Tap Cartridges - Impossible situation

[Leonardo]

Please take a look at the pics first.

Mixer Swivel Taps - Time to change cartridges - They're 15 years old - need help.

The top casing & main body of each cartridge (two different types) has come off (upstairs bathroom - downstairs bathroom) - but the base is stuck in each of them - I can't shift/pull them out.

It's the base with the seating pins that has been left behind while the main body has pulled away.

If I understand right - the cartridge is just supposed to be loose and lift out?

Soaked them both in descaler overnight - no joy. Is it likely just to be the scale holding the bases in?

Would really appreciate some guidance on what to do. This is for my own home.

My thanks to any - willing to contribute.

Leonardo

 

[Welder]

New taps. End of. Too far gone to repair with any good chance of success.
Believe me it upsets me to say it because replacements bits are our business

BTW You were very lucky to get 15 years!

 

[snowhead]

I'd say new taps as well.
But if not, try driving a screw into the stuck plastic part and use it to pull on, assuming they don't twist to release.

 

[Leonardo]

Ok - so here is a short guide /tutorial - on what I've done - to successfully remove the base of a stuck cartridge - in a mixer / swivel / flick tap.

1. Eye protection is crucial.
2. Small bottle of room temp water.
3. Thin nose Pilars
4. Descaler - liquid kind used on kettles
5. Tissues - loads - and a plastic bag.
6. Gloves

Step A: Ensure water isolation from outside property is accessible. Also check stopcock inside property is accessible and if that is working. Only to be used if there is a problem with the tap isolation that should be somewhere in the runs to the sink.

Step B: Should have already done this - but isolate the tap only.

Step C: Once tap top is removed - if cartridge does not come out. Carefully pour in descaler - be mindful if your tap has a stop rod on the back for the drain. If the descaler overflows around the tap - it can travel down the pull stop rod - under the sink. Leave for a few hours.

Step D: Use gloves + eye protection - start soaking up the excess descaler, and dispose off.

Step E: Pour boiling water into the tap cavity that holds the cartridge. Again - eye protection and gloves. Plenty of ventilation too.

Step F: This is where you have to be measured and careful. Soon after you have poured the boiling water into the cavity where the cartridge sits - using eye and hand protection - use pliers to pull out the base of the stuck cartridge. Use upward and wiggle motion - with one hand - and place other hand on your wrist - to act as a stop one the cartridge comes away. It will need a large amount of force - and will give all of a sudden.

Step G: Once the base is out - keep pouring the room temp water into the cavity to cool the tap.

Notes: I am not a professional plumber by any means. This is how I did it. I have no idea if the boiling water has damaged the taps - they are 15 years old - so I thought it worth a try. I cannot guarantee this will work - and it can be very hazardous if some of the descaler comes flying out with the base. You take your safety in your own hands - and plan the job well.

 

[Welder]

No consumer would be prepared to pay for that much time and you have yet to complete the task.
Have fun.

 

[Leonardo]

UPDATE

Please look at new pics.

Cartridge bases removed successfully. Asking for help with following:

1. How to prepare the mating surface / base of tap for a new cartridge (How to clean & make good to receive new cartridges).

2. Where to get replacement cartridges - does anybody recognise these units?

My sincere thanks to any willing to contribute

Leonardo.

 

[Watts]

is there a manufacturers name on the taps/cartridge?

 

[Dkdc71]

Early model taps like franke use to do cartridges but haven't seen them in years by the time you locate the cartridges and time spent on it you would probably be quicker to just replace the taps you might get some from some old stock best taps I have fitted and have lasted a long time have been the ones from a certain German supermarket chain about 35 euro

 

[Welder]

Our cartridge manufacturer do single levers.

However, as this one has been destroyed and there are over 260 in the catalogue, you would have to buy all 40 & 42mm variants (61) and try each one.

As my advice & experience is utterly worthless I'm out.

 

[Dkdc71]

@YorkshireDave I agree with you NEW TAPS proper order wouldn't even waste time with replacement cartridges as you stated earlier no consumer would pay for the time it takes to remove/replace cartridges and that's without anything else breaking with the old taps

 

[Watts]

Agree if it was my job new taps would have been in days ago

 

[Leonardo]

My sincere thanks to all those that have contributed thus far.

I took the long route - as I knew I'd learn a life skill - that will stay with me long term.

I have located the cartridges I need.

Final question:

What can I do to prepare the bases of the taps cavity's - to give the replacements the best chance of success - i.e to get a good seal? How would I go about doing it - what tools would you recommend?

Thanks to any willing to chip in:

 

[Dkdc71]

The seal on your cartridge should be sufficient as most manufacturers will tell you not to use any jointing compound or sealants but if it doesn't seal best life skill learned will be fitting a new set of taps good luck with it

 

[Leonardo]

It'd help immensely if fellow members could recommend some replacement taps.

Looking for low priced (but good value) replacements, with pop up waste rod functionality.

Bathroom sink taps - functional & easily serviceable are the goal.

 

[Watts]

Your local plumbing merchants will have their own standard range of taps if you go in and see them. Take a couple photos with you.

What happened to the cartridges?

 

[Dkdc71]

These taps are turning into a real gangster movie

 

[Dkdc71]

 

[Dkdc71]

On Thursday a certain German supermarket has the taps you are looking for for 30

 

[Welder]

Leonardo. The reality is that over 95% of taps today are shockingly poor. No manufacture wants them to last, no manufacturer wants you to repair them. They want you to throw away every two years so THEY make more money.

To get anything decent (i.e. made of good quality brass and with good quality plating) you're looking at someone like Lefroy Brookes - actually made in Birmingham. The rest are ALL made in China - no matter how much you pay - and insultingly all DOWN to a price point determined by marketeers - profit profit profit. LB make em UP to a quality and trade on reputation and service.

Personally, I'd go for separate hot/cold cartridges as you then know you'll ALWAYS be able to fix 'em when they fail (). So, doing this, even a quality tap like FB will eventually work out MUCH cheaper to own.

With single lever types you are back where you started - at the mercy of manufacturers for spares.

 

[Leonardo]

On Thursday a certain German supermarket has the taps you are looking for for 30

Dkdc71 - appreciate the heads up. On your advice I'll wait till thursday.

Could you please message me the details - of which one of the supermarkets - and how you know they'll definitely be there on thursday?

 

[Ric2013]

If you have the cartridge, surely job is almost done, or at least worth trying at this point? To be honest, they probably aren't that dirty where the rubber seals were, assuming the rubber seals (O rings) came out in one piece. I'd be inclined to check for dirt and if it looks kind of alright, just push the new cartridges in with some silicone grease.

I sense an unexplained change of plan?

Vinegar works quite well as a descaler, but I'm with Yorkshire on this to some degree in that, if the brass is poor quality, then you may do more harm than good.

 

[Ted808]

Just a bit of silicon grease to ease install of new cartridge, any scouring of surface will be worse...

 

[Dkdc71]

New taps

 

[Welder]

Just a bit of silicon grease to ease install of new cartridge, any scouring of surface will be worse...

Looking at the images submitted, I'd say the scale build up def needs cleaning out. The chances of new seals coping with that level of deformation and sealing are slim. Carefully descaling then polishing with 00 wire wool and flushing it all out afterwards will get you the best chance of success.

You're are a glutton for punishment I'll give you that. God only knows why you're doing it. I hope to goodness this old thing is worth all this heartache? Is it solid gold and you've not told us?

 

[Dkdc71]

I will come over from Ireland bring taps with me fit them return back home and this post will be still going all I want to see is thanks job done or we won the lottery and moved house