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I’m trying to remove an old 4 inch spread lavi faucet and can’t get the underside mounting nuts to break lose. I have the deep lavi socket and am getting fairly good leverage with a rod thru the hole at the base of the socket. I have sprayed liquid wrench on the nut and threads and still can’t get either nut to budge. Any suggestions from the repair plumbers or anyone else? Thanks.
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Ted, you must have a tool shortage. Tell your sweet wife that calling a plumber for this will cost at least $300 after call costs and labor. Then tell her that for much less you can buy a propane torch, a Sawzall, and a couple of good pipe wrenches. You'll probably only need the torch, but the rest is gravy.
*Ted- If you can do it without burning the house down, try heating the nuts with a torch for a minute. I keep a kid's water gun handy when doing torch work so if you have access, it's a good low impact fire extinguisher. Sometimes the build-up of minerals, rust, etc. make those things damn near impossible to get off. I've found heat does the best when possible. Good luck.
*Worst case: pull the sink. Then you have enough access to do whatever you need.Rich, why not do a one half hour job in two?, Beckman
*Put on eye protection. Drill the nut 2 places on opposing sides. Falls apart.
*Steve, have all the tools, just didn't know which ones to use. On second thought you never have all the tools. Rich, can't pull the sink tiled in. Homeright, I'll try the torch and hope I don't burn the house down which would really be depressing as this is this that "little favor" in the other bathroom for a client for whom I just finished a bath remodel. I guess I'll never learn. Wet head, good idea; don't know if I can get a drill in there (now I see here's were the new tool comes in) but if i can I'll give it a go. Thanks to all.
*If you can't get the drill up there, try your new Dremel.
*If you don't have room to drill, you probably don't have room for this but... Use two hammers of the same weight and rap them in unison on opposite sides of the nut. I’ve used this with great success on many frozen shafts nuts. Spent a year one summer as a machinist in a South Naknek salmon cannery in a former life. I'll also file away Wet Heads idea - good one.Ken
*Do you have hard water, metal nuts, is it rusted. I soak a towel in vinegar when removing old nuts on sinks. Wrap it around the fitting let sit 4hrs at least. Then try a basin wrench. If that doesn't work, I go w/ the dremel and cut off wheel, wear glasses.
*lonecat, you're absolutely right my new Dremel was just the ticket, and what a bute it is too. thanks
*ROFLMFAOYes !! I love it.b : )
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I'm trying to remove an old 4 inch spread lavi faucet and can't get the underside mounting nuts to break lose. I have the deep lavi socket and am getting fairly good leverage with a rod thru the hole at the base of the socket. I have sprayed liquid wrench on the nut and threads and still can't get either nut to budge. Any suggestions from the repair plumbers or anyone else? Thanks.