How do you disassemble a thermostatic shower valve? I can't find a replacement anywhere, so am trying to service it. It's leaking out of the front. Is there an o-ring inside that I can replace?

Here are a couple of pics of the valve.

http://tinypic.com/r/xcp4pf/5

http://tinypic.com/r/2qc2pah/5

Charlie wrote:
How do you disassemble a thermostatic shower valve? I can't find a
replacement anywhere, so am trying to service it. It's leaking out of
the front. Is there an o-ring inside that I can replace?

Here are a couple of pics of the valve.

http://tinypic.com/r/xcp4pf/5

http://tinypic.com/r/2qc2pah/5

There's supposed to be a grub screw on the widest brass section, but I can't
see one on those pics.
That said, I'm not sure you'd be able to get a replacement o ring if it was
that...there's a few repair kits knocking about on ebay, but they're about
£30 - and you can get a complete new mixer for that money.

On 26/01/2014 11:23, Charlie wrote:
How do you disassemble a thermostatic shower valve? I can't find a replacement anywhere, so am trying to service it. It's leaking out of the front. Is there an o-ring inside that I can replace?

Here are a couple of pics of the valve.

http://tinypic.com/r/xcp4pf/5

http://tinypic.com/r/2qc2pah/5


Try here; http://www.shop.lunns.net/shower-spares-10-c.asp

--
Dave - The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

The Medway Handyman wrote:
On 26/01/2014 11:23, Charlie wrote:
How do you disassemble a thermostatic shower valve? I can't find a
replacement anywhere, so am trying to service it. It's leaking out
of the front. Is there an o-ring inside that I can replace? Here are a
couple of pics of the valve.

http://tinypic.com/r/xcp4pf/5

http://tinypic.com/r/2qc2pah/5


Try here; http://www.shop.lunns.net/shower-spares-10-c.asp

Holy crap on a cracker! - most of those valves are well over a hundred quid
each, some are well over £200 - who would buy one of these when they could
buy an entire brand new mixer, with thermostatic shower valve for thirty
quid, or a really nice quality one for about a ton?

Yeah, I tried these guys but they couldn't identify a replacement valve. I also tried showerdoc but again no luck.

On 26/01/2014 11:23, Charlie wrote:
How do you disassemble a thermostatic shower valve? I can't find a replacement anywhere, so am trying to service it. It's leaking out of the front. Is there an o-ring inside that I can replace?

Here are a couple of pics of the valve.

http://tinypic.com/r/xcp4pf/5

http://tinypic.com/r/2qc2pah/5

I had one of these (different model but the same idea) that was leaking
in the same way a few months ago. Quite a strong leak at that. I could
strip mine down all the way (can't recall how but it wasn't hard - maybe
a circlip or two and unscrewing one bit from another) but there was a
delay in being able to order new seals.

I re-assembled and re-fitted it temporarily with a good slug of plumbing
silicone grease and it hasn't leaked since. Might be worth a try in
your case.

The hardest part was getting hold of some plumbing silicone grease
during a period when I couldn't get to a PM during the day. I think I
got it from Toolstation in the end.

(I should get around to ordering the seals just in case!)

On 26/01/2014 11:23, Charlie wrote:
How do you disassemble a thermostatic shower valve? I can't find a replacement anywhere, so am trying to service it. It's leaking out of the front. Is there an o-ring inside that I can replace?

Here are a couple of pics of the valve.

http://tinypic.com/r/xcp4pf/5

http://tinypic.com/r/2qc2pah/5

It looks as if you should be able to slide out the circlip/washer thingy
at the bottom of the spline and then push the splined shaft inwards -
and hopefully retrieve the innards at the other end.
--
Cheers,
Roger
____________
Please reply to Newsgroup. Whilst email address is valid, it is seldom
checked.

Sure that makes sense, there is a cir clip at the end. I tried removing it and pushing the end through the main body but it didn't easily move. My biggest fear is taking it apart and damaging something as I can't find a replacement anywhere.

How easy is it to break the internal parts of the valve? Or get it in a state where it is difficult to reassemble?

On 26/01/2014 23:32, Charlie wrote:
Sure that makes sense, there is a cir clip at the end. I tried removing it and pushing the end through the main body but it didn't easily move. My biggest fear is taking it apart and damaging something as I can't find a replacement anywhere.

How easy is it to break the internal parts of the valve? Or get it in a state where it is difficult to reassemble?

I don't honestly know - I've never had one of those apart. My earlier
comments were based on the fact that the spline with the circlip under
it looks similar to the top end of the innards of a basin tap - and that
certainly comes apart in that manner. But then, a basin tap has far
fewer components than your thermostatic mixer.
--
Cheers,
Roger
____________
Please reply to Newsgroup. Whilst email address is valid, it is seldom
checked.

On 26/01/2014 23:32, Charlie wrote:
Sure that makes sense, there is a cir clip at the end. I tried removing it and pushing the end through the main body but it didn't easily move. My biggest fear is taking it apart and damaging something as I can't find a replacement anywhere.

How easy is it to break the internal parts of the valve? Or get it in a state where it is difficult to reassemble?

