Box Spanner Too Short To Use On Pillar Tap On Old Sink

[plumbandplumber]

I need to replace the 50 year old pillar taps on a kitchen sink. I reckon the back nuts will be very tight and only a box spanner will do. However, the double-ended tap back nut spanner I have isn't long enough. Because of the bowl of the sink, if I put the box spanner up behind the bowl onto back nut, I can't get the tommy bar to turn as it's in between the sink's bowl and the wall.

So I need to put some kind of extension on the 3/4"end, so that it coms down below the level of the bowl to enable me to turn it to undo back nut. Can anyone suggest an extension to fit on 3/4" end of spanner, or another way of doing this?

Many thanks.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

would a second box spanner work? stick the 1/2 side in the 3/4

 

[stevetheplumber]

you need a basin spanner really, to get the length down below the bowl old pillar taps usually come out easily enough i would try moving them firts with some big grips on the tap body above the sink if theey are really old they may have square holes and keyways on the taps so no more than an eighth of a turn each way to break the seal lots of wiggling till they're loose
sometimes they will have top hat washer under neath if they are plastic they will probably break up and allow you to lift the taps and cut them of

 

[Dotty]

Armeg dropjaw.

 

[leethegasman]

I have a big socket set on the van,place the socket on the end of your box spanner extend to the length you need with the extensions in the socket set then use your t bar or Ratchet.

 

[AWheating]

get a plumber in

or an armeg spanner.

 

[Ermintrude]

Armeg prob won't fit. Had loads of Yorkshire 3/4 nuts that upset me recently ( loads = 4 in three months)

 

[stevetheplumber]

thats the problem with jaw droppers never had a nut that didnt fit the monument basin spanner

 

[helpsy]

I had an issue with a cast bath taps literally welded in ( fitted by Noah i think!) couldn't turn when on the tap so I got an impact socket and extension for my impact driver and went gentle and they came off fine.....I think without it I'd still be there now!

 

[plumbandplumber]

Been a bit delayed with this job - thanks for replies.

Just to confirm, if I get a second box spanner (1/2" x 3/4"), can fit the small 1/2" end of one box spanner into the 3/4" end of the other to make one long extended spanner?

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

Been a bit delayed with this job - thanks for replies.

Just to confirm, if I get a second box spanner (1/2" x 3/4"), can fit the small 1/2" end of one box spanner into the 3/4" end of the other to make one long extended spanner?

should fit,take yours and try it on the new one in the merchants first