Problems with changing the washer on a mixer tap

[isopyl]

Hi,

I have a mixer tap in the kitchen that is leaking around the base of the spout when the hot water tap is turned on (oddly enough it doesn't leak when the cold tap is on). I have found numerous articles on the web on how to change the O rings on the spout but I can't seem to remove the spout to do this.

I have removed a small screw at the back of the tap base just below where the spout attaches to the base but the spout is still firmly attached to the base. I have tried aligning it with the base but no amount of pulling and / or rocking on the spout will remove it from the base.

Any ideas how to remove the spout?

Thx,
Stephen

 

[stevetheplumber]

Older ones had a peg and groove arangement which had to align to release try preasure up wards and spin from left to right see if you can feel the peg catching the groove
the fact that it doesnt leak on cold is a sign it was originally installed back to front as it sounds like a biflow tap where the outer waterway should be the cold but thats irrelevent to your problem other than the groove will be on the opposite side to mi's instructions

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

depending on the age you may have to pull the tap right out of the installation so you get pull the spout off. Any ideas what tap it is?

 

[WHPES]

I would take the tap off the sink and have a better look at it in good light.

is there a name on it?

There are usually two o-rings - one to separate the hot and cold, and another at the bottom to prevent it leaking, which is why one side doesnt leak. However if you're taking it apart its best to replace both.

 

[Puddle]

If screw in back,which you have removed,should just pull out

If grove fitted,if spout moved to side over cold tap ,should pull out but as steve says sounds,if leaking on hot ,that tap wrong way round ,so cold have to put spout over hot side

an't plumbing greeeeeeeeat

 

[isopyl]

Thanks for the help so far. The tap is about 4 or 5 years old and was bought from B&Q but I don't think it was branded (and I can't see any sign of a name). It looks pretty much identical to this but I can't remember paying that much for it!

[DLMURL="http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?action=detail&fh_secondid=9996541&fh_view_size=10&fh_eds=%3f&fh_location=%2f%2fcatalog01%2fen_GB%2fcategories%3c%7b9372014%7d%2fcategories%3c%7b9372039%7d%2fcategories%3c%7b9372150%7d%2fspecificationsProductType%3dtwo_hole_taps&fh_refview=lister&ts=1263940757460&isSearch=false"]Boston Lever Deck Mixer Chrome Finish, 0000005178872[/DLMURL]

The tap can't be the wrong way round as the hot is on the left and it has paddle taps which point in the correct direction.

It's strange that there is a screw on the back that could only be holding the spout in place and yet it doesn't seem to help with the removal. I installed the tap and I remember that the underside of the base was smooth so there is nothing under the base to release the spout.

Maybe its just clogged up with limescale and needs a really hard knock to shift it.

Hi,

With a lot of pulling effort, I managed to remove the spout and change one of the washers so its all sorted out. Why it was so hard to remove I'm really not sure.

Thx for your time,
Stephen