I don't think you'll break the internals as such but you may run a risk
of damaging a seal or putting one back in the wrong way or place. Mine
seemed to have very little inside it, which could be a bit disappointing
given their cost(!)
Although they may not have the same thing, I'm pretty certain the
showerdoc site has some exploded diagrams for some models, which may
give you a idea of what you'll find.
It's unlikely you will find anything inside to help with your problem
though, if it's leaking from the front, as that will be down to the
seals you can already see, particularly the front one.
My 'liberal dollop of grease and put back in approach' was only really
intended to buy me the breathing space to work out what to replace it
with but has given me far more mileage than I expected. It may do the
same for you.

On Monday, January 27, 2014 3:41:34 PM UTC, GMM wrote:
On 26/01/2014 23:32, Charlie wrote:

Sure that makes sense, there is a cir clip at the end. I tried removing it and pushing the end through the main body but it didn't easily move. My biggest fear is taking it apart and damaging something as I can't find a replacement anywhere.



How easy is it to break the internal parts of the valve? Or get it in a state where it is difficult to reassemble?



I don't think you'll break the internals as such but you may run a risk

of damaging a seal or putting one back in the wrong way or place. Mine

seemed to have very little inside it, which could be a bit disappointing

given their cost(!)

Although they may not have the same thing, I'm pretty certain the

showerdoc site has some exploded diagrams for some models, which may

give you a idea of what you'll find.

It's unlikely you will find anything inside to help with your problem

though, if it's leaking from the front, as that will be down to the

seals you can already see, particularly the front one.

My 'liberal dollop of grease and put back in approach' was only really

intended to buy me the breathing space to work out what to replace it

with but has given me far more mileage than I expected. It may do the

same for you.

Is it just the circlip that holds the central shaft inside the valve? I tried removing it and pushing it through but it went only about 3-4mm before getting stuck on something. It has some give at this point. Am I right in thinking this is just one of the seals and that I needed to push a bit harder? How hard do you need to push?

I realise I'm probably being over cautious, but without the availibility of a spare I don't want to be without somewhere to washa shower and bath :-) Hopefully some grease and reassembly will do the trick.

On 27/01/2014 21:12, Charlie wrote:
On Monday, January 27, 2014 3:41:34 PM UTC, GMM wrote:
On 26/01/2014 23:32, Charlie wrote:

Sure that makes sense, there is a cir clip at the end. I tried
removing it and pushing the end through the main body but it
didn't easily move. My biggest fear is taking it apart and
damaging something as I can't find a replacement anywhere.



How easy is it to break the internal parts of the valve? Or get
it in a state where it is difficult to reassemble?



I don't think you'll break the internals as such but you may run a
risk

of damaging a seal or putting one back in the wrong way or place.
Mine

seemed to have very little inside it, which could be a bit
disappointing

given their cost(!)

Although they may not have the same thing, I'm pretty certain the

showerdoc site has some exploded diagrams for some models, which
may

give you a idea of what you'll find.

It's unlikely you will find anything inside to help with your
problem

though, if it's leaking from the front, as that will be down to
the

seals you can already see, particularly the front one.

My 'liberal dollop of grease and put back in approach' was only
really

intended to buy me the breathing space to work out what to replace
it

with but has given me far more mileage than I expected. It may do
the

same for you.

Is it just the circlip that holds the central shaft inside the valve?
I tried removing it and pushing it through but it went only about
3-4mm before getting stuck on something. It has some give at this
point. Am I right in thinking this is just one of the seals and that
I needed to push a bit harder? How hard do you need to push?

Certainly with a standard tap head gear, that's exactly what happens.
Remove the clip, push, feel resistance, push harder & it comes away.

--
Dave - The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

On 27/01/2014 21:12, Charlie wrote:
On Monday, January 27, 2014 3:41:34 PM UTC, GMM wrote:
On 26/01/2014 23:32, Charlie wrote:

Sure that makes sense, there is a cir clip at the end. I tried removing it and pushing the end through the main body but it didn't easily move. My biggest fear is taking it apart and damaging something as I can't find a replacement anywhere.



How easy is it to break the internal parts of the valve? Or get it in a state where it is difficult to reassemble?



I don't think you'll break the internals as such but you may run a risk

of damaging a seal or putting one back in the wrong way or place. Mine

seemed to have very little inside it, which could be a bit disappointing

given their cost(!)

Although they may not have the same thing, I'm pretty certain the

showerdoc site has some exploded diagrams for some models, which may

give you a idea of what you'll find.

It's unlikely you will find anything inside to help with your problem

though, if it's leaking from the front, as that will be down to the

seals you can already see, particularly the front one.

My 'liberal dollop of grease and put back in approach' was only really

intended to buy me the breathing space to work out what to replace it

with but has given me far more mileage than I expected. It may do the

same for you.

Is it just the circlip that holds the central shaft inside the valve? I tried removing it and pushing it through but it went only about 3-4mm before getting stuck on something. It has some give at this point. Am I right in thinking this is just one of the seals and that I needed to push a bit harder? How hard do you need to push?

I realise I'm probably being over cautious, but without the availibility of a spare I don't want to be without somewhere to washa shower and bath :-) Hopefully some grease and reassembly will do the trick.

It's probably a seal catching internally and will yield if you give it a
good shove but be careful not to damage the seal or you will lose the
temp control. Of course, without knowing the precise design, it could
be anything, so I would be cautious!
Do you really need to take it apart any further? It's the seals you can
already see around the outside that are causing the leak. If they are
broadly intact, then the grease will pack it out and help it seal. I
would also check the bore it sits in for damage or crap, which may cause
the problem. Good luck!