Wrench to tighten in tight space ?

[Louis Hemmi]

I have a kitchen island with dishwasher,disposer,and sink.
I bought a new faucet handle with spray hose, but cannot tighten it
from below -- not enough room to really tighten it.

I have had a plumber and a handyman out, and they can't tighten it well,
either. They tighten it as much as they can, but it isn't tight for
long. It's a "Standard" brand , and in order to change hot/cold, I have
to use both hands.

I'm told that there is a special tool that will get a grip on the nut
with little clearance. The drain pipes are in the way.

Does anyone have an idea of what I need. The handyman suggested removing
all the pipes (PVC), removing the sink (double stainless steel), and
then putting everything back together. This would run a couple of
hundred dollars :(

Any help would be appreciated !!

reply to newsgroup or hem...@ix.netcom.com

Thanks very much for your attention !

Louis (hapless home owner in Houston, Texas)
====
--
Hemmi WEB - design, quality assurance, info services
http://pw2.netcom.com/~hemmi1/index.htm

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Thanks for your patience

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[davefr]

I would just pull out the whole assembly and attach the faucet end of
the tubing. Slip it back in and then attach the valve end.
(the sprayer can be removed where the hose couples to it)

You might also be able to extend the copper stubs by soldering on
longer lengths and a coupling.

I've also seen "tool-less" versions of coupling hoses. They have a nut
with wings on it so you can simply use your hand to tighten it.

[mark_the...@my-deja.com]

In article <3893004F...@ix.netcom.com>,

hemmi1___nosp*am...@ix.netcom.com wrote:
> I have a kitchen island with dishwasher,disposer,and sink.
> I bought a new faucet handle with spray hose, but cannot tighten it
> from below -- not enough room to really tighten it.
>
> I have had a plumber and a handyman out, and they can't tighten it
well,
> either. They tighten it as much as they can, but it isn't tight for
> long. It's a "Standard" brand , and in order to change hot/cold, I
have
> to use both hands.
>
> I'm told that there is a special tool that will get a grip on the nut
> with little clearance. The drain pipes are in the way.
>
> Does anyone have an idea of what I need. The handyman suggested
removing
> all the pipes (PVC), removing the sink (double stainless steel), and
> then putting everything back together. This would run a couple of
> hundred dollars :(
>
> Any help would be appreciated !!
>
> reply to newsgroup or hem...@ix.netcom.com
>
> Thanks very much for your attention !
>
> Louis (hapless home owner in Houston, Texas)

The tool you are describing sounds like a basin wrench. This is a
standard plumbing tool, so I would expect your plumber to have one. A
basin wrench consists of a spring-loaded "claw" on the end of a rod so
that you can reach into tight spaces like you are describing. Even
then it's not always easy. The best, in my opinion, is Ridgid brand.
This is the tool we normally use to tighten supply risers, spray hoses,
etc. Ridgid makes one that is extendable so that you can reach quite a
ways if necessary.

Hope this helps.

Mark, the plumber
--
http://marks_plumbing.tripod.com/index.html

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

[foxeye]

I have never found a situation where the old basin wrench would not
work. If you can get a 1.2" dia dowel or rod or whatever through the
pipes and touch the part needing fastening or tightening, the basin
wrench will work........so will crows feet or open end box sockets on
an extension......................

evidently you just did not stumble on a person that really knows what
they are doing.
foxeye

On Sat, 29 Jan 2000 07:26:17 -0800, davefr
<dav...@REMOVETHISpacifier.com> wrote:

>I would just pull out the whole assembly and attach the faucet end of
>the tubing. Slip it back in and then attach the valve end.
>(the sprayer can be removed where the hose couples to it)
>
>You might also be able to extend the copper stubs by soldering on
>longer lengths and a coupling.
>
>I've also seen "tool-less" versions of coupling hoses. They have a nut
>with wings on it so you can simply use your hand to tighten it.
>
>
>
>On Sat, 29 Jan 2000 08:59:27 -0600, Louis Hemmi

><hemmi1___nosp*am...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
>
>>I have a kitchen island with dishwasher,disposer,and sink.
>>I bought a new faucet handle with spray hose, but cannot tighten it
>>from below -- not enough room to really tighten it.
>>
>>I have had a plumber and a handyman out, and they can't tighten it well,
>>either. They tighten it as much as they can, but it isn't tight for
>>long. It's a "Standard" brand , and in order to change hot/cold, I have
>>to use both hands.
>>
>>I'm told that there is a special tool that will get a grip on the nut
>>with little clearance. The drain pipes are in the way.
>>
>>Does anyone have an idea of what I need. The handyman suggested removing
>>all the pipes (PVC), removing the sink (double stainless steel), and
>>then putting everything back together. This would run a couple of
>>hundred dollars :(
>>
>>Any help would be appreciated !!
>>
>>reply to newsgroup or hem...@ix.netcom.com
>>
>>Thanks very much for your attention !
>>
>>Louis (hapless home owner in Houston, Texas)

>>====

[rps]

I went through precisely the same problem yesterday. I tried a plumbers
wrench, a basin wrench and a vise grip with no luck. I finally managed to
get in with a spanner. But there was no way I could also get a second wrench
in so that I wouldn't shear the copper tube. I tightened very carefully with
teflon tape on the threads. To my amazement, when I turned the water back
there was no leak.
If there had been, I was going to either pull the whole sink or else cut a
larger hole so that the pigtails could be fitted to the faucet and then fed
through the sink and the counter.
I have another problem with jobs like this. Something quirky in my ear or
my stomach. When I lie on my back for a job like this, I get an upset
stomach. Anybody else have this problem or a way to solve it.
ds

[Norm Nadel]

DS:

I am a physician. I would get an appointment with your doctor ..
preferably a gastroenterologist. There is a condition called "hiatus
hernia" in which the stomach enters the chest cavity via the diaphragm
under circumstances like yours .. especially after eating. It can be
diagnosed by taking contrast X-rays while lying down, etc. That would
be one explanation.

This is not to be taken as medical advice .. it is a suggestion.

Norm

[John©]

I'm surprized no one suggested that $19.95 wrench they sell on late night
TV...