Help Replacing Washer and O-Ring on Bathroom Sink Handle

Guys, I have a bathroom sink handle that is leaking from base of the handle whenever I turn on the water. Please see image attachments.

I think the sink is original and had a heck of a time removing just the handle. I'm stumped on the next problem though. Now that I have the handle off, I can't seem to remove the escutcheon and hence cannot remove the stem to get to O-ring/washers. The escutcheon will not budge. It almost seems fused to the stem itself (not sure if you can tell from the pictures). There doesn't seem to be any seam between the escutcheon and the stem assembly. When I twist the escutcheon by hand the whole assembly seems to rotate, escutcheon + stem. Btw, is the nut that you see on the picture the packing nut to remove the stem or is it part of the stem itself. The space between the shell of the escutcheon and the said nut is only a few millimeters, not really big enough to get any kind of wrench in there.

Any help is appreciated!

The whole stem would need to be removed that esscusion would need to be removed to access it if the whole shaft is spinning you need to try and hold it so it does not. If you can't get it apart you will need to just replace the faucet

@djmayhill, that's just it. How do I get the escutcheon off? I'm not sure where it's even attached to the stem.

It's threaded on the stem grasp it with a strap wrench and try and twist off you won't be able to see were it threads. you can use pliers but it will scratch it pretty bad

@djmayhill, some others on another forum told me to use a deep well socket to loosen the nut shown in the picture (what appears to be a nut at least). Is that wrong?

I could be but I don't think so and to be honest Kholer stems are pretty hard to remove most times I have to replace the faucet. You can always call Kholer tech support and they will actually walk you through taking it apart but I'm really positive that's what needs to be done to replace it but without being there I can't be 100% calling the manufacture is who would know for sure that's the best advice I can give ya they will also be able to send you repair parts

This is what the stem looks like this is why a deep well socet won't work and the eccusion needs to be removed to fully remove it and replaced to fix your problem

View attachment ImageUploadedByPlumbing Forum1468641920.971402.jpg

Unless you think the opening is large enough to pull stem through a picture from Above would be great so I could see looking down

@djmayhill, that definitely looks like the right stem. I think you are right. The escutcheon needs to be removed. Attached is a photo from above. I don't think the opening is big enough??

I know it's a few extra steps and a pain to do but they are a whole lot easier to take out if you remove the body and put it in a vise before you try removing the stem. Do not use channel locks or pipe wrench because 90% of the time it will tear the stem all to pieces and it will never be removed. You wouldn't believe the customers that have brought us the entire body because they couldn't remove it.

@lockeplumbing, by body do you mean escutcheon + stem? How would I remove the whole body? At this point I'm unsure what is keeping the body attached to the basin exactly...

It's under the esccusion what holds it to the sink.

@djmayhill, That makes sense. So how would I remove the "body" as @lockeplumbing suggested?

I'm wondering if I'm just better off calling a plumber, except I'm new to the area and I've been told that your average plumber doesn't know a whole lot about these old schools sinks and parts, etc...and will just want to rip everything out and replace it. I would really like to keep the original stuff.

Somebody on another forum found this! I guess this isn't the original assembly after all...Can someone read the attached instructions and let me know what I need to do? I think I need to unscrew something from under the sink itself?

http://www.us.kohler.com/us/Fairfax...ucets/416163.htm?skuId=362362&brandId=1152504

View attachment Fairfax_instructions.pdf

Honestly your probably getting in over your head removing the whole body is going to be too much. If you can't get the esccusion off your not gonna be able to remove stem and it sounds like the stem won't come out cause the whole thing is twisting which means you would need a second person under holding it to prevent spinning and even then in might not come out. I understand bad plumbers and wanting to keep the old stuff but it just might not be in the cards I'm sorry

@djmayhill, really appreciate all your thoughts

Somebody told me that they think the escutcheon is reverse-threaded based on the instructions I posted earlier today. What do you think? Looks like the faucet and handles probably aren't original after all. Kohler still makes them. Either way, you are likely right that I'm getting in over my head...

You can easily keep the old as long as you find someone who knows what they are doing. A lot of these new plumbers don't even know how to approach this I'm afraid. Find a reputable plumber in your area and if you can not find one than you may have to replace it. In the mean time keep spraying it with some kind of penetrant so whoever tries to tackle this it will make it a little easier.

Thanks @lockeplumbing. Apparently it isn't THAT old. Someone found this on the Kohler website. Assembly seems somewhat complicated based on the instructions. I may call Kohler and ask what they recommend. Anyway, what kind of penetrant would you recommend? Vinegar or liquid wrench, etc...??

http://www.us.kohler.com/us/Fairfax-...randId=1152504

PB Blaster is good stuff. Kohler GP77005 and GP77006 are at the least 2-3 years old if not more. They recently went to a new two handle stem. It would be an easy fix if I was able to work on it but that is not the case. I don't see how Kohler can help unless they come to your house and take it apart. Like I said need to call a reputable plumber.

OK, thanks. I should change this thread to "Anyone know a reputable plumber in Los Angeles???" LOL