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How to remove stuck shower diverter stem

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

Hello,

I am new to this forum. I have a old bathroom with a 3 stem shower valve. The shower diverter stem needs to be taken out and serviced (when I want the switch the water from the tub faucet to the shower, using the middle diverter handle, there remains still small steady stream coming from the faucet. ). I think the diverter has not been serviced in decades (there was alot of crud on the escutcheon and both the escutcheon and the diverter handle required alot of force to remove).

Now, I am trying to remove the valve stem but the previous owner tiled over the valve stem and I had to cut some of the tile to access the valve stem nut which I tried to loosen using a the appropriate size valve socket . BUT NO LUCK, even with quite a bit of force and using a crescent wrench for leverage, it would not come out. See photos.

Any suggestions on how to loosen that nut (it's the one in the back, I think) to get the valve stem out?

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Comments (5)

PRO
GN Builders L.L.C
5 years ago
Sometimes there is a C-clamp that needs to be removed first and they have a special tool to remove the stem.
0
remodeling1840
5 years ago
We just watched an Ask This Old House episode where Tommy showed a homeowner how to do this. Also, I remind DH ,”They have people who do this for a living and have all the right tools-plumbers.” The money you spend could be less than the money to fix a disastrous diy.
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remvoe the stem, take it with you up to any home improvement or plumbing supply house, and buy a new one. you can replace just the washer and seat, but a new sten for a 3 valve shower is usually on 5.00-10.00 or so. when you remove the handle you should see a brass nut. you need to unscrew this to get the stem out. i think mine has 2 nuts that have to be removed, though it has been a while since i looked at it. you MAY need to go pick up a stem wrench first, it basically is a piece of pipe shaped to fit the nut like a socket adn allow you to unscrew it.
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To answer my own question, I can pull them out, as they were retained by the stem extensions. The lesson here is not to remove the handles unless the water is shut off. (I didn't do that and was lucky.)
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Your posts are scaring me and my lack of flood insurance! First things first before you ever consider touching any plumbing under pressure know where your main water or localized shutoffs are and clear a path to them. secondly Hire a pro plumber that has flood insurance. Do not hire a handyman that thinks he can get er done for a fair price.....
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You will need a special tool. Check with a plumbing store.
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ci_lantro
5 years ago
If you're committed to trying DIY, first thing that I would do is spray it down with a penetrant. Two or three times a day for two or three days. Then try to remove it. To get more leverage, try slipping a cheater over the end of the wrench/ socket handle.

And be prepared for the possibility of having to replace the valve. Hopefully, you have access to the the valve from on the other side of the wall...
0
HU-541028995
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Sorry, I don't see any C Clamp, I ended up chiselling all the grout-like material that is attached to it because I believe that the whole thing in the picture is the valve stem that needs to be taken out. Even doing that, I can't remove it. I am giving up and putting everything back. I can live with it until I can't, at which point I will call a plumber.
oneandonlybobjones
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Here's a link to a YouTube video of a plumber replacing the diverter valve. Just fast forward to the 3:40 mark in the video to see how he removes it. If this doesn't show you the info you need, there are a lot of other videos on YouTube that show how to replace the diverter valve so maybe one of them will help you.
0
HU-541028995 thanked oneandonlybobjones

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