• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

DIY home reapir, need help: how do I fix a leaky fauce with a stripped screw?**PICS**

G

gotsmack

Diamond Member
So I have a kitchen faucet with the single handle and a hex screw at the base of the handle (I think thats what you call it anyway). So I looked up how to fix this online, shut off the water and then tried to take off the screw.

I'm turning it counter clockwise with the correct size hex wrench, but it got stripped. I guess it's because it is so old? How do I remove this hex screw?

Thanks in advance.

****Edit*****

to prevent confusion, this is the first screw you have to undo to remove the handle. The faucet is a 25 year old Delta, so it should last another 25 years. My dad already bought the internal parts to be changed, which is just a spring and washer.

Delta1.jpg

Delta2.jpg

Delta3.jpg
 
Last edited:
Don't worry the democrats will have a welfare program soon enough that will pay government employees to come fix your leaky faucet for you at the tax payers expense.
 
Well, since you posted this in P&N...

If you're a rich liberal, you call up your local illegal alien handyman, exploiting him, then go have a nice $100 lunch with your other liberal friends deriding the ebil conservatives.

If you're a poor liberal, you call up your local illegal alien handyman to exploit and pay him with money you got from some government agency because you can't possibly work, it would mentally traumatize you.

If you're a rich conservative, you call up your uncle who had to work his entire life to get where he's at, and he either fixes it himself, or sends an illegal (who he's exploiting) over from his handyman business to fix it for you.

If you're a poor conservative, you figure out a way to fix it yourself or hire a handyman to fix it, but will only hire someone you know isn't an illegal (which means you're likely going to call a white or black handyman).

Welcome to P&N..... 😀

Chuck
 
101mpg said:
Don't worry the democrats will have a welfare program soon enough that will pay government employees to come fix your leaky faucet for you at the tax payers expense.
Click to expand...
And it will be done with a level of efficiency that is the norm for civil servants. From the time of the request to the eventual fix, which will include seven visits to your home, five months will pass.

The total cost: $186,000.

You're going to have to drill it out at this point would be my guess without seeing it. It sounds as though it's too corroded to be removed.
 
Last edited:
Ez Out's you need to drill a hole. What you want is a Sock It Out in the right size. drive it and turn it out with a adjustable wrench. You might want to hit it with some PB Blaster before trying that.

http://www.sockitout.com/

http://www.blastercorporation.com/PB_Blaster.html

drilling a set screw is hard to do, the case harden on them pretty much makes them hard all the way through and difficult to remove with a hand drill. A carbide bit would help.
 
Last edited:
odd, this is the first time that I have heard a hex screw on a faucet striped, but anything is possible.

I haven't seen small easy-out that would fit a hex screw of that size. A dab of strong adhesive on the tip of the hex wrench may do the job, but IMHO it is time to replace the faucet. Or you can bore out the hole and insert a larger hex screw in place.

Picture of faucet to see if it worth keeping.
 
Last edited:
Yeah, picture please, because I don't have a clue what you're talking about.
 
Usually, if you call a plumber, they will just replace the whole mess with a completely new facet. Because truth be told, and I have been there and done that, getting the screw out
is just step one. Then one often needs to rig up some sort of special puller to get the facet handle off the splined shaft. After which the inner piece will screw out easily with the a well flattened rubber washer at the other end held in by another center screw that is likely to be another bitch to remove. Then you have to look to see if the matching seat inside the facet is damaged or not. If it is damaged one may be basically doomed without access to special seat removal tools. But in extreme situations, someone can make their own special tool seat resurfacer, but it helps to have a metal lathe and machining experience to get a perfectly square seal able surface. After that all it takes is finding a correct replacement washer for pennies, reassemble and hope.

There are a few times I have been stuck in the middle of nowhere with minimum tools, and I have had every single problem I have mentioned with various facets, take my word for it, I have yet to find a facet I can't fix, but it often takes hours and hours to finally get the job done. And that is only if you are mechanically inclined, you know how to drill out and re thread to the next largest size screw holes, and have a very high tolerance for frustration. And even then I am forgetting to mention some O rings and packing material you also have to replace.

Most of the time its easier to go to a big box store, buy a whole new facet for $30.00 or so and avoid the whole mess. But even then you have to have shut off valves, a knuckle buster wrench, and go through the joy of laying on your back in a cramped area. After that you are usually good to go for 50 years or so. A good experienced person can do the job in 20 minutes or so, unless garbage disposers and drain paraphernalia are in the way. A do it your self type like me, figure probably and hour
at best.
 
