I had posted here a few days ago about my Dishmaster Imperial Four leaking. I found that I was getting a big leak, really a flow rather than a mere drip. By loosening the screw holding the handle onto the stem's spline and rotating it back two notches (so I could tighten more) on the stem's spline, I was able to get the the leak to stop with the extra force on the seat. After a few days, the leak went away even if I did not tighten the faucet all the way. I then rotated the handle back to the original orientation on the stem. There was no leak for a few days.
Then suddenly, the big leak came back. As described above, I tightened more again. The leak stopped again. What can be happening that makes the leak come and go?
I did not take the faucet apart since the last time I replaced parts. IIRC, and I may be wrong, There are no washers in the normal sense. There is a rotating flat seal with a hole in it. There is some kind of an elastomer bushing that presses upon the seal and slides.
Bill
-- Ferme le Bush