Stuck bath tap

nwbrfc

Hi, I have a bath tap that opens barely an eighth of a turn. I have found an example of the tap online - it is a Bensham 1885 Mk2 5412 Bath Washer Valves (pr) - I can't post a link as a new user, so googling this will show you the tap in question.

I don't know what the different parts of the tap are called, but I have sprayed WD40 where the stem meets the first hexagonal nut and on the large threaded area at the bottom (where the 26mm label is). Both of these are where the tap turns on the other tap that does work. However, when I try to turn the tap it won't budge beyond the 8th of a turn.

My questions are:

1. is there anything else other than WD40 that might loosen the inner workings of the tap?
2. is there a tool that I can apply to the tap handle to get enough leverage to force the tap to open?

I really don't want to have to buy a replacement tap as they cost £90.

Thanks in advance.

nwbrfc

Hi I noticed this has had 90 views but no replies. Is that because it is not fixable or have I not given enough info?

southcoastrgi

put some pics on one of the free hosting web sites then post the links here but take off the http:// bit & the forum will think it's just text, then one of us will post the pics up for you, i suspect i know what is wrong but i would like to see the pics first

maninthestreet

You probably need to replace the valve inside the tap, not the the entire tap.

mignon_2

Hello, you do not need to replace the whole tap at all, only the valve. It is better to replace the whole valve and not just the washer.

If you can find out who supplies these taps, they can probably help you in locating the spare valve, it shouldn't cost you more than a tenner for the whole thing, and you can replace it yourself. Don't let a plumber tell you to replace the tap, that's their game.

Good luck!

Hasbeen

You can try turning anticlockwise top valve stem nut slightly with spanner and turn valve handle.

If no joy turn water off to tap and turn bottom larger hex fitting again anticlockwise to remove to check internals.:)

southcoastrgi

mignon wrote: »

If you can find out who supplies these taps, they can probably help you in locating the spare valve, it shouldn't cost you more than a tenner for the whole thing, and you can replace it yourself. Don't let a plumber tell you to replace the tap, that's their game.

ok i've just goggled it & the price of two valves (not the whole tap) is £89-96 so i'm not quite sure where you got the tenner thing from ??

Not all plumbers are quite the rip off merchants you are trying to make them out to be, i know exactly what is wrong with the tap & it's a five min fix that the OP can do himself with no parts req

mignon_2

Just trying to be helpful. We sell replacement valves and we're not rip off merchants, and strangely enough...we sell them for £10!! (that's where I got it from) Anyway, if you know the answer then be helpful, tell the OP and don't be such a smart !!!!!!

Strange, i've never met a plumber who would do a ten minute job for free and not make someone replace their whole tap, we do, for free, and are hugely sucessful, so give it a go mr engineer.

southcoastrgi

mignon wrote: »

Just trying to be helpful. We sell replacement valves and we're not rip off merchants, and strangely enough...we sell them for £10!! (that's where I got it from) Anyway, if you know the answer then be helpful, tell the OP and don't be such a smart !!!!!!

Strange, i've never met a plumber who would do a ten minute job for free and not make someone replace their whole tap, we do, for free, and are hugely sucessful, so give it a go mr engineer.

then you are employing the wrong plumbers if they can't fix the OP's prob or maybe you just want to sell them a new tap to fit ?

I didn't say a plumber was going to do a 10 min job for free, i said it's a five min job for the OP that he could do for free, but then you want them to spend either £90 or your £10 for a new valve that the OP doesn't need.

southcoastrgi

OP take out the valve so it is shown as in the pic above, hold onto the big nut with a spanner & turn the tap head clockwise ie as if you are turning the tap off, the bit with the washer will fall out, when it does you will see it has the shape of a nut on the opp end to the washer, this needs to slot back into the main body if it is slightly out of alinement this will stop it going into the body of the valve, it can be a bit fiddly to get it to go back in as there isn't alot of room for adjustment just take your time & it will go (you need to turn the tap handle to draw it back in), while you have the valve out change the washer as this is prob why the nut came out it's seating in the first place.

there you go MN five min fix for free & a free 10 mins of a plumbers time, two things you have learnt today.

mignon_2

no I don't want to sell the OP anything, however, I can tell you that that part is hugely overpriced. I think I stated in my first post that the OP doens't need to replace the tap.

Again, why don't you just tell the OP how to fix the problem, instead of being a clever clogs?

I don't employ plumbers, especially ones who call themselves "engineers"!!