Lemon law said:
Usually, if you call a plumber, they will just replace the whole mess with a completely new facet. Because truth be told, and I have been there and done that, getting the screw out
is just step one. Then one often needs to rig up some sort of special puller to get the facet handle off the splined shaft. After which the inner piece will screw out easily with the a well flattened rubber washer at the other end held in by another center screw that is likely to be another bitch to remove. Then you have to look to see if the matching seat inside the facet is damaged or not. If it is damaged one may be basically doomed without access to special seat removal tools. But in extreme situations, someone can make their own special tool seat resurfacer, but it helps to have a metal lathe and machining experience to get a perfectly square seal able surface. After that all it takes is finding a correct replacement washer for pennies, reassemble and hope.

There are a few times I have been stuck in the middle of nowhere with minimum tools, and I have had every single problem I have mentioned with various facets, take my word for it, I have yet to find a facet I can't fix, but it often takes hours and hours to finally get the job done. And that is only if you are mechanically inclined, you know how to drill out and re thread to the next largest size screw holes, and have a very high tolerance for frustration. And even then I am forgetting to mention some O rings and packing material you also have to replace.

Most of the time its easier to go to a big box store, buy a whole new facet for $30.00 or so and avoid the whole mess. But even then you have to have shut off valves, a knuckle buster wrench, and go through the joy of laying on your back in a cramped area. After that you are usually good to go for 50 years or so. A good experienced person can do the job in 20 minutes or so, unless garbage disposers and drain paraphernalia are in the way. A do it your self type like me, figure probably and hour
at best.
Click to expand...
I haven't seen or have the need for a special puller to get the faucet off. There are 4 different design of seal and seats in North America for single handle kitchen faucet and none that I have seen needed puller.

Removable seats can be replace and they tend to be slotted for a large hex wrench or flat head screw driver. Seat also can be rimed with a seat dresser, but that practice isn't common any longer.

I assumed that your knuckle buster wrench is a basin wrench.

Basin_Wrench_3C.jpg
 
$30 for a new faucet??? You get what you pay for. I have yet to see a good faucet that isn't relatively simple to repair. It's also nice to have a good hardware store nearby with lots of parts for lots of different faucets.
 
DrPizza said:
$30 for a new faucet??? You get what you pay for. I have yet to see a good faucet that isn't relatively simple to repair. It's also nice to have a good hardware store nearby with lots of parts for lots of different faucets.
Click to expand...
Good kitchen faucet start from $100 to about $400, and anything beyond that is a waste.

$30 kitchen faucet is not worth the time putting it in because it is likely that the parts/seals are not standard and are hard to source when you need to repair it. Or, it is poorly constructed that easily leaks water, or breaks easily.
 
Mike Gayner said:
wut? Did you even read the description?
Click to expand...

Yes?

I've never done it on a faucet before, but wouldn't the principle be the same? Bore a hole, put in the easyout (perhaps I'm not using the right name ((it's the reversed drill bit thingamabober)), and back it out slowly?

Why would it being hex matter?

magicrat03 post is something different, sounds neat though, never used those...

Chuck
 
chucky2 said:
Yes?

I've never done it on a faucet before, but wouldn't the principle be the same? Bore a hole, put in the easyout (perhaps I'm not using the right name ((it's the reversed drill bit thingamabober)), and back it out slowly?

Why would it being hex matter?

magicrat03 post is something different, sounds neat though, never used those...

Chuck
Click to expand...
The hex nut on the faucet is a small nut and hex nut are made out of harden steel, therefore it is difficult to drill/bore it out.
 
Interesting, didn't know that! Are all hex's hardened for sure, or is it a supposed to be thing but all aren't?

Chuck
 
gotsmack said:
So I have a kitchen faucet with the single handle and a hex screw at the base of the handle (I think thats what you call it anyway). So I looked up how do fix this online, shut off the water and then tried to take off the screw.

I'm turning it counter clockwise with the correct size hex wrench, but it got stripped. I guess it's because it is so old? How do I remove this hex screw?

Thanks in advance.

****Edit*****

to prevent confusion, this is the first screw you have to undo to remove the handle. The faucet is a 25 year old Delta, so it should last another 25 years. My dad already bought the internal parts to be changed, which is just a spring and washer.

Delta1.jpg
Delta2.jpg
Delta3.jpg
Click to expand...
Fixed

Or the below is what you wanted.

Delta1.jpg


Delta2.jpg


Delta3.jpg
 
Last edited:
I would pack it it if you can't get that screw out. It look simple enough that a wedge of even a small flat head screw driver would get that out.
 
Try jamming a thin blade screwdriver in there or use a Metric Allen Key (or American size) depending on what you used the first time. There are minute differences in sizes that look the same or fit close, but are not really the correct one. Worst case, buy a new faucet. No offense, but that style is pretty well dated and there are much better looking, more versatile, more reliable models for sale currently.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top