Bathtub Faucet- Broken & Stuck Moen Cartridge
- Thread starter Rebmulp
- Start date
Help Support Plumbing Forums:
coolhandlg
Active Member
Call a plumber
More than once I have had to drill/chisel that cartridge out piece by piece. It took over 2 hours one time. Not a pleasurable experience.
I'm working from a small screen so it's hard to tell, but it looks like some of the shower control itself is damaged on the front where the retaining clip goes. Am I wrong?
I'm working from a small screen so it's hard to tell, but it looks like some of the shower control itself is damaged on the front where the retaining clip goes. Am I wrong?
Sorry my friend, but 90% of our viewers are asking professionals on easy "do it yourself" remedies. Anyone can come in here and just reply "Call A Plumber", so what good would this forum be?
coolhandlg
Active Member
Before you damage valve body past the point of repair stop and call a plumber if you damage the body ,valve is not repairable and you will end up needing to open wall to replace valve body
Thanks for the clarification!
Much better response.
Ditto what matt30 said about digging it out
and It looks damaged to me.
drilled small pilot hole into the plastic
(Careful not to damage the valve body)
and then screwed in a couple screws.
I used the screws to pry the core out.
The neoprene seals on the side of the core stick to valve body and start to fold up and wedge the core in pretty tight.
I have also use a torch to heat up a flat screw driver.
Sink that sucker into the plastic past the wide part of the blade.
when it cools off the plastic kind of wrapped itself behind that wide part and
sometimes will hold enough for you to pull the core out
Jeff Handy
Pro Handyman, NOT A Pro Plumber
This is why I still like to use the all-metal cartridge.
Which only costs a few dollars more.
Plus a little extra silicone grease on everything during replacement.
At my age, I might not be the one to change it next time, but whoever does it will be having an easy job and a good day.
EDIT That looks like a posi-temp, I think they only come in plastic.
ANOTHER EDIT Yup, they have the heavy duty all metal cartridge for that valve also.
Which only costs a few dollars more.
Plus a little extra silicone grease on everything during replacement.
At my age, I might not be the one to change it next time, but whoever does it will be having an easy job and a good day.
EDIT That looks like a posi-temp, I think they only come in plastic.
ANOTHER EDIT Yup, they have the heavy duty all metal cartridge for that valve also.
Last edited:
Jeff Handy
Pro Handyman, NOT A Pro Plumber
You can follow the advice up above, about drilling some holes in the plastic, putting in some screws, and then pulling on the screws with pliers, to try to remove all the plastic chunks.
But by the way you have already mangled the brass valve body, I vote that you stop and call a plumber.
It will be too easy for you to cause more damage to the valve, which will never be fixable.
It might already be too late.
But by the way you have already mangled the brass valve body, I vote that you stop and call a plumber.
It will be too easy for you to cause more damage to the valve, which will never be fixable.
It might already be too late.
Turn out the lights, the parties over. You get an A for effort. That valve has to go. Open the wall behind and rip the valve out and put a new one in. Use the moentrol, it’s a way better valve. And the cartridge replacement is easier too. So, that’s a bonus.
Moen claims it's cartridge system is "lifetime" leak/drip free, and, yes, Moen will provide you with replacement cartridges -free- if you still have the receipt, blah blah blah. Actually "lifetime" means the life of the cartridge.
Once it starts to leak, it's lifetime is over. - Sounds like something from a standup comedian's routine.
Their single-lever cartridge is hard to replace, I worried damaging the valve body, or tearing loose some of the piping.
With Delta single lever units, there are no lifetime promises, they use inexpensive and easily changed O-rings, springs and rubber "seats". My experience, owning apartments, is that the rubber seats, etc., last anywhere from 5 -10 years, and take 15 minutes to replace. My current house has Moen faucets, but if I was the one who did the renovation, I'd have used Delta.
JMHO
Once it starts to leak, it's lifetime is over. - Sounds like something from a standup comedian's routine.
Their single-lever cartridge is hard to replace, I worried damaging the valve body, or tearing loose some of the piping.
With Delta single lever units, there are no lifetime promises, they use inexpensive and easily changed O-rings, springs and rubber "seats". My experience, owning apartments, is that the rubber seats, etc., last anywhere from 5 -10 years, and take 15 minutes to replace. My current house has Moen faucets, but if I was the one who did the renovation, I'd have used Delta.
JMHO
The retaining clip is still in it.
TAKE OUT THE RETAING CLIP FIRST.
Rick, I have to take issue with that whole statement. Moen warranties their products for life and if you call all they ask is that you be the original owner. Not one of my clients has had ANY pushback from Moen and has never been asked for a receipt first.
On the delta, sure, seats and springs are cheaper. But if it is the cartridge it’s More money than the Moen cartridge.
I have plenty of stories of how Moen replaced a whole faucet for my customers when I said I couldn’t repair it. Delta, not so much....none.
And, Delta also says they have the same lifetime warranty, check it out.
One last thing. I probably rebuild 30 Moen faucets a month and they are easypeasy once you know how to service the valve.
On the delta, sure, seats and springs are cheaper. But if it is the cartridge it’s More money than the Moen cartridge.
I have plenty of stories of how Moen replaced a whole faucet for my customers when I said I couldn’t repair it. Delta, not so much....none.
And, Delta also says they have the same lifetime warranty, check it out.
One last thing. I probably rebuild 30 Moen faucets a month and they are easypeasy once you know how to service the valve.
Jeff Handy
Pro Handyman, NOT A Pro Plumber
I don’t see a retaining clip in there.
That squarish bump above the mangled cartridge is part of the valve body.
The retaining clip top is more bell shaped.
That squarish bump above the mangled cartridge is part of the valve body.
The retaining clip top is more bell shaped.
Jeff Handy
Pro Handyman, NOT A Pro Plumber
Man, that plumber from the vid is pretty strange.
First of all, he consistently points the camera a foot too high, showing just a blank wall, missing the valve in many shots.
Then, he has the tub drain uncovered, while he is dropping chunks into the tub, and using little tools that would go right down the drain.
Also, it looks like a fiberglass tub, and he could have put a towel down on the bottom.
He is working with heavy wrenches, and he has a drill with a bit in it balancing on the edge of the tub.
Then he gets the old valve out (successfully!) by jamming in a disposal Allen wrench in there.
Not someone I would want to work with.
But the old valve did come out.
First of all, he consistently points the camera a foot too high, showing just a blank wall, missing the valve in many shots.
Then, he has the tub drain uncovered, while he is dropping chunks into the tub, and using little tools that would go right down the drain.
Also, it looks like a fiberglass tub, and he could have put a towel down on the bottom.
He is working with heavy wrenches, and he has a drill with a bit in it balancing on the edge of the tub.
Then he gets the old valve out (successfully!) by jamming in a disposal Allen wrench in there.
Not someone I would want to work with.
But the old valve did come out.
no, the retaining clip is clearly visible.
