Removing Moen Shower Handle

[Rileyesi]

I have a Moen faucet in our shower and I want to replace the handle which has cracked. This type of valve has one handle (tear drop shaped) that you pull out to control the water flow and then rotate to control the water temperature. The house was built in 1988 and it is the origonal faucet.

To remove the handle, you pop off a face plate and remove a single screw. The problem I am having is that the screw is not unthreading, but the cartridge is rotating inside the valve. In other words, I can control the water temperature by turning the screw.

Is there a trick I don't know about? I tried pushing the handle in (i.e. shutting the water off) while turning the screw, but that didn't work. I was going to try pulling out while turning the screw, but I didn't want to try that until I was able to shut off the water, and I just ran out of time.

Any tips? Thanks.

[Art Todesco]

[Ron G]

Talking to Moen recently, they said to (pull upward) fairly hard, on the lever, then try the screw. It's supposed to "lock" the handle in place so you can get at things. Best--- Ron

[Prima]

replying to Ron G, Prima wrote: Thanks to Ron G for posting....I have a Moen single handle shower (the plastic teardrop shape) and could not remove the robertson screw in the center of it that removes the handle. I must have turned that screw 100 times with no progress. After reading Ron G's post, I went back for a final attempt before resorting to calling a plumber. I pulled up on the handle firmly, turned the screw a couple of times and voila! Off it came! Now to call Moen for a replacement handle as mine was cracked and spinning all the way around.(The reason why I needed to remove the handle) Thanks again Ron G!!