I rarely get beaten by DIY jobs, but it's looking like this one may get
the better of me.
I'm trying to get the crosshead top off a tap, the sort with a screw in
the side of the head. The screw came out easily but I can't budge the
tap head. I've tried making wedges and tapping them between the head and
the body, and I've tried hot water over the head, but no success.
Annoyingly I can't even budge the nut securing the tap to the basin, so
I can't take the tap to the workbench.
Any ideas?

There's a slight crack in the Twyfords Ceramant basin (which I think was
fitted when the house was built in the 1930s) so maybe it's time to look
for a replacement :-(

On 31/01/2019 21:13, wrote:
I rarely get beaten by DIY jobs, but it's looking like this one may get
the better of me.
I'm trying to get the crosshead top off a tap, the sort with a screw in
the side of the head. The screw came out easily but I can't budge the
tap head. I've tried making wedges and tapping them between the head and
the body, and I've tried hot water over the head, but no success.
Annoyingly I can't even budge the nut securing the tap to the basin, so
I can't take the tap to the workbench.
Any ideas?

There's a slight crack in the Twyfords Ceramant basin (which I think was
fitted when the house was built in the 1930s) so maybe it's time to look
for a replacement :-(

They can be bloody tight. DAMHIK. I'd put my big propane torch on it but
TBH you are probably right to think about replacing the lot.

explained :
I rarely get beaten by DIY jobs, but it's looking like this one may get the
better of me.
I'm trying to get the crosshead top off a tap, the sort with a screw in the
side of the head. The screw came out easily but I can't budge the tap head.
I've tried making wedges and tapping them between the head and the body, and
I've tried hot water over the head, but no success. Annoyingly I can't even
budge the nut securing the tap to the basin, so I can't take the tap to the
workbench.
Any ideas?

A loop of string/ tiewraps hooked over the head arms, then a hammer
through the loop. Gently hammer up against the loop, until it moves.
When it moves, knock it back down with a mallet - repeat until it comes
off.

I tried wedges on my bath taps, but could not budge them - the above
method worked.

On 01/02/2019 08:22, Harry Bloomfield wrote:
explained :
I rarely get beaten by DIY jobs, but it's looking like this one may
get the better of me.
I'm trying to get the crosshead top off a tap, the sort with a screw
in the side of the head. The screw came out easily but I can't budge
the tap head. I've tried making wedges and tapping them between the
head and the body, and I've tried hot water over the head, but no
success. Annoyingly I can't even budge the nut securing the tap to the
basin, so I can't take the tap to the workbench.
Any ideas?

A loop of string/ tiewraps hooked over the head arms, then a hammer
through the loop. Gently hammer up against the loop, until it moves.
When it moves, knock it back down with a mallet - repeat until it comes
off.

I tried wedges on my bath taps, but could not budge them - the above
method worked.

I once purchased a set of no-name taps from a Ebay seller which lasted
about 2 years before one of them started to drip. In the end I had to
replace them as no matter how much brute force applied with long handled
spanners, heat and cursing, with the tap held in a vice, would persuade
it to undo. i did wonder given the low cost of the taps if they had been
designed/manufactured never to be serviced.

--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

Yes. I remember the day in the 1960s when somebody was using the basin to
have a wash, and the whole thing fell into two pieces with no warning at ll.
One half held up by the drain the other went sideways and fractured the hot
water pipe. Not what you want at 7 am in the morning. I It rested on two
wall brackets but once the split occurred of course it kind of fell through
the middle!. Rush to loft to turn off hot water feed and mopped up with
much swearing.
Brian

--
----- --
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!
"newshound" wrote in message
...
On 31/01/2019 21:13, wrote:
I rarely get beaten by DIY jobs, but it's looking like this one may get
the better of me.
I'm trying to get the crosshead top off a tap, the sort with a screw in
the side of the head. The screw came out easily but I can't budge the tap
head. I've tried making wedges and tapping them between the head and the
body, and I've tried hot water over the head, but no success. Annoyingly
I can't even budge the nut securing the tap to the basin, so I can't take
the tap to the workbench.
Any ideas?

There's a slight crack in the Twyfords Ceramant basin (which I think was
fitted when the house was built in the 1930s) so maybe it's time to look
for a replacement :-(

They can be bloody tight. DAMHIK. I'd put my big propane torch on it but
TBH you are probably right to think about replacing the lot.

On 01/02/2019 08:22, Harry Bloomfield wrote:
explained :
I rarely get beaten by DIY jobs, but it's looking like this one may
get the better of me.
I'm trying to get the crosshead top off a tap, the sort with a screw
in the side of the head. The screw came out easily but I can't budge
the tap head. I've tried making wedges and tapping them between the
head and the body, and I've tried hot water over the head, but no
success. Annoyingly I can't even budge the nut securing the tap to the
basin, so I can't take the tap to the workbench.
Any ideas?

