Porcelain bonnets on shower faucets

Terry - I have two shower wall valves in my home that have porcelain bonnets that seem to be preventing me from getting to the valves beneath. I removed the retaining color from each and then attempted to remove the bonnets, but they seem to be held fast. Can I assume the caulk is the only other thing likely holding them once the collars are off? I don't want to force them and possibly break them if there might be something else keeping them there. I don't have a way to post a picture but can e-mail one to you if you tell me where to send it.

Thanks

handle

Or HCJAKE@aol.com Caulk is probably the least likely thing holding the handle on, and if you try to force it off you will break it.

It looks like the chrome ring behind the handle should thread off.
you may need a handle puller to get the cross handle off.

Escutcheons

Those are porcelain escutcheons, and you can find a ton of those at salvage places (Earthwise in Seattle, etc). I redid my shower and broke on of those (dropped it) and found an exact replacement.

Usually the way to remove them is to take the handle and metal off, slide a razor/knife between the tile and the escutcheon to break the caulk seal.

That was my experience anyway.

Serge.

china

Those are "Fit-all" handles and they will fall off once the "handles" are unscrewed.

OK, an update. I am aware of the threaded ring behind the handles, and how to tale the handles off (unscrewing the spokes). Having done that, the porcelain definitely did not "fall off" but I will try the razor blade and get back to you.

Thanks for suggestions thus far.