Mixer shower cartridge

MSaxp

Hi,
We have an aqualisa a mixer shower. The flow valve seems to be stuck, so I assume we need a new one. I took it out and tried to order a replacement, but it seems to be £50! I mean the whole shower bar was about £90.
I can find many non brand valves for £10, but while the dimensions match, the design is a little bit different. Are these compatible in general? Or should I just buy a new shower? £50 for the part sounds quite outrageous.

Thank you! 

Jeepers_Creepers

Check the main dimensions are exactly the same. Also the spindle diameter and the number of splines.

'Main' dims are - from very bottom of the valve to the flange where it seats in the hole, and from the flange to the top before the spindle begins. (And then the spindle info as above0.

If you can find a cheapo to match, then it's worth trying (unless it's obviously plastic and carp).

Model of shower? Photo of part?

MSaxp

Aqualisa APV exposed

Jeepers_Creepers

Yikes! That ain't even a ceramic type cartridge!

Good chance you can actually fix this quite easily. Did you remove a circlip from around the bottom of the splined shaft?

You are saying that it's completely seized? Does it turn even a tiny bit in either direction? If not, try turning the rubber waher end too, a small bit one way then another, as you also try turning the splined spindle.

Report back, please (plus a photo of the top of the valve).

Jeepers_Creepers

And could you link to the replacement Aqualisa part you found?

MSaxp

You can get ceramic ones? The two showers I've opened both had these brass ones.
No, not completely seized. With some descaler and silicone lubricant it works now. I have to admit I am still not sure which part the problem is in (judging by your response, one of the 2 washers)

 This is the actual part https://www.showerspares.com/search/aqualisa-aq75-flow-cartridge-and-handle-910503/

But I found the receipt and I paid £65 for the whole shower. Although I only got 4 years out of it 😂

Jeepers_Creepers

MSaxp said:

You can get ceramic ones? The two showers I've opened both had these brass ones.
No, not completely seized. With some descaler and silicone lubricant it works now. I have to admit I am still not sure which part the problem is in (judging by your response, one of the 2 washers)

 This is the actual part https://www.showerspares.com/search/aqualisa-aq75-flow-cartridge-and-handle-910503/

But I found the receipt and I paid £65 for the whole shower. Although I only got 4 years out of it 😂

Ah, that's costly 'cos it comes with a new handle.

I doubt there's a ceramic replacement for it - I just meant that I expected it to be ceramic.

See the turning spindle part? At the bottom of that where it goes into the valve body, there should be a circlip. If you prise this off, you should be able to push the whole innards out from the bottom. You'll then see what you are dealing with - basically two brass parts, coarse-threaded together, so that the outer part extends when the inner spindle part is turned. The outer part will also likely be hexagonal-shaped and fits inside the hexagonal body of the main valve - this stops that outer part from rotating.

Anyhoo, you clean up all the parts, turn that rubber washer over while you are at it to expose a nice clean surface, liberally coat the threads in sili grease, screw the two parts fully together, apply a nice layer of s-g also on the spindle since it'll be passing through wee a rubber O-ring on the way out t'top of the body, and replace the circlip. It should operate smoothly.

Jeepers_Creepers

https://www.notjusttaps.co.uk/tap-valves-washer-compression.html

Look at each one in turn - I'm guessing it must at least be a 3/4" size? Each one on there has a diagram showing its measurements. The critical dims are as I said before - see the widest flange, the parts that seats on the shower body when you screw it in - it has a rubber O-ring around it? Cool, well from there to the (retracted) washer bottom, and from there to the spindle top. Then there's the spindle itseld - diameter and no' of splines.

MSaxp

Thank you this is super helpful. I really appreciate the time you took to to reply so thoroughly. For now after the greasing and flipping the washer, it works fine. If it gets stuck again, I will have your website in mind (£10 sounds reasonable) Thank you again! 
(yes sorry I had removed the circlip in the pic I sent, but it's back now) 

Jeepers_Creepers

Nice job - well done!

So you took it all apart? And fully lubed it with sili? Most likely it'll last a good couple of years more.