A loop of string/ tiewraps hooked over the head arms, then a hammer
through the loop. Gently hammer up against the loop, until it moves.
When it moves, knock it back down with a mallet - repeat until it comes
off.

I tried wedges on my bath taps, but could not budge them - the above
method worked.
That's an interesting idea - a bit like a slide hammer. The jolts might
be the death knell for the basin, but I'll give it a go later.

On 31/01/2019 21:13, wrote:
I rarely get beaten by DIY jobs, but it's looking like this one may get
the better of me.
I'm trying to get the crosshead top off a tap, the sort with a screw in
the side of the head. The screw came out easily but I can't budge the
tap head. I've tried making wedges and tapping them between the head and
the body, and I've tried hot water over the head, but no success.
Annoyingly I can't even budge the nut securing the tap to the basin, so
I can't take the tap to the workbench.
Any ideas?

There's a slight crack in the Twyfords Ceramant basin (which I think was
fitted when the house was built in the 1930s) so maybe it's time to look
for a replacement :-(

Turn the handle with water pump pliers and undo the gland. Throw the
whole lot away and replace with
https://www.screwfix.com/p/swirl-bat...iver-kit/12204

So far, that's worked every time.

wrote:
I rarely get beaten by DIY jobs, but it's looking like this one may
get the better of me.
I'm trying to get the crosshead top off a tap, the sort with a screw
in the side of the head. The screw came out easily but I can't budge
the tap head. I've tried making wedges and tapping them between the
head and the body, and I've tried hot water over the head, but no
success. Annoyingly I can't even budge the nut securing the tap to
the basin, so I can't take the tap to the workbench.
Any ideas?

There's a slight crack in the Twyfords Ceramant basin (which I think
was fitted when the house was built in the 1930s) so maybe it's time
to look for a replacement

Not much help to you, but.
I have a kitchen tap about 8 years old. Crossheaded top. One of the"spokes"
? fell out. I tried to remove the top and could not do it. Top of tap
removed and the screw removed, the crosshead top would not budge. Out come
British Gas - I'm insured - not my idea.
Seems that the top of the tap and the rest of the tap are all one unit and
have to be replaced with a completely new assembly.

On 01/02/2019 11:42, GB wrote:
On 31/01/2019 21:13, wrote:
I rarely get beaten by DIY jobs, but it's looking like this one may
get the better of me.
I'm trying to get the crosshead top off a tap, the sort with a screw
in the side of the head. The screw came out easily but I can't budge
the tap head. I've tried making wedges and tapping them between the
head and the body, and I've tried hot water over the head, but no
success. Annoyingly I can't even budge the nut securing the tap to the
basin, so I can't take the tap to the workbench.
Any ideas?

There's a slight crack in the Twyfords Ceramant basin (which I think
was fitted when the house was built in the 1930s) so maybe it's time
to look for a replacement :-(

Turn the handle with water pump pliers and undo the gland. Throw the
whole lot away and replace with
https://www.screwfix.com/p/swirl-bat...iver-kit/12204


So far, that's worked every time.
That's not a bad plan if the "slide hammer" idea doesn't work.
I'm currently re-laying a large number of parquet flooring blocks -
identifying loose ones, scraping bitumen off blocks and concrete,
applying liquid DPM, blinding DPM with fine sand, and then re-laying
blocks with a modern (bitumen-compatible) SIKA adhesive. I'll go back to
the tap when I'm bored with the floor.

"Mr Pounder Esquire" Wrote in message:
wrote:
I rarely get beaten by DIY jobs, but it's looking like this one may
get the better of me.
I'm trying to get the crosshead top off a tap, the sort with a screw
in the side of the head. The screw came out easily but I can't budge
the tap head. I've tried making wedges and tapping them between the
head and the body, and I've tried hot water over the head, but no
success. Annoyingly I can't even budge the nut securing the tap to
the basin, so I can't take the tap to the workbench.
Any ideas?

There's a slight crack in the Twyfords Ceramant basin (which I think
was fitted when the house was built in the 1930s) so maybe it's time
to look for a replacement

Not much help to you, but.
I have a kitchen tap about 8 years old. Crossheaded top. One of the"spokes"
? fell out. I tried to remove the top and could not do it. Top of tap
removed and the screw removed, the crosshead top would not budge. Out come
British Gas - I'm insured - not my idea.
Seems that the top of the tap and the rest of the tap are all one unit and
have to be replaced with a completely new assembly.


