Grohe Precision Joy Flow Restrictor

[Longpot]

Hi all, my first post here

I've recently installed a Grohe Precision Joy, and notice that the pressure is lower than my old shower head (gravity fed system).

The instructions come with the following picture View attachment 1055866.pdf which seems to imply I can change the connector depending on my water flow.

However, I am really struggling to get to these parts. So far I have taken off the filter, and can see what looks like a flow restrictor, but cannot get to it.

The flow restrictor seems to be behind a plastic piece which is also the threads of the showerhead, and it looks like it should pull off, but it doesn't move with a reasonable amount of pressure, and I don't want to use more force in case I break it.

Any suggestions as to how I access the parts in the diagram? Or failing that remove the flow restrictor altogether?

Many thanks in advance for any suggestions

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

it should just be pushed in there but it will be tight getting it out and sometimes they will break when removed

 

[Longpot]

Thanks Tom - I'll give it a go.

As an alternative, can I just drill through the flow restrictor and take it out without having to remove the plastic piece?

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

suppose so. As you will likely wreck it pulling it out

 

[Longpot]

So I managed to removed the flow restrictor with some needle nose pliers and without removing the plastic piece around it.

Flow is still appalling though, so I guess I'll need to look at getting a pump installed.

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

to be honest Grohe make most products for Europe and thats normally decent pressure systems so this doesn't surprise me. Might be cheaper to swap the tap to a low pressure one. Or prop the Cold water storage cistern up if you can.

Pump is an option but it's not cheap, and you cant use a shower pump either