Fixing striped stem end so shower knob can grip again?

Thank you to all the plumbing professionals who offer their advice and expertise

Over 700,000 strictly plumbing related posts

Welcome to Plbg.com (also known as PlumbingForum.com) where plumbing advice, education, information, help and suggestions are provided by some of the most experienced plumbers and plumbing contractors anywhere who all wish to "give back" to society. Since 1996 we have been free without popup or other invasive ads and known to be the best online STRICTLY PLUMBING advice site. If you have questions about plumbing, toilets, sinks, faucets, drains, sewers, water filters, venting, water heating, showers, pumps, and other strictly PLUMBING related issues then you've come to the right place. Please refrain from asking or discussing legal questions, or pricing, or where to find and/or purchase products, or any business issues, or for contractor referrals, or any other questions or issues not specifically related to plumbing. Keep all posts positive and absolutely no advertising. Our site is completely free, without ads or pop-ups and we don't track you. We absolutely do not sell your personal information. We are made possible by:

How to Show Images

Newest Subjects

Fixing striped stem end so shower knob can grip again?

Author: learningdiy (CA)

I've just successfully repaired a leaky hot water shower by replacing the washer on end of stem. I've confirmed this fixes the leak, but now unfortunately the Sayco handle is slipping and not turning the water on/off again. I tried out the handle on the other step and it grips fine, so it looks like the issue is the grooves on the end of the stem itself.

Is there any way to get some additional mileage out of the stripped end of the stem? I tried plumber's tape, but it wasn't enough to allow the handle to grip. Are there other plumber's tricks I could try?

Thanks in advance!

Re: Fixing striped stem end so shower knob can grip again?
Author: bernabeu (SC) cut a strip of 'aluminum foil' about 3/8" wide and try wrapping the splines on the stem so that the handle is a TIGHT 'tap on' fit
Post Reply

Re: Fixing striped stem end so shower knob can grip again?
Author: packy (MA) the stem should be replaceable.
Post Reply

Re: Fixing striped stem end so shower knob can grip again?
Author: bernabeu (SC) yes, but perhaps not IMMEDIATELY
Post Reply

Re: Fixing striped stem end so shower knob can grip again?
Author: hj (AZ) I knew a plumber who had that problem in his own house. He used vise grip pliers until he got ready to sell the house, then he replaced the stem.
Post Reply

Re: Fixing striped stem end so shower knob can grip again?
Author: bernabeu (SC) 'personally' i would use the foil as a temp fix while the stem was 'in transit'
Post Reply

Please note:

Inappropriate messages or blatant advertising will be deleted. We cannot be held responsible for bad or inadequate advice.
Plbg.com has no control over external content that may be linked to from messages posted here. Please follow external links with caution.
Plbg.com is strictly for the exchange of plumbing related advice and NOT to ask about pricing/costs, nor where to find a product (try Google), nor how to operate or promote a business, nor for ethics (law) and the like questions.
Plbg.com is also not a place to ask radiant heating (try HeatingHelp.com), electrical or even general construction type questions. We are exclusively for plumbing questions.

Search for plumbing parts on our sponsor's site:

Plbg Advisor List Find A Plumber Plumbing Manufacturers Directory theplumber.com

Special thanks to our sponsor:

to FAQ's - to popular subjects - to plumbing books - to Tankless 101 - to plumbing history - to helping charities - to contact us