What's the best way of freeing a non-swivelling swivelling kitchen sink tap?
It takes a real effort to move it at all at present. Is it a dismantle and
replace something job, or will something as simple as a good external squirt
of WD40 do the trick?

Many thanks.

In article ,
"Bert Coules" writes:
What's the best way of freeing a non-swivelling swivelling kitchen sink tap?
It takes a real effort to move it at all at present. Is it a dismantle and
replace something job, or will something as simple as a good external squirt
of WD40 do the trick?

Dismantle, descale, replace the O-ring seals, lubricate with silicone
grease which is suitable for use on potable water fittings, reassemble.

When you've descaled it, inspect for wear. If it's got worn through
lack of maintenance, then it may never work properly, so be prepared
to cut your losses.

Don't put WD40 anywhere near it.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

On 30/09/12 12:21, Andrew Gabriel wrote:

Dismantle.... snip

I have a similar problem, but rather than being retained with a grub
screw as the old ones were, this one just had a spring-loaded
ball-bearing that went down a slot. I can't get it out again for love
nor money. Is there a standard direction the outlet should face to lift
it out again, before I damage the sink ?

Andy C

Andrew Gabriel wrote:

Anticipating that advice, I've dismantled it now and found a few rock-hard
black fragments between the sliding chrome-plated surfaces where the
moveable spout rests down against the body of the tap. Presumably there was
once an O-ring there which as you say should be replaced

...lubricate with silicone grease...

Ah, I'll have to get some (and hope that it's available in small quantities)
unless there's an acceptable alternative which I already have.

Many thanks.

I wrote:

...lubricate with silicone grease...

Ah, I'll have to get some (and hope that it's available in small
quantities) unless there's an acceptable alternative which I already have.

How about Vaseline? I know it degrades rubber, but modern O-rings are
neoprene or similar, aren't they?

On 01/10/2012 09:31, Bert Coules wrote:
I wrote:

...lubricate with silicone grease...

Ah, I'll have to get some (and hope that it's available in small
quantities) unless there's an acceptable alternative which I already
have.

How about Vaseline? I know it degrades rubber, but modern O-rings are
neoprene or similar, aren't they?


Even if they are, I certainly wouldn't want any possibility of vaseline
in my tea...

(I realise that it shouldn't get in there, but we all know how things
don't always work out as planned.)

For the cost of a small pot of silicone grease, I would not risk it.

--
Rod

"polygonum" wrote:

I certainly wouldn't want any possibility of vaseline in my tea...

Yes, a good point. But is the prospect of silicone grease in your tea any
better?

In article , Bert
Coules writes
Andrew Gabriel wrote:

Anticipating that advice, I've dismantled it now and found a few rock-hard
black fragments between the sliding chrome-plated surfaces where the
moveable spout rests down against the body of the tap. Presumably there was
once an O-ring there which as you say should be replaced

This is where you go to your selection box of O-rings, bought from Aldil
the last time they were on sale[1] (cheaply at around 6quid) and find a
suitable replacement.

The selection box is useful, I have done similar recently and found the
correct diameter O-ring made the action on the spout a little stiff so I
used the size smaller, stretching it slightly and the reduction in
section made the fit just right. If you buy singles then maybe buy a
couple of sizes.

...lubricate with silicone grease...

Ah, I'll have to get some (and hope that it's available in small quantities)
unless there's an acceptable alternative which I already have.

It is, either in pot or tube and cheaply, see toolstation etc. Nowt else
will do either compatibility wise or potable water wise

[1] You did do that didn't you ;-)
--
fred
it's a ba-na-na . . . .

I did have a suitable O-ring, fitted it and tried a test re-assembly without
lubricant. The result was a spectacular leak from around the O-ring. So I
obtained some silicone grease (exorbitantly priced from B&Q - Toolstation
denied all knowledge of the stuff) and tried again. The "grease" proved to
be rather more liquid than solid and was absolutely useless: it simply ran
off.

I gave up temporarily but later took the tap spout to a small plumber's
merchant (where I should have thought of going in the first place). There I
was told that there should be no O-ring: the sliding surfaces simply rotate
against each other. What about lubrication? Oh - use Vaseline, the chap
said.

Bert

In article , Bert
Coules writes
I did have a suitable O-ring, fitted it and tried a test re-assembly without
lubricant. The result was a spectacular leak from around the O-ring. So I
obtained some silicone grease (exorbitantly priced from B&Q - Toolstation
denied all knowledge of the stuff) and tried again. The "grease" proved to
be rather more liquid than solid and was absolutely useless: it simply ran
off.

Hmmn, doesn't sound right, even unlubed the O-ring should have sealed if
it was the right size for the job.

Surprised not to see it at TS as it's just what you need to lube seals
on pushfit drainage and I see Sfx don't carry it either, just a couple
of quid he http://www.bes.co.uk/products/094.asp for the smallest
size but you have to go local when you're in a hurry. Local plumbers'
merchant shouldn't have been too much. Runny doesn't sound right at all,
the BES stuff mentions 'high tack' and it has the texture of vaseline

I gave up temporarily but later took the tap spout to a small plumber's
merchant (where I should have thought of going in the first place). There I
was told that there should be no O-ring: the sliding surfaces simply rotate
against each other. What about lubrication? Oh - use Vaseline, the chap
said.

If there is a rectangular slot running radially around the spout then it
still sounds like an O-ring seal, just the wrong profile used.

Given the bother you're having maybe a cheap replacement tap may be the
way to go.
--
fred
it's a ba-na-na . . . .

On Mon, 1 Oct 2012 16:40:17 +0100, "Bert Coules"
wrote:

I gave up temporarily but later took the tap spout to a small plumber's
merchant (where I should have thought of going in the first place). There I
was told that there should be no O-ring: the sliding surfaces simply rotate
against each other. What about lubrication? Oh - use Vaseline, the chap
said.

Tip:
Only believe what storemen tell you if you already know they know what
they're talking about.

Grimly Curmudgeon wrote:

Only believe what storemen tell you if
you already know they know what
they're talking about.

Very sound advice. But surely it should also apply to believing what's
posted here? Sometimes one simply has to trust by instinct.

Anyway, the tap is now reassembled, the spout swivels and the joint does not
leak. Thanks to everyone for the comments and advice.

Bert