Tool for stubborn tap head gear?

[JCplumb]

As the title suggests. Anyone know of a decent tool for removing a really stubborn tap head gear?
I've usually managed to crack them after a while but one job a couple of months ago had me beat, the customer had these really old taps and he loved them and I was close to threading the 'nut' part of the tap head trying to remove it. I actually admitted defeat on that one but have promised him I will be back when I figure out how to get it off. I was there to replace a valve on his toilet but he mentioned the dripping taps and said that 2 other plumbers had failed at removing them before me.
I remember seeing something on dragons den a year or so ago, it looked decent to be fair but was slated by the dragons.

 

[Rayleigh]

Hi I am having trouble with a stubborn tap head as well...I was using an adjustable wench on the tap head but its always slipping off. And my tap is a kitchen tap with a moveable sprout in between the hot and cold taps, so I don't have anything to to use for leverage.

I was thinking, Would a Ring Wench be more secure when turning the hexagonal bolt? How would I go about finding the right size of the ring wrench??

Help pleasee!
Ray

 

[secret squirrel]

Hi I am having trouble with a stubborn tap head as well...I was using an adjustable wench on the tap head but its always slipping off. And my tap is a kitchen tap with a moveable sprout in between the hot and cold taps, so I don't have anything to to use for leverage.

I was thinking, Would a Ring Wench be more secure when turning the hexagonal bolt? How would I go about finding the right size of the ring wrench??

Help pleasee!
Ray

I use mole grips, never failed me.

 

[Guest123]

Spray a lot of WD 40 on it first, leave it for ten mins. Try to tighten it first, then slacken it off. Watch, anything with teeth on it will chew up the brass! My 12" Bahco never slips and using the method I've described always gets results.
You can also get someone to hold the tap to stop it turning and slip a steel pole/scaffold tube over your adjustable and get maximum leverage.

 

[Mickyplumb]

I do a lot of local authority maintenance and we're always coming across this problem. I use one of the nerrad plier wrenches similar to the knipex one. They never ever slip and won't round off the flats

 

[dave1]

Plenty of leverage and a decent adjustable spanner or grips, leverage is the key.

 

[Bernie2]

Years ago on site we often got a good load of "ear bashing" off the boss for not "cracking" and then re-tightening taps before we put them on. The problem is breaking the basin when going back to do re-washering. If I remember right it was in a BS somewhere to "crack" taps before fitting.

I have had some even when you have them off the basin and heat them up they still will not move, even hitting them with a lump hammer does not work. Its just a case of try anything in the hope that something works.

 

[Mike Jackson]

I was taught at college to crack taps before fitting them but when you're under time constraints that sort of thing just doesn't happen.

 

[jsmalde]

What type of spanner do you have just for removing tap valves.

 

[buckley plumb]

rounded one off last wk had to file 2 flats on the head gear with a rough file then clamped with molegrips and a piece of pole on grips and spout

ant

 

[jsmalde]

Hello Dannypipe. I contacted Screwfix Helpline and was told that if I use this spray to take off the tap insert which has the washer from the kitchen tap, I will not be able to fit the new part as this spray shrinks the part and it will also affect the body of the tap so you will not be able to insert the new part with the washer built in. The best way forward I was advised is to remove the tap and replace it with the new one. What did you use the spray for and is there anyone else on the forum who has used the spray to get some feedback on the spray.

 

[JCplumb]

I've never heard anything as silly, ignore what Screwfix told you, really you must have gotten through to an absolute idiot. Unless they get bonuses for selling taps - then you got through to a rogue.
Go for the spray, and use the other advice here, will be cheaper than new taps.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

Hello Dannypipe. I contacted Screwfix Helpline and was told that if I use this spray to take off the tap insert which has the washer from the kitchen tap, I will not be able to fit the new part as this spray shrinks the part and it will also affect the body of the tap so you will not be able to insert the new part with the washer built in. The best way forward I was advised is to remove the tap and replace it with the new one. What did you use the spray for and is there anyone else on the forum who has used the spray to get some feedback on the spray.

absolute and total rubbish. this spray freezes the part which then makes it shrink very minutely making it easier to remove. when it comes back to room temperature it comes back to it's original size, it doesn't stay shrunk! this idiot on screwfix doesn't know what they are on about or they are deliberately giving you misinformation.

 

[woodytheplumber]

it can be easier to use a 600mm 1/2" breaker bar with a long socket on the head and i use a old bit of leather around the tap spout with another long socket as close to the size of spot as possible on a 600mm extention bar with a for leaverage allways works for me (can you tell i got a load of old sockets of a mechaic mate! LOL)

 

[buckley plumb]

East tap splitter - only used it twice but excellent buy and well worth saving the knuckles i bought previously!

isnt it made of plastic

ant

 

[buckley plumb]

I've done years of reactive maintenance and i've never had a tap head I couldn't remove.
A ring spanner on the head gear, an adjustable on the tap spout and squeeze them together. Sometimes you have to mount the sink to get some purchase which always raises eyebrows lol.

any ide what size spanner to fit most tap gear

 

[Tombarry]

I had use System3's way of doing it as access to the bath taps where bricked in and tiled- but then I had a big problem finding the right valve, in the end had to repair the valve with new bits from other valves. Two people would of been nice- nearly killed me :smilewinkgrin:

 

[jsmalde]

absolute and total rubbish. this spray freezes the part which then makes it shrink very minutely making it easier to remove. when it comes back to room temperature it comes back to it's original size, it doesn't stay shrunk! this idiot on screwfix doesn't know what they are on about or they are deliberately giving you misinformation.

I purchased the spray from Screwfix and sprayed it on the nut which is fitted to the tap as I could not take the part off. According to the instructions on the I left it for and a half minutes after spraying could not see any sign of shrinking and was not able to take the part off. When it freezes what sign I should be able to see and when I feel it should it be cold as when I touched the part after one and a half minutes it did not feel the part cold. I would like to hear experiences from other users on ths spray.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

after one and a half minutes the part probably came back to room temperature

 

[WaterTight]

If I understood Danny's explanation correctly it doesn't work by freezing/shrinking so you can remove. It works by freezing and allowing lubricating gel to seep in through the tiny created gap?

As with many of these things though there's no way to guarantee it'll work in every case.

 

[nadia69]

it can be easier to use a 600mm 1/2" breaker bar with a long socket on the head and i use a old bit of leather around the tap spout with another long socket as close to the size of spot as possible on a 600mm extention bar with a for leaverage allways works for me (can you tell i got a load of old sockets of a mechaic mate! LOL)

exacly what i do i use a 1/2 socket set on the cartrigde and a locking nut box spanner over the spout , i also have some deep sockets for older type taps

 

[ABDplumb]

Hello all, Easytapsplitter needed here, will sort it.

 

[Riley]

I think they've probably sorted it from four years ago mate :smile:

 

[SimonG]

Failing that, an anglegrinder never fails

 

[rpm]

Hello all, Easytapsplitter needed here, will sort it.

Whilst you are around what is your best price including p+p?

 

[PlumbBobBob]

being cynical rpm?