Gluestick Posted June 8, 2008 Share Posted June 8, 2008 In UK, my kitchen taps started leaking.No problem, I thought, I'll buy a new ceramic valve.Huh!Apparently according to my local long-term and very helpful plumbing shop, the whole thing has become a total nightmare!Ther are literally hundreds of inserts and no two seem similar. The option was to junk a very expensive kitchen tap.Not on, since it's not that old.There is a solution: find an insert that is similar (whilst most these days are imports, the inserts all tend to be BSP, which helps.I found two which are nearly right: except the splines were totally different!Gloom.Solution: cut off the old splined top: drill and tap the new insert spindle after the splined section has been cut off and screw the two bits together and Locktite them in place.Problem solved!Since most taps nowadays are imports (same with France), I thought this might prove useful.Apols for the pic quality on some: my expensive Sony digicam just back from Sony -again - is playing up! 08 Original insert (back) and modified insert (front)[IMG]http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i278/Michaeleff/PicsMay08008.jpg[/IMG]10 Finished modified insert.[IMG]http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i278/Michaeleff/PicsMay08010.jpg[/IMG]11 Old displaced Insert with top (splined shaft) cut off.[IMG]http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i278/Michaeleff/PicsMay08011.jpg[/IMG]13 Modified Insert showing studding[IMG]http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i278/Michaeleff/PicsMay08013.jpg[/IMG] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Framboise Posted June 8, 2008 Share Posted June 8, 2008 What an ingenious old Gluestick you are! [I]I think you have just encountered built in obselescence, designed to force you to buy new rather than repair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cassis Posted June 8, 2008 Share Posted June 8, 2008 I'd thought that ceramics, though durable (if you bought decent quality) were near impossible to repair if they started dripping. Thanks for the tip. [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gluestick Posted June 8, 2008 Author Share Posted June 8, 2008 Thanks, Rasberry. [kiss]What I found really irritating Cassis, was when the kitchen refurb was in progress, I fitted a large "Whole of House" water filter on the rising main, as well as a dedicated "Potable" water tap with in-line filter for the kitchen sink.Apparently, the ceramic valves work with a "Wiping" action and the junk in the water grinds 'em away!Costs were circa £150-175 for a new tap set: as against £11.00 for the two new inserts, a blob of Locktite, a gash bit of suitable studding from the odds and $ods bin and an hour's work.One thing I forgot: make sure when you source the new inserts, that you buy contra-rotating sets of two: if, like me, things like that irritate you![:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cassis Posted June 8, 2008 Share Posted June 8, 2008 Too clever by bloody half! [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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