My "cap" is actually just a bed of mortar-like substance that appears to
be troweled-on over the top course of brick. It's not a "cast" cap
like many I've seen before.

wrote:
Reading again, it almost sounds as if you need a new cap....if you do,
just buy one. They arent that expensive. Mine, custom-made and
installed was only $50...of course that was 15 years ago...