My bathtub spigot is leaking. It takes Moen 1224 cartidges. I have
replaced these cartridges before and have the special tool that removes
the retaining nut buried deep inside. The problem is I can't get the
cartridge out. I don't want to yank and pull too hard lest I break
something. What's the trick?

Also I have a Moen Monticello kitchen faucet. It doesn't leak, but it
has a problem with how the sprayer works. When using the sprayer with
hot water only, after I let go of the sprayer handle the water coming
out of the spigot is reduced in flow. If I move the hot handle back
and forth a quarter turn or so it returns to full flow. This doesn't
happen with the cold side.

I tried to pull the cartridge out to see if something is stuck in there
but that sucker won't pull out either. Yes, I removed the outer
retaining ring. I don't think there is an inner one though.

I am on city water.

On 7/17/14, 10:39 PM, badgolferman wrote:
My bathtub spigot is leaking. It takes Moen 1224 cartidges. I have
replaced these cartridges before and have the special tool that removes
the retaining nut buried deep inside. The problem is I can't get the
cartridge out. I don't want to yank and pull too hard lest I break
something. What's the trick?

A 3" 8-32 screw and fender washers. Put the washers on the screw and
screw it in at least an inch. You should be able to pull pretty hard
without wrecking the cartridge.

Also I have a Moen Monticello kitchen faucet. It doesn't leak, but it
has a problem with how the sprayer works. When using the sprayer with
hot water only, after I let go of the sprayer handle the water coming
out of the spigot is reduced in flow. If I move the hot handle back
and forth a quarter turn or so it returns to full flow. This doesn't
happen with the cold side.

I tried to pull the cartridge out to see if something is stuck in there
but that sucker won't pull out either. Yes, I removed the outer
retaining ring. I don't think there is an inner one though.

I am on city water.

In ,
J Burns typed:
On 7/17/14, 10:39 PM, badgolferman wrote:
My bathtub spigot is leaking. It takes Moen 1224 cartridges. I have
replaced these cartridges before and have the special tool that
removes the retaining nut buried deep inside. The problem is I
can't get the cartridge out. I don't want to yank and pull too hard
lest I break something. What's the trick?

A 3" 8-32 screw and fender washers. Put the washers on the screw and
screw it in at least an inch. You should be able to pull pretty hard
without wrecking the cartridge.

That sounds like a good suggestion. Hopefully it will work for the OP.

I have had the same problem as the OP with the cartridges not coming out on
a single handle Moen Posi-Temp shower fixture a couple of times. Huge mess,
ended up breaking the cartridge and having to dig pieces out etc. And, just
like the OP, I had to so-called special tool that is supposed to work, but
it didn't.

On 7/18/14, 4:49 PM, TomR wrote:
In ,
J Burns typed:
On 7/17/14, 10:39 PM, badgolferman wrote:
My bathtub spigot is leaking. It takes Moen 1224 cartridges. I have
replaced these cartridges before and have the special tool that
removes the retaining nut buried deep inside. The problem is I
can't get the cartridge out. I don't want to yank and pull too hard
lest I break something. What's the trick?

A 3" 8-32 screw and fender washers. Put the washers on the screw and
screw it in at least an inch. You should be able to pull pretty hard
without wrecking the cartridge.

That sounds like a good suggestion. Hopefully it will work for the OP.

I have had the same problem as the OP with the cartridges not coming out on
a single handle Moen Posi-Temp shower fixture a couple of times. Huge mess,
ended up breaking the cartridge and having to dig pieces out etc. And, just
like the OP, I had to so-called special tool that is supposed to work, but
it didn't.


My experience is with the brass Moen 1200. I removed one several times
in the kitchen with no problem. The first time I removed one from the
shower, it was easy. When I had trouble 5 years later, I pulled so hard
I was afraid I'd break something behind the wall.

I noticed a cross hole through the stem. I put a large nail through it
and pried against the rim of the housing with a big, square-shanked
screwdriver. Easy! If I'd had to pry hard, I would have protected the
rim with wood.

The reason I had trouble in 5 years, and it was so hard to pull, was
deposits in the housing that I hadn't noticed with my finger the first
time. A chain-saw file removed them, and I used plumber's grease.
Besides protecting the o-rings during installation, I wonder if
plumber's grease might prevent deposits.

I knew the principle, and online I found that an 8-32 screw works for a
1224.

J Burns wrote:

On 7/18/14, 4:49 PM, TomR wrote:
In ,
J Burns typed:
On 7/17/14, 10:39 PM, badgolferman wrote:
My bathtub spigot is leaking. It takes Moen 1224 cartridges.
I have replaced these cartridges before and have the special
tool that removes the retaining nut buried deep inside. The
problem is I can't get the cartridge out. I don't want to yank
and pull too hard lest I break something. What's the trick?

