Delta Single lever kitchen faucet. spout "stiff" to swing.

[jeff_wisnia]

Our Delta single lever kitchen sink faucet started dripping a little bit when shut off so I picked up a "full repair kit" and replaced the ball, seals and o-rings.

The faucet now shuts off completely, but I've noticed that the spout is quite a bit more difficult to move from side to side than it was before I replaced the o-rings. And yes, the replacement o-rings were the same size as what was in the faucet, though a bit flattened by years of use.

If hot water is running through the faucet the spout becomes much easier to move. (Like maybe the o-ring material gets softer when warm?)

Do y'all think the spout will start to move more easily in a few days or weeks?

Thanks guys,

Jeff

[Oren]

Was there a "lube" included in the kit? Did you lube the O-ring?

...thinking out loud...

[Ron]

Beat me to it.

[jeff_wisnia]

No there wasn't, and I thought about but hesitated to put a bit of silicone grease on the o-rings since they are in contact with water that someone might drink or cook with.

I did check the inside of the cylindrical body which slips over the o-rings and it was quite clean and smooth.

I'm guessing that the new o-rings will take a set in a litttle while and things will return to pre-rebuild conditions.

Jeff

[MLD]

The ring that holds the complete assembly might be too tight. Best thing to do is to call Delta customer service. They do a great job in helping out MLD

[Stormin Mormon]

And, me. I'm thinking a tube of water resistant silicone. I've seen that for other plumbing needs.

Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus

.

Beat me to it.

[Stormin Mormon]

HD and such have grease made for potable water systems. The one time I used it, little plastic container, half ounce, three bucks. Pricey, yes, but it did seem to help. I was rebuilding mop sink faucets.

Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus

.

No there wasn't, and I thought about but hesitated to put a bit of silicone grease on the o-rings since they are in contact with water that someone might drink or cook with.

I did check the inside of the cylindrical body which slips over the o-rings and it was quite clean and smooth.

I'm guessing that the new o-rings will take a set in a litttle while and things will return to pre-rebuild conditions.

Jeff

[hrhofmann]

In a pinch, try a little olive oil to see if that helps. Food grade, of course.

[deadgoose]

Had exactly this problem. Had lubed everything in sight. Finally threw in the sponge, so to speak, and replaced the sucker with a Moen, though I am partial to Delta faucets. Took old one apart, and found that water had gotten past the seals in question over the years (5) since installed, and caused corrosion. PITA.

73 /paul W3FIS

[jeff_wisnia]

Followup....

Well it's been nearly a month since my original post on this subject about installing parts from an Ace Hardware "Delta single lever Full repair kit".

The faucet spout became more difficult to swing from side to side during that time. If I tried to move it in the morning before running any water through the faucet it was noticably stiff to move and emitted a very nonmetallic "rubbery" squeeeek.

I had enough of this so I gave up and purchased a set of genuine Delta branded spout body O-rings from an online supplier. (Delta P/N RP25) They arrived a couple of days ago.

I installed those Delta spout body O-rings this morning and the spout now swings easily and smoothly, just as it had for some twenty years prior to installing the O-rings from the Ace Hardware kit.

I did note that the new Delta branded O-rings were a greyish color, not the usual O-ring black like the Ace Hardware ones. Maybe they've got some teflon or something mixed into their "rubber" compound.

Anyway, I'm pretty confident that the problem is now solved.

I'm not ranting against Ace Hardware as I doubt that they had much to do with the O-ring material their faucet repair kit supplier used, and we're not talking big bucks here, The Ace "full ki"t only cost about $9 and the Delta O-rings set me back about $15, most of that being the minimum S&H charge.

Jeff

[Stormin Mormon]

Thanks for the follow up. I've found now and again, that official name brand parts often work better than after market. Sounds like you got good Irish O'Rings, and all is well.

Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus

.

Well it's been nearly a month since my original post on this subject about installing parts from an Ace Hardware "Delta single lever Full repair kit".

The faucet spout became more difficult to swing from side to side during that time. If I tried to move it in the morning before running any water through the faucet it was noticably stiff to move and emitted a very nonmetallic "rubbery" squeeeek.

I had enough of this so I gave up and purchased a set of genuine Delta branded spout body O-rings from an online supplier. (Delta P/N RP25) They arrived a couple of days ago.

I installed those Delta spout body O-rings this morning and the spout now swings easily and smoothly, just as it had for some twenty years prior to installing the O-rings from the Ace Hardware kit.

I did note that the new Delta branded O-rings were a greyish color, not the usual O-ring black like the Ace Hardware ones. Maybe they've got some teflon or something mixed into their "rubber" compound.

Anyway, I'm pretty confident that the problem is now solved.

I'm not ranting against Ace Hardware as I doubt that they had much to do with the O-ring material their faucet repair kit supplier used, and we're not talking big bucks here, The Ace "full ki"t only cost about $9 and the Delta O-rings set me back about $15, most of that being the minimum S&H charge.

Jeff

[Vic Smith]

Thanks for the update. Sometimes OEM is best. Had a similar issue when I put a new aftermarket A/C dryer in my car, using the o-rings supplied with it. They leaked. Bought OEM rings, and all was well.

[MLD]

A phone call to Delta customer service most likely would have got you all the repair (parts) kits and advice you needed at no cost. Delta faucets have a life time warranty (or they did). MLD