Stuck shut-off faucet
Todd Witt
kitchen sink.
I went under the sink to the shut-offs and they were stuck like stone.
I sprayed WD-40 on them and about half an hour later I tried again. The
cold shut-off is easy to close now, but the hot shut-off was still
stuck. I've sprayed it about 3 times now and it still won't budge a bit.
Any ideas to loosen it?
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Yaofeng
Take a good look at the hot water shutoff valve. Go to Home Depot and
buy an exact replica. Likely three dollars and change. Shut off you
main supply valve at the meter. Turn on the kitchen faucet and let
water run out. Use a spaner to remove the valve stem that was stuck.
Remove the stem from the valve you bought from Home Depot. Replace it.
--
Yaofeng
Speedy Jim
Corrosion builds up after years of non-use.
But....be prepared for possible leaks: find out where the main
valve is; better yet, close it first.
Jim
mike
Todd Witt <todd...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:92iqur$sq0$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
> Finally decided to tackle the recently dripping hot water tap in the
> kitchen sink.
>
> I went under the sink to the shut-offs and they were stuck like stone.
> I sprayed WD-40 on them and about half an hour later I tried again. The
> cold shut-off is easy to close now, but the hot shut-off was still
> stuck. I've sprayed it about 3 times now and it still won't budge a bit.
more wd40, vice grips, and /or a propane torch.
Bruce Birbeck
>
> In article <92iqur$sq0$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>,
> Todd Witt <todd...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > Finally decided to tackle the recently dripping hot water tap in the
> > kitchen sink.
> >
> > I went under the sink to the shut-offs and they were stuck like stone.
> > I sprayed WD-40 on them and about half an hour later I tried again.
> The
> > cold shut-off is easy to close now, but the hot shut-off was still
> > stuck. I've sprayed it about 3 times now and it still won't budge a
> bit.
> >
> > Any ideas to loosen it?
> >
> > Sent via Deja.com
> > http://www.deja.com/
> >
>
> Take a good look at the hot water shutoff valve. Go to Home Depot and
> buy an exact replica.
Seriously, what makes you think that the valves sold at Home Despot are
going to match exactly with whatever is under his sink? There are dozens
of mfgs around the globe, anyone of which could supply the valves in
either place. Add the age factor, and the odds of a match are long.
> Likely three dollars and change. Shut off you
> main supply valve at the meter. Turn on the kitchen faucet and let
> water run out. Use a spaner to remove the valve stem that was stuck.
> Remove the stem from the valve you bought from Home Depot. Replace it.
>
> --
> Yaofeng
>
Likely if you remove the guts of the valve and loosen up the stem , then
reassemble it, it would work freely. It might leak around the body as
well.
Good luck.
I've had luck with a pipe wrench on the handle. Go easy, first one way,
then the other.
> Sent via Deja.com
> http://www.deja.com/
--
BBB
Zipped sig file. To unzip, click here:
NOSPAMBOB
1/2 turn. Allows going BOTH ways to fight corrosion.
In article <3A4D76...@tidewater.net>, Bruce Birbeck <roc...@tidewater.net>
writes:
>Go easy, first one way, then the other.
Name works for E-mail
Iove doII
Personally, I'd first grab my 3 foot pipe wrench, then break out the
oxy-acetylene torch and if those failed, I'd give it a few "love taps" with my
16 lb sledge hammer.
>Todd Witt <todd...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>news:92iqur$sq0$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
>> Finally decided to tackle the recently dripping hot water tap in the
>> kitchen sink.
>>
>> I went under the sink to the shut-offs and they were stuck like stone.
>> I sprayed WD-40 on them and about half an hour later I tried again. The
>> cold shut-off is easy to close now, but the hot shut-off was still
>> stuck. I've sprayed it about 3 times now and it still won't budge a bit.
Dan Hicks
First, just to be on the safe side, turn off the water at the main
valve. (It's a good idea to also turn off the water heater, just in
case things go downhill and you forget to do it later.)
Then loosen the packing nut around the shaft of the problem valve
(**not** the nut on the pipe!) 1/4 to 1/2 turn. Try the valve. If it
still won't move, try turning the valve in the opposite direction a
hair. Sometimes this is all that's needed to free up the valve. If it
still won't move, open another faucet to relieve the pressure, put a pie
pan under the valve to catch the water, and completely remove the
packing nut. Then you should be able to unscrew the guts of the valve
and free things up.
Roger Shoaf
ball valve that you can buy for less than $5. Even if you are able to get
the old valve unstuck, think about the time your wife whacks the supply line
under the sink and it starts leaking all over your cabinets, kitchen floor
and soaking into your walls and the Mrs. cant shut off the damn valve under
the sink. A hell of a lot of damage can be done by the time she gets the
main shut off.
Every time I work on a sink, or a toilet in one of my rentals or my house I
always change those valves. Cheap insurance IMO. I have also had the
experience of having an angle stop shaft twist off and only then did I
discover the shaft was plastic, Arrgghhh!
Good luck,
--
Roger Shoaf
If you are not part of the solution, you are not dissolved in the solvent.
Todd Witt <todd...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:92iqur$sq0$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
Bruce Birbeck
>
> I am going to suggest replacing the angle stop you have now with a 1/4 turn
> ball valve that you can buy for less than $5.
Great idea! Who makes these angle ball valves, and where can I find
them?
Todd Witt
to close it. With the water now off, I removed the tap cover and then
tried to undo the stem so I could get to the washer. Needles to say the
stem is as gunked up and tight as the shut-off was.
So, I've WD-40'd it a few times and I'm still waiting for it to give.
Sigh...
Dan Hicks
>
> Fun time indeed. After three days of WD-40'ing the shut off, I was able
> to close it. With the water now off, I removed the tap cover and then
> tried to undo the stem so I could get to the washer. Needles to say the
> stem is as gunked up and tight as the shut-off was.
>
> So, I've WD-40'd it a few times and I'm still waiting for it to give.
The thing to do on faucets like that is to douse them with vinegar.
Soak a paper towel in the stuff and wrap it around the unit, then pour
more on top.
Todd Witt
Dan Hicks <danh...@ieee.org> wrote:
> The thing to do on faucets like that is to douse them with vinegar.
Thanks for the tip. Man, I can't believe the amount of black gunk and
buildup around the stem. To top that off, the nut's less than 1/4" so
it's hard getting the pliers round the darn thing.
Oh well, it's a plumbing adventure.