Bath tub spout can be rotated

[TommyTunes]

I have a weird setup in my bathtub. The tub spout is attached to the normal 1/2" copper stub, but if you grab the spout it can be moved from side to side. The copper line coming down from the mixing valve is regular 1/2" copper but it goes into some type of "swivel fitting", that allows the stub inside the tub spout to move to the left, or move to the right. Quite a bit of rotation, maybe a total of 2" (1" to the left and 1" to the right). This appears to be by design, because of the fitting behind the spout. It never leaks. I've contemplated changing it, just because it "feels" flimsy.

My question is, does anybody recognize this type of fitting, and know what it is called?

Thanks for any and all help!

Tommy

 

[FullySprinklered]

Sounds like some dweeble used a Shark-bite elbow. Should be a rigid installation, soldered copper el.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[TommyTunes]

Sounds like some dweeble used a Shark-bite elbow. Should be a rigid installation, soldered copper el.

It's not a shark bite, but you have exactly described the type of motion I'm getting. It's been in place since 2001, I don't think they had shark bites then.

 

[TommyTunes]

Here is an image of the mixing valve with the copper line for the stub out on the bottom. The vertical copper piece below the fitting that is covered in white sealant is the "other end" of the 1/2 copper stub out for the tub spout. It is strapped so it can't move up and down, but it will go left and right, and that rotation is happening right at that fitting. Note the copper pipe has no 90 in it--it is pre-bent for a 90 degree turn into the tub. It can rotate at the indentation right below the white-covered fitting. Does this help to identify it?

What is this type of fitting SUPPOSED to be used for?

help to identify it?

 

[Reach4]

What is this type of fitting SUPPOSED to be used for?

PEX?

You can tell better after you pull it out.

 

[Jadnashua]

When they installed that piece, they needed to tighten it at least one more turn, but a better solution would have been to solder it which still could be done but not easily since it can no longer be turned. Is it possible that that is a compression/union type fitting? IF so, just tighten the nut until the part the spout is on stops moving. Because of the long lever, a threaded L-shaped piece is not a great idea.

That does sort of look like it may be a pex copper stubout.

 

[FullySprinklered]

It's a pex cu stub-out. Someone put a couple of O-rings on it and jammed it up into a 1/2 male X whatever and tried to make it work.

If it worked he wouldn't be posting here.