Bri**** Gas "operatives" condemning kit & selling you new? Shurely
shome mishtake?
--
Jim K


----Android NewsGroup Reader----
http://usenet.sinaapp.com/

On 31/01/2019 21:13, wrote:
I rarely get beaten by DIY jobs, but it's looking like this one may get
the better of me.
I'm trying to get the crosshead top off a tap, the sort with a screw in
the side of the head. The screw came out easily but I can't budge the
tap head. I've tried making wedges and tapping them between the head and
the body, and I've tried hot water over the head, but no success.
Annoyingly I can't even budge the nut securing the tap to the basin, so
I can't take the tap to the workbench.
Any ideas?

There's a slight crack in the Twyfords Ceramant basin (which I think was
fitted when the house was built in the 1930s) so maybe it's time to look
for a replacement :-(
https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C...KYGE#kpvalbx=1

--
Dave
The Medway Handyman

On 01/02/2019 17:50, TMH wrote:
On 31/01/2019 21:13, wrote:
I rarely get beaten by DIY jobs, but it's looking like this one may
get the better of me.
I'm trying to get the crosshead top off a tap, the sort with a screw
in the side of the head. The screw came out easily but I can't budge
the tap head. I've tried making wedges and tapping them between the
head and the body, and I've tried hot water over the head, but no
success. Annoyingly I can't even budge the nut securing the tap to the
basin, so I can't take the tap to the workbench.
Any ideas?

There's a slight crack in the Twyfords Ceramant basin (which I think
was fitted when the house was built in the 1930s) so maybe it's time
to look for a replacement :-(
https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C...KYGE#kpvalbx=1


Thanks, but those assume that the centre of the cross handle comes out -
mine don't.

Jim K.. wrote:
"Mr Pounder Esquire" Wrote in message:
wrote:
I rarely get beaten by DIY jobs, but it's looking like this one may
get the better of me.
I'm trying to get the crosshead top off a tap, the sort with a screw
in the side of the head. The screw came out easily but I can't budge
the tap head. I've tried making wedges and tapping them between the
head and the body, and I've tried hot water over the head, but no
success. Annoyingly I can't even budge the nut securing the tap to
the basin, so I can't take the tap to the workbench.
Any ideas?

There's a slight crack in the Twyfords Ceramant basin (which I think
was fitted when the house was built in the 1930s) so maybe it's time
to look for a replacement

Not much help to you, but.
I have a kitchen tap about 8 years old. Crossheaded top. One of
the"spokes" ? fell out. I tried to remove the top and could not do
it. Top of tap removed and the screw removed, the crosshead top
would not budge. Out come British Gas - I'm insured - not my idea.
Seems that the top of the tap and the rest of the tap are all one
unit and have to be replaced with a completely new assembly.


Bri**** Gas "operatives" condemning kit & selling you new? Shurely
shome mishtake?

Nope, he did not even try to sell me anything.

"Mr Pounder Esquire" Wrote in message:
Jim K.. wrote:
"Mr Pounder Esquire" Wrote in message:
wrote:
I rarely get beaten by DIY jobs, but it's looking like this one may
get the better of me.
I'm trying to get the crosshead top off a tap, the sort with a screw
in the side of the head. The screw came out easily but I can't budge
the tap head. I've tried making wedges and tapping them between the
head and the body, and I've tried hot water over the head, but no
success. Annoyingly I can't even budge the nut securing the tap to
the basin, so I can't take the tap to the workbench.
Any ideas?

There's a slight crack in the Twyfords Ceramant basin (which I think
was fitted when the house was built in the 1930s) so maybe it's time
to look for a replacement

Not much help to you, but.
I have a kitchen tap about 8 years old. Crossheaded top. One of
the"spokes" ? fell out. I tried to remove the top and could not do
it. Top of tap removed and the screw removed, the crosshead top
would not budge. Out come British Gas - I'm insured - not my idea.
Seems that the top of the tap and the rest of the tap are all one
unit and have to be replaced with a completely new assembly.


Bri**** Gas "operatives" condemning kit & selling you new? Shurely
shome mishtake?

Nope, he did not even try to sell me anything.

He replaced it for nothing? Or he did nothing?
--
Jim K


----Android NewsGroup Reader----
http://usenet.sinaapp.com/

On Friday, February 1, 2019 at 12:39:33 PM UTC, Mr Pounder Esquire wrote:

Not much help to you, but.
I have a kitchen tap about 8 years old. Crossheaded top. One of the"spokes"
? fell out. I tried to remove the top and could not do it. Top of tap
removed and the screw removed, the crosshead top would not budge. Out come
British Gas - I'm insured - not my idea.
Seems that the top of the tap and the rest of the tap are all one unit and
have to be replaced with a completely new assembly.

Same thing happened to me. Moved into new house and inherited a leaky kitchen mixer tap. Bought two new tap bodies from Wilkos, but after taking out the screw found out that the spindle was seized on. After our lass went mad at me braying hell out of it, she called out a plumber at £150 a pop! He had to hammer it as well, but she did not moan at him as he knows what he is doing.

