DIYbanter - View Single Post - Socket for old shower valve bonnet needed

bob prohaska

wrote:
On Mon, 10 Dec 2018 20:40:21 -0000 (UTC), bob prohaska
wrote:

I'd like to service a shower valve in a 1957 house with original plumbing.

The bonnet nut uses a round boss 7/8" in diameter with two flats milled
in it about 3/4" apart. It'd be a cinch if the valve stuck out of the wall,
any open-end would fit. Unfortunately it's recessed about an inch behind the
tile, so a socket is reuquired.

All the wrenches I can find fit hex nuts, does anybody know the correct name
for the required tool? From time to time "nuts" like this have crossed my
path, but I've never encountered one used in a position that requires a
socket to grab it.

At this point I don't even know what to look for. Correct terminology would
help a great deal.

Thanks for reading, and any guidance.

bob prohaska

I would tell you to call a plumbing shop but you probably already did.
There is a shop I go to rarely for old stuff and they would at least
know if the tool is available. There is another thing you should do
along with this repair and that is install valves (AKA stops) in the
plumbing before the shower and tub valves. This way you only need to
shut off water to those valves and not the whole house. If you take
that valve apart and everything goes to hell with the valve you will
be happy that you installed the extra stops. Of course this assumes
you can get access easily to the plumbing under the floor.

Access? yes. Easy? no.... Adding stops before the shower and tub could
be done, but I think it'll be a considerable project in its own right.
Still, it's something to think about. I should probably look at the tub
valves before going too much farther.

Thanks!

bob prohaska