Changing a Washer

[thaigh]

Hello,

This tap in the picture below has been leaking for some time, and I have no idea how to change the washer. I have unscrewed the screw as you can see from the picture, however nothing seems to move. Is this because it is stuck, or because it isn't meant to?


Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[helpsy]

Isolate supply and remove headgear cover(bell shaped piece below handle)by unscrewing anti-clockwise and use ring spanner to remove valve, re-seat and re-washer and fit back in reverse.

 

[WHPES]

The crosshead may need some encouraging. Try WD40 and tapping off gently from underneath.

 

[thaigh]

Removing the headgear has proved to be very difficult, as the taps are considerably old.

Is the crosshead definitely meant to be able to come off? As it is very stiff and I dont want to end up ripping it off.

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

i tshould come off yes

/have you tried unscrewing the shroud? (the dome under neat the cross head handle?)

Some rubber grips or a towel and pliers maybe

If not its probably easier to buy a new pair of taps anyway

 

[Puddle]

You have removed screw so tap handle just pulls off, easier said than done if been on 60 years
Spray wd40 up into handle from stem and leave awhile

Try taping, not to hard as many of these taps have three lungs now instead of four because beeen hit to hard
Best way to remove head is turn water off and open up tap fully, you will see spindle will rise as you open ,making distance between head and tap body bigger, fit an adjustable spanner or similar in the gap and tighten to stem then close tap, this will force head against spanner head and force off tap head
Once this done remove body cover and unscrew tap head

 

[dontknowitall]

I've managed to change the washers on taps like these without taking the head off - but the shroud definitely needs to come off. I've used pump pliers with a towel to minimise damage but always tell the customer they will be marked permanently.

 

[WHPES]

You will need some narrow grips to get the hex part below the shroud. You need to fully open the tap so the shroud will rise up as far as possible without taking off the crosshead.

These taps are the standard Pegler type pillar taps.

 

[REDSAW]

agree with piddle, narrow bhaco gets them of fully opened no need to take of cross head.
if in doubt, smash them of and buy new imo.

 

[kirkgas]

as others have said you should be able to loosen the nut by opeing the tap fully, unscrewing the chrome cover and using a thin spanner rather than a thick shifter

 

[WHPES]

Sometimes you can get the crosshead off with a bearing puller (you need to put a couple of metal bars under the crosshead to pull on)