Hi everyone,
My 7-year old Australian house is fitted with vandal-proof tap fittings. The tap handles have brass rings underneath that can only be removed with a special short-handled spanner. i wish to replace the tap washers I have the spanner, but the fittings are corroded (maybe not) in place. I have tried everything, from heating the tap handles, hitting them with a hammer, CRC (a special penetrating oil in a can), teflon lubricant, but cannot get the brass rings to budge. what else can I do, other than replace all the taps, so that I can replace the washers ???
Regards, Pieter
Replies
What exactly are you calling a "tap"? I suspect it's something common that you call by a different name than we do.
Don't laugh at these fogged up windows. It's your daughter in here.
tap - faucet
spanner - flat wrench
why would 'taps' only 7 years old have replaceable washers?
G'day!
T. Jeffery Clarke
Quidvis Recte Factum Quamvis Humile Praeclarum
Edited 5/24/2002 9:42:43 AM ET by Jeff Clarke
Ya know, if Prospero can program the forum to delete 'colorful' language, why can't they program it to translate Oz words? :)
I apologise for the misleading message. I was brought up in South Africa as an Afrikaner boy, so English is not my home language. I now live in Australia. Tes, taps are indeed faucets and spanners are wrenches. Most faucets here have washers that stop the water flow. Washers are made from leather or various synthetic material. My question is really about how to get the faucet handles off so that i can replace the washers inside. How do faucets work in the USA ? I am aware of faucets with ceramic discs, but our water is very hard and apparent.y these discs do not last.
Thanks again, pieter
If you're referring to my comment about translating Oz words, no apologizies necessary. Actually, the apology is mine. I was just jerking your chain a little, poking a little fun at regional differences. And it was truly meant in a fun way. Except the part about Prospero's programming. If you haven't picked up on it, most people here are still trying to get used to the new forum.
Many faucets in the US are also controlled by rubber/pvc/? washers, and it's usually a matter of simply unscrrewing the packing collar and pulling out the stem. If you have really hard water, maybe the calcium deposits have siezed the threads, and then all you need is a bigger wrench and something to keep the pipe from twisting.
ELCID72, I have thick hide, so yiuy can yank my chain for fun. I must say I always loved the Taunton forums, but after being away for a week, i notice very few new posts. i think many people have given up in frustration. I think with a bit of tuning they could improve it a lot.
Cheers, Pieter
How about a little more chain yanking from this Yank?
Since you are down under, maybe the threads go the opposite direction. Are you sure you are twisting the right way? Reverse threads have caught me with my pants down more than once.
Actually, sometimes a little twist the wrong way can break a siezed thread loose. In the same way, tapping a nail in a little can free the rust that is gripping it and it will then pull out easier.
Excellence is its own reward!
" Reverse threads have caught me with my pants down more than once. "
Please spare us any more details.
LOL
A little too literal. Eh friend?
Excellence is its own reward!
Have you tried it recently?
Sometime the penatrating oil and heat take a time to work through.
I fought one vanity tap for several days and almost broke it off. When back a could of months later and it was almost finger loose.
Here is what I would do. Heat it up, let it cool until warm. Then apply some penatrating oil around the thread. Then take a hammer and lightly tap around it it. That helps get the oil down into the threads and the jars also out break the rust free.
Then let it set for a day or two and repeat.
Bill, thanks for the advicew. The threads sit underneath the faucet handles. I spray the penetrating rust-removing oils stuff in from underneath. Of the 10 faucets, I can undo 3 of them. I think it may be time to saw of the handles and install new faucets... what a waste of money. I think the (looks like brass) locking collars have corroded and seized. How hot would you make the handles before letting them cool down ? Pieter