Advice on Speakman Kent 1964 dual handle shower faucet repair

[hi27504]

I am trying to follow the instructions here to replace a valve stem and hot water handle which had both become stripped: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/how-to/how-to-repair-shower-valve-stem

I have gotten as far as step 5 (loosen and remove the escutcheon) and started on step 6. In the video it looks like he uses a wrench to loosen a nut. This is me starting to do that here: https://cloudup.com/c_d_nhfMkjU

However what I found is the nut simply unscrews off from the rest of the stem. Turning this nut does not unscrew the stem. You can see here how I have exposed the shiny untarnished threads at the rear of this nut, but the stem has not unscrewed at all: https://cloudup.com/cyWRNDDRp5J

So I think I'm supposed to unscrew the round thing further back inside the wall. How do I grip that? Do I need a plumbers socket set like this: https://goo.gl/hCUKic

I don't understand how the socket set will help, because those sockets have hexagonal ends and the piece I can see inside my wall looks pretty round. What am I missing here?

ETA: I got the idea to look at it from the back, as there's an access panel in a closet. The round piece I can see from the front appears to be the water supply pipe itself: https://cloudup.com/cgFSy7aLuqD

I don't see anything that I could turn and remove. Why doesn't the stem just pull out at this point?

House is 54 years old, built in 1964. I've only owned it for 3 years so I don't know if these taps are the original or not.

I've had a plumber in recently for some expensive repairs and would rather avoid another $100+ housecall if this is something I can repair on my own. I have 6 of these taps total and they probably all need this upgrade eventually so it's worth it to me to learn how to do it.

 

[hi27504]

I got a better grip with a different set of pliers and found I could in fact unscrew the entire stem off. Here's what it looks like:
https://cloudup.com/cbYOM5L64jp

Lowe's and Ace both say they don't have anything like this. What's my next step?

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Reach4]

Your picture links may work for other, but not for me.

 

[Terry]

There is a rubber washer at the end of the stem. It may be that replacing the washer is all you need to do.
When you say stripped, that normally means the threads are bad. I don't see bad threads there. It does need some cleaning up. What are those deposits around the stem?

 

[hi27504]

I'm not sure what the white deposits are. I can see the splines but it mostly feels smooth when I run my finger around it, same as the inside of the tap handle.

I have exactly this tub setup -- the faucet handles say "Speakman Kent" on the little disc inserts:
http://notthisoldhouse.blogspot.com/2011/01/1960s-era-speakman-kent-shower-valves.html

And this is exactly what the stem looks like after I remove the outer nut and the weird greasy string whatever:
https://www.fergusonrepairparts.com/item/p099-285/

It says out of stock though!

I stuck the end of the stem in some white vinegar to see if that will help with the deposits, if that's all the problem is. The original problem was not a leak, it was that the hot water handle would spin and spin but the water would not come on.

 

[Terry]

It does look like they have the complete faucet rebuild kit in stock though.

 

[hi27504]

I think I will try my local Ferguson's store this week. Thanks for the advice!

 

[hi27504]

Update: Ferguson's store offered to ship me the 3-valve rebuild kit but otherwise didn't have much hands-on advice to give. Everyone keeps telling me it will be "easier" to convert the three taps to a single handle and then repair the tiles damaged in the process. I don't actually see how that's easier for me, since I don't even know where to begin with that.

I found what looked to be a single replacement stem complete with packing on jet.com so I ordered it and it arrived today. While the new part isn't identical it does look equivalent and everything seems to screw back into the pipe smoothly: Link to picture

As long as the tap is completely closed it's fine, so the washer on the end is doing the job. But when I turn the stem to open the water flow out the faucet, some water also comes shooting out the center around the stem. I made a video to show it (just 17 seconds long): Link to video

I tried this first with just the new stem, packing, and nut, and it leaked. I tried it again putting the old nut over the new stem (leaked). I tried just putting the new packing (basically a gasket? I guess?) on the old stem, still leaked. The packing seems to be the failure point but I'm not sure what to do. I saw a youtube video about using teflon packing tape to wrap a leaky stem, is that what I should try here instead of the gasket?

 

[Reach4]

I did not watch your video. You can add PTFE packing on top of the packing gasket.

 

[hi27504]

I couldn't get the tape to wrap over the gasket but I tried the tape alone (about 5 rounds) and also added plumber's tape to the threads of the nut, and it's leak-free now. Thanks!

 

[Bri]

I am trying to remove both stems on my Speakman-Kent shower valve and I can get both stems to unscrew as in the photo, but there is something on the end of both of them stopping them coming out. Any ideas?