The below information was taken from the Kohler website. I understand that you are beyond most of this, but thought it may be good information for others. BTW.....good eyes Phish, you ARE a genious!
Kohler faucets are among the most reliable available, but because of the heavy use that any faucet gets it’s common for them to need repair from time to time. The relentless sound of a leaky faucet is its own special form of water torture, and it wastes water too. A leaking or dripping faucet happens when a part becomes worn and needs to be replaced. Fortunately, faucet repair is one of the easiest home repairs that you can do yourself, and here are a few tips on how to do it.
Common Tools Needed For Faucet Repair
- Screwdrivers (both flat-blade and Phillips)
- Crescent wrench
- Deep socket set
- Allen wrench
- Needlenose pliers
- Channel joint (adjustable) pliers
Determine the Type of Kohler Faucet You Have
There are two general types of Kohler faucets: 'compression' and 'washerless'. Compression faucets use a washer of some kind to seal off water, and a washerless faucet uses a specially designed cartridge or ball. Compression faucets are always two-handled (but not all two-handled faucets are compression), and washerless faucets are usually a single-lever type (but not always). Compression faucets are the old-style design, but are still common. If you’re not certain which type of Kohler faucet you have, you’ll be able to see for yourself when you begin removing the handles.
Turn Off the Water Before Beginning a Faucet Repair
Always turn off the waterstops (those two little handles under the sink) before beginning any faucet repairs. If there's still a trickle of water coming from the faucet after you turn off the waterstops, it means that they're not sealing properly. In this case, shut off the water where it comes into your house. If you've never done this, it's something you can easily do yourself - the hardest part may be simply finding the water shut-off valve. It usually looks just like an outdoor water faucet handle, and is normally located in a basement, a garage, or some other out-of-the-way but easy to get to location.
Repairing Your Kohler Compression Faucet
If water is leaking from the spout, your faucet probably needs a new washer or valve seat. After making sure that the water is turned off, remove both handles along with the washers, O-rings, and valve stems. At this point you’ll need to make a trip to the hardware store, making sure to bring your parts along with you for comparison to buy replacements. Before putting your sink handles back together with the new parts, take time to do two common preventive maintenance tasks to your Kohler faucet:
1. Use a commercial lime remover to clean any built-up deposits from the base of the faucet handles
2. Apply a dab of plumber’s grease to the threads of the valve stems, to help fit the O-rings and washers into place properly
If water has been leaking from the handles of your Kohler faucet, and not the spout, replacing the O-rings and washers will fix this problem, too.
Repairing Your Kohler Washerless Faucet
The most common design of Kohler washerless faucets is a single handle ‘cartridge faucet’. Leaks can occur because of a faulty or worn-out O-ring or cartridges inside the handle assembly. To get to them, use a small screwdriver to pop off the decorative cap on the faucet, and unscrew the single screw underneath to remove the handle assembly. Pull the cartridge up and out; mineral deposits can sometimes cement the cartridge into place, but needlenose pliers and determination are usually all you need to get it out. Take it with you to the hardware store, along with the O-ring, and buy exact replacement parts.
Reassemble your Kohler cartridge faucet by retracing your steps, and be sure to position the new cartridge with the red ‘ear’ facing forward. If hot and cold are reversed after you’ve replaced the cartridge, you’ll need to take the handle assembly apart again and turn the cartridge around 180 degrees.
After you’re finished with your faucet repair, turn your water back on. As long as you’ve tightened up all the parts correctly as you put your faucet parts back together, you should now hear the sound of a properly functioning faucet - silence!