Verdeboy
In the Trades
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I was working on a very old 3 handle tub faucet, think it was either a Sterling or PP. The shower surround had failed big time and the leaky valve stems were extremely corroded. I managed with a great deal of effort to remove the hot and cold stems, and they work fine after I rebuilt them. But I couldn't budge the diverter stem. I was using a plumbing socket with my biggest crescent wrench for leverage. I felt that if I cranked on this stem much harder, it would snap and I'd be in deep doo doo, 'cuz the customer doesn't have the money for a whole new shower manifold. So, I stopped.
I've broken off shower stems in the past when I tried to remove a frozen-on handle, but I've never snapped one off way at the bottom using a socket. Is that even possible? Would a penetrating oil do any good? Should I have tried using a torch?
I've broken off shower stems in the past when I tried to remove a frozen-on handle, but I've never snapped one off way at the bottom using a socket. Is that even possible? Would a penetrating oil do any good? Should I have tried using a torch?
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