A 3" 8-32 screw and fender washers. Put the washers on the screw
and screw it in at least an inch. You should be able to pull
pretty hard without wrecking the cartridge.

That sounds like a good suggestion. Hopefully it will work for the
OP.

I have had the same problem as the OP with the cartridges not
coming out on a single handle Moen Posi-Temp shower fixture a
couple of times. Huge mess, ended up breaking the cartridge and
having to dig pieces out etc. And, just like the OP, I had to
so-called special tool that is supposed to work, but it didn't.


My experience is with the brass Moen 1200. I removed one several
times in the kitchen with no problem. The first time I removed one
from the shower, it was easy. When I had trouble 5 years later, I
pulled so hard I was afraid I'd break something behind the wall.

I noticed a cross hole through the stem. I put a large nail through
it and pried against the rim of the housing with a big,
square-shanked screwdriver. Easy! If I'd had to pry hard, I would
have protected the rim with wood.

The reason I had trouble in 5 years, and it was so hard to pull, was
deposits in the housing that I hadn't noticed with my finger the
first time. A chain-saw file removed them, and I used plumber's
grease. Besides protecting the o-rings during installation, I wonder
if plumber's grease might prevent deposits.

I knew the principle, and online I found that an 8-32 screw works for
a 1224.

The 8-32 screw didn't work. The original screw had a wider pitch so
the fine thread wouldn't grab. I got some coarser #8 screws to try,
but first I used my needle-nose vise grips and locked onto the recessed
stem and pulled with all my might. It finally broke loose and let go!

On 7/17/2014 10:39 PM, badgolferman wrote:
My bathtub spigot is leaking. It takes Moen 1224 cartidges. I have
replaced these cartridges before and have the special tool that removes
the retaining nut buried deep inside. The problem is I can't get the
cartridge out. I don't want to yank and pull too hard lest I break
something. What's the trick?

Also I have a Moen Monticello kitchen faucet. It doesn't leak, but it
has a problem with how the sprayer works. When using the sprayer with
hot water only, after I let go of the sprayer handle the water coming
out of the spigot is reduced in flow. If I move the hot handle back
and forth a quarter turn or so it returns to full flow. This doesn't
happen with the cold side.

I tried to pull the cartridge out to see if something is stuck in there
but that sucker won't pull out either. Yes, I removed the outer
retaining ring. I don't think there is an inner one though.

I am on city water.


I did my bathtub and recall using vise grip pliers and banging to the
point that I might cause damage. I did get the job done but when my
stall shower needed a new cartridge, maybe 35 years old, I had another
plumbing job and brought in a plumber and included this one. He had a
special puller, maybe like a gear puller. He said it was a chore.

On 7/19/14, 3:42 PM, badgolferman wrote:
J Burns wrote:


I knew the principle, and online I found that an 8-32 screw works for
a 1224.

The 8-32 screw didn't work. The original screw had a wider pitch so
the fine thread wouldn't grab. I got some coarser #8 screws to try,
but first I used my needle-nose vise grips and locked onto the recessed
stem and pulled with all my might. It finally broke loose and let go!

Here's where I got it.
https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/plumbing/cant-remove-moen-1224-cartridge-double-handled-lave-sink-have-pulle-609504.html

This one says a Moen 1224B is used in the same faucets, but it's
designed for a self-tapping screw. Maybe the self-tapping screw cuts
threads with a different pitch.

When my 1220 was stuck so bad that I couldn't turn it with the Moen
plastic adapter, I was disappointed with Moen's online documentation.

On 7/20/14, 1:10 AM, J Burns wrote:
On 7/19/14, 3:42 PM, badgolferman wrote:
J Burns wrote:


I knew the principle, and online I found that an 8-32 screw works for
a 1224.

The 8-32 screw didn't work. The original screw had a wider pitch so
the fine thread wouldn't grab. I got some coarser #8 screws to try,
but first I used my needle-nose vise grips and locked onto the recessed
stem and pulled with all my might. It finally broke loose and let go!

Here's where I got it.
https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/plumbing/cant-remove-moen-1224-cartridge-double-handled-lave-sink-have-pulle-609504.html


This one says a Moen 1224B is used in the same faucets, but it's
designed for a self-tapping screw. Maybe the self-tapping screw cuts
threads with a different pitch.

When my 1220 was stuck so bad that I couldn't turn it with the Moen
plastic adapter, I was disappointed with Moen's online documentation.

Darn, I forgot to add the link that says the 1224B is different.
http://www.masterplumber.net/moen_ca..._caldwell.html