1/4 turn ceramic tap valves

[Tim Watts]

Hi,

Speculative question:

I have 1/4 turn lever taps on the bathroom basin. The splines on the cold tap are failing (lever spins). I've cleaned the lever and valve splines and put a few drops of Rocol Threadlock on in an attempt to bond the two togther

- in a way that could probably be sheared with a sharp tap if needed.

Should this not be sucessful, I do have a spare tap. How hard is it to take the valve out the top of the tap? (The spare tap is identical except for being 1/2" instead of 3/4" - pretty sure the valve body is the same).

Is it a case of spanner on brass valve flats and unscrew - or am I likely to be caught out by something weird?

Cheers

Tim

[newshound]

Swapping internals is easy, as you describe, but I'd expect the seat parts to be different sizes on sink and bath taps.

[Rick Hughes]

If manufacturer sells spare valve insert .. get one first. I changed one on my ceramic valves with no problem.

[John Rumm]

Pretty straight forward IME. Once you have the top off, then whole thing then normally unscrews from the tap body.

[Tim Watts]

Thanks all.

I'll pop it out and see if the seats are different.

I'll have to try and remember where I got them to get a spare valve.

I found the culprit - the Rocol worked perfectly, until my daughter touched it. I have just explained 1/4 turn only require finger pressure, not full- hand-welly. *sigh*...

[Tim Watts]

Hi,

For now I have put the lever of my spare 1/2" on (lever and bodies are identical between 1/2 and 3/4"). Seems *reasonably* OK - I think the lever lost its splines more than the valve spindle.

However, I have found out the specific brand I have are:

Ultra Solo CG302 Bath Taps (I used bath on basin for a better fit - 1/2" slop around in the massive holes).

No luck finding spare valves via google yet - I think I though probably buy a spare pair of taps while I can for parts, they're only 18 quid a pair so not too bad...

Cheers

Tim

[Tim Watts]

Ah ha - I think I have it:

are not a current line, but I will ring them in a mo and see about spares...

[The Medway Handyman]

Try here

[Tim Watts]

Thanks Dave,

That's very useful - ta :)

I rang the manufacturer and they said £28/pair for valves+levers. I pointed out I could get an entire pair of taps on ebay for £18-22 - but it was the kids fault for being ham fisted and stripping the splines.

After a moment, she said she's send me a pair gratis - now I am impressed :)

Cheers,

Tim

[John Rumm]

Some folks do seem to like to twist the nuts off every tap they meet!

[Tim Watts]

She's been told she'll be helping to fix it, when I get the free valves the manufacturer promised me today. Plumbing for 8 year olds...