Working on a Koehler shower faucet from around 1987. Basic 2 knob, diverter in the spout. The problem I'm chasing is that the tub has 1/2 the flow of the sink right next to it (same supply). My best guess here is a corrosion clog in the valve because well water. Probably some shredded washer pieces in there too. Next step is rip it outta the wall to repair / replace and that's where I need a little hand holding.
Not my first rodeo, I've sweated 1/2" copper before. I know any water in the line will suck up all your heat and I know heating up a brass (shut off) valve takes longer than heating up a copper pipe. What I think I'm running in to here is the big hunk of brass sucking all the heat away from the copper joints.
see pic. Put the basic Bens-O-Matic propane torch on the spout elbow for a couple minutes and no where near hot enough to melt the solder and yeah, the brass was heating up. So what's the trick here? Will MAPP make a difference? I kinda wanted to sweat it apart, see if I can unclog it and solder it back it. Plan B of cut the pipe and put it back together with straight couplings seems likely to have the same problem.
Not my first rodeo, I've sweated 1/2" copper before. I know any water in the line will suck up all your heat and I know heating up a brass (shut off) valve takes longer than heating up a copper pipe. What I think I'm running in to here is the big hunk of brass sucking all the heat away from the copper joints.
see pic. Put the basic Bens-O-Matic propane torch on the spout elbow for a couple minutes and no where near hot enough to melt the solder and yeah, the brass was heating up. So what's the trick here? Will MAPP make a difference? I kinda wanted to sweat it apart, see if I can unclog it and solder it back it. Plan B of cut the pipe and put it back together with straight couplings seems likely to have the same problem.