author:
Nick777 (NJ)
The very first step of replacing stems and seats of my old 3 handle tub faucet has me stuck! I even used a faucet handle puller, but as I crank/turn the puller I sense that the puller spindle (the puller shaft that's inserted into/onto the stem broach) begins to flex! These handles are stuck on, and in a major way it seems!
I don't own a torch, but I do have a good quality Steinel heat gun with adjustable temp up to 1100 degrees. Is it a good and safe strategy to first crank down the puller as usual and then, while having generated a separating force between the handle and stem broach, to use my heat gun, heat applied onto the broach and puller spindle connection to break the handle free?
Any other strategies?
Thank you!
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Author:
packy (MA)
nick, I would open the valve all the way to expose as much of the stem as possible.
wet a very small piece of rag and wrap it around the stem to keep the stem cool.
then heat the handle as hot as possible.
NOW try the handle puller
if successful, what I'm afraid you will find is that the grooves on the end of the stem are fine (they are brass and don't corrode) but the grooves inside the handle are corroded away.
now you know why we plumbers laugh when someone calls and says " can you come over to change a washer? it should only take 5 minutes"
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Author:
120volts (CA)
I had a similar handles frozen shut by calcium and I tried prying off but the handles kept breaking off in sections, so I gave up. I couldn't even open the valve to expose the stem. I had them call a real plumber to replace the whole valve body, which was 25 years old and way overdue.
@packy: your last sentence is sooooooo true!
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Author:
marlinman (FL)
Try heating the handle and apply beeswax between the stem and the handle.The heat must be hot enough to melt the wax. Allow it to cool and then use the handle puller.
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Author:
hj (AZ)
I assume they did NOT ask the "real plumber" to remove the handles, which he probably could have done in a matter of minutes.
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