Old bathtub water-supply brass fitting

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I now realize that open-top 1.5" pipe used to be part of the bathtub drain-stopper control. There used to be a rod going down that pipe to control a drain stopper.
 
The teflon pipe dope you showed earlier will work with the teflon packing.
No need for that big 16 ounce jar from Amazon.
You will need just a few pea-sized blobs of it.
 
The teflon pipe dope you showed earlier will work with the teflon packing.
No need for that big 16 ounce jar from Amazon.
You will need just a few pea-sized blobs of it.

Thanks. Yes, that dope was what I was planning on using.

I live in a town of 1,500 with two so-called hardware stores both with so-called plumbing departments. When I went in today to buy the packing, in both cases, they gave me that "What you talin' 'bout Willis" line. They profess to have no knowledge of such an exotic product as teflon valve packing.

I suspect, the truth is, they were not interested in ordering me a $4 item. This was at a time of zero other customers in either store. Geeze.

So, my packing is coming via Ebay.

I now also recall my GF taking the stopper apart...I suspect the parts are somewhere.

Roy
 
I think at the very least that open vent will release stink, bath drains are always full of rotting hair and body oil.

The old plunger drain plug assembly probably had a cap that was fairly airtight.

Time to find that old stuff.

Post some pics when you finish that bath wall remodel.
 
Post some pics when you finish that bath wall remodel.

It is not really a "wall." There is a shelf-kind-of-thing on top of what looks like the start of a wall. My house was just built by a "guy," probably without much in the way of "plans," and it has a number of odd components. Some of those are nice custom features; some are just odd.
 
I would add a full wall across the tub, to the ceiling, where the tub valves are now.

Very strange trying to shower with that opening there.

Drafty and goofy, and leaky.
 
Well, the shower curtain wraps around. We bought this 1-bath house 15 years ago...at that time there were no signs that the tub had ever before been rigged for showers. For many decades this house was a bath tub only deal.

I kind of like the open ends...it is a very small bathroom, and I think the openness makes it seem less like a bathroom in a 1970 camping trailer. More open, larger.
 
I may be missing something here, but why wouldn't this require the typical large washer, which would be put on the pipe then compressed down with the follower nut?

Granted, you would have to unscrew the vertical pipe to allow you to slip it on.
20200112_134024.jpg

EDIT: And select the correct size and type of washer.
 
Yes, a squishy rubber washer, or maybe a bevelled one, would work, but this old brass thing is probably at least 70 years old.

Taking it apart to slide on a washer over the pipe is too risky, and unnecessary.
 
Yes, a washer or o-ring would be nice.

And, yes, too much disassembly to install. If I were to do that much disassembly, I would throw that fitting away and add a union...or, something along those lines.

The teflon packing came in the mail, and I installed it. Still leaks a bit. I will tighten it down some more, and report back.
 
Second solution.jpg

I has been a week of no leaks. I used the full 24"-pack of packing...minus about 6". It took quite a bit of torque on the wrench to get it to stop leaking. I will keep the wall torn apart a good long time (months?), so to keep an eye on the fitting. I do not want to notice it has started leaking again by way of a ceiling leak.

Trust but verify.

Thanks to everyone who helped. I will report back if something goes bad.

Roy
 

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