Diverter Issue

[alextompkins]

Hi everyone! I hope I am posting this in the correct spot...

I just purchased my first home and am slowly bringing it into the 2000s. It was built in 1972 and it shows its age, which is part of the reason I love the house so much.

I am trying to repair the shower diverter in our upstairs bathroom. Pretty standard issue- you turn the diverter to take a shower, and water comes out of the spout and the shower head no matter what you do. I have the diverter stem exposed, but no matter what I do, I cannot get it loose. It looks like mortar from tiling the shower got into the threads and around the diverter stem and has remained untouched for years. I’ve posted some photos below. Has anyone seen this before? Any thoughts on how to get this thing unstuck without damaging the valve?

Thanks so much for your help!

 

[TomFOhio]

If the hot or cold is still together show a picture of the faucet itself

 

[Geofd]

looks like the tile guy tiled over the nut you need to loosen
to get the diverter out try using a tile drill bit looks a little
like an arrow tip buy a few of them drill a series of holes
and use a new chisel (small) to connect you holes go easy
you don't want to pop the tile then you could try deep sockets
or a set of wrenches called cow bells or you can use a basin wrench
possibly you may have to trace a circle around the cow bells
I have had success with them take the stem to a plumbing
supply house.....not hd or lowes

 

[SHR]

American Standard Colony stem. As others have stated, chip away enough tile, grout and adhesive to free the stem then just screw out.