YAHIT: How to unscrew rusted shower knob?

[Barfo]

My shower head has been leaking for a few days now and I'm now officially fed up with it (after calling the plumber and the fcker failed to appear) so I'm trying to fix it, problem is that I can't even start to assess what's the problem because I can't take the screws out from the knobs, they seem to be a bit rusted, I've been trying for like 40 minutes and it's pissing me off, I've already beaten them with a hammer to no avail, any tips?

pic

 

[iamwiz82]

Are they stripped?

Spray them with a penetrating oil to loosen them up. PB Blaster, etc. Have you tried a drill to unscrew it? Just be careful not to strip it if it isn't already.

 

[maximus maximus]

put a few drops of oil on the screws and see if that helps.
I once did that on the rusted locks, that helped me then.

 

[Miramonti]

pics would help.

 

[Barfo]

Ok, I've put some lubricant oil on them, I'll wait for a while and then try again, will take a pic as well.

 

[Rubycon]

Stripped screws - now that is funny stuff.

Even though it seems to invoke victory, don't beat the crap out of it. It will just make things worse!

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: barfo
Ok, I've put some lubricant oil on them, I'll wait for a while and then try again, will take a pic as well.

Most leaking faucets are incredibly simple to repair (although the cost of replacement parts varies significantly; from a few cents for an o-ring to a hundred or more on some top of the line brands of commercial faucets (faucets that are used significantly more than a home faucet, yet easily last 25 years+).

 

[Barfo]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Are they stripped?

Spray them with a penetrating oil to loosen them up. PB Blaster, etc. Have you tried a drill to unscrew it? Just be careful not to strip it if it isn't already.

A bit

Also, the oil didn't help, any more ideas? I haven't got a drill btw.

 

[iamwiz82]

heat would work, but then you'll melt all the plastic inside of the handle.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Maybe try some CLR to see if it'll dissolve any of that grime?

 

[JackRipper]

Originally posted by: barfo
My shower head has been leaking for a few days now and I'm now officially fed up with it (after calling the plumber and the fcker failed to appear) so I'm trying to fix it, problem is that I can't even start to assess what's the problem because I can't take the screws out from the knobs, they seem to be a bit rusted, I've been trying for like 40 minutes and it's pissing me off, I've already beaten them with a hammer to no avail, any tips?

pic

Spray wd40 or liquid wrench... then go to Harbor Freight (hopefully u have one around)and buy an impact screwdriver... what the impact screwdriver does is it adds a hammering action with every turn of the bit.. giving u a lot stronger torque than human hands/arms...

btw... go easy when hammering the impact screwdriver... u will need to use a part of ur palm (while holding the impact screwdriver) to secure the knob so it doesnt turn with the screw...

neway good luck... and try not to fux up the screwhead... if u do... bump the thread with update... and i'll show u how to take it out.

 

[Barfo]

Originally posted by: Gooberlx2
Maybe try some CLR to see if it'll dissolve any of that grime?

Sorry but what's a CLR?

Originally posted by: JackRipper

Spray wd40 or liquid wrench... then go to Harbor Freight (hopefully u have one around)and buy an impact screwdriver... what the impact screwdriver does is it adds a hammering action with every turn of the bit.. giving u a lot stronger torque than human hands/arms...

btw... go easy when hammering the impact screwdriver... u will need to use a part of ur palm (while holding the impact screwdriver) to secure the knob so it doesnt turn with the screw...

neway good luck... and try not to fux up the screwhead... if u do... bump the thread with update... and i'll show u how to take it out.

Thanks, no Harbor Freight here but I'll see what I can do.

 

[Marinski]

get yourself a cordless drill, they dont cost that much. Shouls just be able to use a flat head though. Use the wd-40 to loosen the rust and try pulling the knob slightly towards you (if you can) while your unscrewing. If everything fails then wedge a flat head in there and try to pry it a little to see what the problem and pry it and unscrew it.

 

[Rubycon]

LOL that's not bad at all.

A no.2 slot driver should provide plenty of torque for that.

 

[JackRipper]

Originally posted by: Marinski
get yourself a cordless drill, they dont cost that much. Shouls just be able to use a flat head though. Use the wd-40 to loosen the rust and try pulling the knob slightly towards you (if you can) while your unscrewing. If everything fails then wedge a flat head in there and try to pry it a little to see what the problem and pry it and unscrew it.

machine power is a bad way to go... most people would end up stripping the head... also machine power is not as strong as impact hammer power (if it is then it would be a machine impact gun... not really affordable)..

impact screwdriver = 7 bux for the kit... going this route OP may just have to replace a small 25 cent washer... oppose to breaking the whole thing and replacing the whole valve stem piece.

-JR

 

[compuwiz1]

Went thru this myself before. Ended up breaking up the plastic knob, pulling all the plastic away from the screw, so we could get a good shot with some WD-40. In the end, we locked some vise grips around the screw head, and were able to remove the screw.
The shower knob and new screw are cheap.

EDIT: looked again, yours is metal, right?

 

[Miramonti]

A screwdriver with a perfect tight fit will be crucial. You definitely don't want to strip it, but if you do you could use a dremel to create another slot crosswise for another go at it.

 

[Rubycon]

Oh and if you replace the knobs or fixture with a similar set up you may want to apply never seize to the threads.

 

[Wag]

Pray to Jeebus? (He was a carpenter afterall...)