Delta shower valve leaking--no plumbers in the area

[Kathleen O'Brien]

I'm building a house in a remote community with no plumbers. I installed this shower valve a year ago and am finally turning on water in my house.
No leaks except for the valve!

It's leaking from the hot side of the little thingies that stick out on each side (what are those?). I tried turning it tighter, but I still have a drip. Tighter? And what tool would I use? I left part of the wall open behind it and have access from directly above.

 

[Terry]

Your picture is small, but there should be small nuts to hold in the "stops".
The O-Rings should be in the body of the faucet, not outside.

RP50366 Stops

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Reach4]

I think you have those pieces in backwards. O-rings should be inside of the housing. But even after turning them around, I expect you need those nuts to retain these pieces.

 

[Kathleen O'Brien]

Thank you! I think the nuts are there; however, now I need to go look again--it's possible I don't have room to remove the stops. Well, I could cut the shower wall, which is poly. Are the stops normally visible through the hole when the shower handle and bezel are removed?

I apologize for my lack of knowledge. I'm pleased that "my" plumbing isn't leaking but sad I didn't know to reverse these stops. I haven't had a proper shower in two years--stakes are high now that I'm this close! : )

 

[Reach4]

Stops should be visible after you remove shower handle and bezel. Otherwise they could not be used for their intended function.

 

[John Gayewski]

The black box (mud ring) in Terry's picture is meant to stay in the wall and have the wall built around it. Not only is it a gauge to keep your valve at the right depth, but it helps to align the screws when you finish. Those long chrome screws can be difficult to thread in without the mud ring assembly in place.

 

[Kathleen O'Brien]

Thanks, all--I'm gonna give it a shot. The valve was given to me by a builder friend who had an extra--new, but no box or instructions. Also no mud ring. So I'm definitely learning on this one...including that sometimes, inexperienced people like me need the damn box.

 

[Jadnashua]

Other than for initial installation to get the placement proper, except for a thin wall installation, the mud ring is not required, but it can be helpful.

 

[Kathleen O'Brien]

I managed it without--tricky since I've never done it before, but not horrible.
The stops were easy--I cut the hole larger and removed them with no problem...except dropping one down the drain. Argh. A new one is on order, and the other is reversed and reinstalled. When the replacement arrives, I'll get it in there and cross my fingers nothing leaks.
I REALLY love this forum!

 

[Jadnashua]

Something like this may let you grab the part that fell into the drain. You want to get it out anyways. https://www.amazon.com/Grabber-flex...657422064&sprefix=grippers+claw,aps,76&sr=8-4

 

[Kathleen O'Brien]

I'm going to get one of those! I tried a magnet, but those parts aren't attracted.

 

[Reach4]

You could try sucking with a wet-dry vacuum.

 

[Jadnashua]

The part is likely brass, so no, a magnet won't do much of anything to it. A set of those grippers is handy to have, regardless, but hopefully, they'll work to get the thing out for you.