"Mr Pounder Esquire" wrote in message
...
wrote:
I rarely get beaten by DIY jobs, but it's looking like this one may
get the better of me.
I'm trying to get the crosshead top off a tap, the sort with a screw
in the side of the head. The screw came out easily but I can't budge
the tap head. I've tried making wedges and tapping them between the
head and the body, and I've tried hot water over the head, but no
success. Annoyingly I can't even budge the nut securing the tap to
the basin, so I can't take the tap to the workbench.
Any ideas?

There's a slight crack in the Twyfords Ceramant basin (which I think
was fitted when the house was built in the 1930s) so maybe it's time
to look for a replacement

Not much help to you, but.
I have a kitchen tap about 8 years old. Crossheaded top. One of
the"spokes" ? fell out. I tried to remove the top and could not do it. Top
of tap removed and the screw removed, the crosshead top would not budge.
Out come British Gas - I'm insured - not my idea.
Seems that the top of the tap and the rest of the tap are all one unit and
have to be replaced with a completely new assembly.

Unlikely to be true of one which has a screw in the side of the head.

2987fr wrote:
"Mr Pounder Esquire" wrote in message
...
wrote:
I rarely get beaten by DIY jobs, but it's looking like this one may
get the better of me.
I'm trying to get the crosshead top off a tap, the sort with a screw
in the side of the head. The screw came out easily but I can't budge
the tap head. I've tried making wedges and tapping them between the
head and the body, and I've tried hot water over the head, but no
success. Annoyingly I can't even budge the nut securing the tap to
the basin, so I can't take the tap to the workbench.
Any ideas?

There's a slight crack in the Twyfords Ceramant basin (which I think
was fitted when the house was built in the 1930s) so maybe it's time
to look for a replacement

Not much help to you, but.
I have a kitchen tap about 8 years old. Crossheaded top. One of
the"spokes" ? fell out. I tried to remove the top and could not do
it. Top of tap removed and the screw removed, the crosshead top
would not budge. Out come British Gas - I'm insured - not my idea.
Seems that the top of the tap and the rest of the tap are all one
unit and have to be replaced with a completely new assembly.

Unlikely to be true of one which has a screw in the side of the head.

Indeed. But why the tap top has the usual screw going into the body of the
valve puzzles me as it does not seem to be doing anything.

"Mr Pounder Esquire" wrote in message
...
2987fr wrote:
"Mr Pounder Esquire" wrote in message
...
wrote:
I rarely get beaten by DIY jobs, but it's looking like this one may
get the better of me.
I'm trying to get the crosshead top off a tap, the sort with a screw
in the side of the head. The screw came out easily but I can't budge
the tap head. I've tried making wedges and tapping them between the
head and the body, and I've tried hot water over the head, but no
success. Annoyingly I can't even budge the nut securing the tap to
the basin, so I can't take the tap to the workbench.
Any ideas?

There's a slight crack in the Twyfords Ceramant basin (which I think
was fitted when the house was built in the 1930s) so maybe it's time
to look for a replacement

Not much help to you, but.
I have a kitchen tap about 8 years old. Crossheaded top. One of
the"spokes" ? fell out. I tried to remove the top and could not do
it. Top of tap removed and the screw removed, the crosshead top
would not budge. Out come British Gas - I'm insured - not my idea.
Seems that the top of the tap and the rest of the tap are all one
unit and have to be replaced with a completely new assembly.

Unlikely to be true of one which has a screw in the side of the head.

Indeed. But why the tap top has the usual screw going into the body of the
valve puzzles me as it does not seem to be doing anything.

Unlikely that it isn't actually doing anything.

On 31/01/2019 21:13, wrote:
I rarely get beaten by DIY jobs, but it's looking like this one may get
the better of me.
I'm trying to get the crosshead top off a tap, the sort with a screw in
the side of the head. The screw came out easily but I can't budge the
tap head. I've tried making wedges and tapping them between the head and
the body, and I've tried hot water over the head, but no success.
Annoyingly I can't even budge the nut securing the tap to the basin, so
I can't take the tap to the workbench.
Any ideas?

There's a slight crack in the Twyfords Ceramant basin (which I think was
fitted when the house was built in the 1930s) so maybe it's time to look
for a replacement :-(

I decided to attack the cross head with a dremel and cutting disk - 2
minutes work and the head was in two halves, showing no obvious reason
for it being jammed on the shaft. Now I need to find a couple of
replacement tap tops and patch the cracked basin in the hope that it
will last until we get to that room - it's on a chrome stand so I'm not
too worried about it suddenly collapsing and taking a pipe with it, or
landing on a foot uch!