bathroom tap head gear won't come off

[Tom]

Hi, I'm trying to remove a tap head gear and put on a reviver kit.

One head gear (the hot tap) came off quite easily. The cold is a nightmare.

I've tried WD40, tapping the joint, heating it up but nothing is working and I'm starting to destroy the nut.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Any help is GREATLY appreciated!

Thanks a lot,

Tom

[DIY]

All I can suggest is tapping the end of the wrench in the usual anti-clockwise undo direction while a second person steadies the tap by applying hand pressure in the opposite clockwise direction or does this with a wrench and suitable padding to protect the chrome finish. The wrench/spanner needs to be as firm-on and long enough so that the tapping force is maximised. If that fails after repeated attempts you may need to forget using the reviver kit (get a refund if unopened) and fit new taps. If this is a bath tap you need to protect the bottom and sides of the bath against falling/flying tools which can crack an acrylic bath or chip an enamelled steel bath. Good luck, let us know how you get on.

[robgraham]

If the spanner is slipping on the nut, best thing are Stillsons, AKA pipewrench. These will grip even a round pipe, so you don't need anything nut-like. Provided you are steadying the tap body in some effective way, like putting a large flat or ring spanner over the spout and levering in the opposite direction, I defy any tap to resist this.

Rob Graham

[Tom]

Great, thanks both of you for your advice.

I've ordered some plusgas and I'll pick up a pipewrench next week (I'm still building up my tool collection) and let you know the result.

Cheers for the advice, I'm enjoying my DIY. I've just got a lot to learn.

Tom

[Tom]

Wow, a Stillson, elbow grease, and a few squirts of plusgas worked wonders.

Cheers for the advice! The tap reviver is fitted :-)

Tom.