Pfister faucet, Finding right stem/cartridge for the original

[OklahomaDave]

I have an original single-handle shower faucet that I believe is failing, allowing cold supply water to run across to the hot side and make the temperature almost impossible to control (hot water barely lukewarm).

The faucet is shown in the first pic. I believe it is a Pfister 971-250. But I don't know what cartridge goes behind it, and I can't yet tear it down because I have no separate hot water cutoff. Would the failure be in the mixer or balancer?

The possible replacement tandem I found is photographed below. Is this the right pair, or are other cartridges possible?

Thanks!

 

[hj]

Call 800-PFAUCET and tell them you need a "pressure balance cartridge". It will have control and balancer as a single unit, even if you current one is two separate pieces.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Marlinman]

A one piece cartridge to replace all X08 valves is # 974-042

 

[OklahomaDave]

Just to close up this thread - given this had a bathroom torn down, I took a flyer on that stem/cartridge combo and it was the perfect, spot-on replacement. I had some seepage trouble when I first installed it, but a second go with a bit better hold of the stem against the valve solved that problem.

Bottom line - almost certain that the pressure balancer had failed. New cart/stem has plenty of sustained hot water now!!

Thanks for the help, as always.

 

[Shadyatbest]

They will most likely send one for free. I have had 3 hoses pop on my pull out sink faucet. Pf has sent me 2 compete faucets and 2 hoses under warranty.

 

[OklahomaDave]

They will most likely send one for free. I have had 3 hoses pop on my pull out sink faucet. Pf has sent me 2 compete faucets and 2 hoses under warranty.

Yeah, I suspect they would have. However, I had a torn-up shower used by half the family and didn't really have the luxury of waiting.