Plumbing - Help - Can't Remove Captive Washer

nige0090 on 29/08/2022 - 19:34

I need to change the washers in a shower tap set but I've hit a problem.
When I removed the shower spindle, it had a 15mm extension on the end (where the washer would normally sit)
This extension piece has a hollow end which fits over the head of the actual washer
https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/10176/97891/spindle_ex…

And the actual washer itself seems to be captive INSIDE the body of a brass fitting attached to the water pipe
https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/10176/97892/brass_fitt…

In this picture you can see the white washer that needs to be replaced
But the washer is too wide to be removed through the narrow section of this fitting.

I think that this brass fitting might be an extension, with a reducing section inside it, and can be unscrewed to replace the washer.
But I can't see clearly and it seems to be fairly firmly in place.

Am I correct, or is there some other way to release the captive washer?

Thanks

Home & Garden

Comments

  • Loot N Plunder on 29/08/2022 - 19:49
    +8

    pointy nose pliers and a good yank

    • altomic on 29/08/2022 - 21:14
      -1

      barack obama is a good yank

    • akyeeeahdude on 29/08/2022 - 23:45

      Exactly - that's all you have to do. The plastic strangely seems to swell over time. Replace it with a quality brass washer rather than a plastic one again.

      • AndyC1 on 30/08/2022 - 08:07
        +1

        Had to use pliers about 2 or 3 times over the years to get out crappy cheap washers that were used in places before I moved in.

  • nocure on 29/08/2022 - 20:00
    +2

    It's not captive, just compressed. Also change the O ring on the tap body while its out

  • nige0090 on 29/08/2022 - 20:14

    If I insert an identical white washer into the fitting, its sits snugly into the first groove of the fitting, but I don't think it would ever fit through the next reduced section.
    I should have taken a photo of this as well :-(
    So even if I could yank the existing washer out, I'm not sure I will be able to push a new one in without damaging it.
    I'll have another go tomorrow

    Does anyone think its not just a compressed washer?.

  • brendanm on 29/08/2022 - 20:20
    +2

    It's just stuck, pull it out.

  • Transient on 29/08/2022 - 20:38

    This used to happen to me a lot before I changed to ceramic washers. Just use a pair of needle nose pliers to pull it out. You might need to also do it to the rubber washer if it is broken and also stuck in there. Depending on the condition of the washer seat you may need to reseat it using a reseating tool.

  • iamherenow on 29/08/2022 - 20:38

    Looks to be like this:

    https://www.bunnings.com.au/kinetic-15mm-wall-tap-spindle-ex…

    I'd check it out in bunnings. Maybe the design requires removal of the extender behind the tile to get to the washer. I suppose the question is how to get ithe extender out if there is no space. Getting it in would be easy…

    Edit: looking at extender width and thread width, I recon the washer has to go in before the extender.

    • nige0090 on 29/08/2022 - 21:59
      +1

      This actually does look a lot like it.
      And this YouTube video shows someone installing these extenders https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXRnwZZkIa8

      If this is the correct fitting, there is plenty of space to use a tap spanner to get it out https://www.bunnings.com.au/craftright-6-piece-tap-spanner-s…

      But since I wasn't confident that this was actually even a removable fitting, I was afraid to apply a lot of anti clockwise force to try to unscrew it.
      Maybe I'll ask someone in Bunnings to see what they think.

      • nige0090 on 06/09/2022 - 16:05
        +2

        I've finally had time to follow up on this.
        I removed the spindle extension with a tube spanner and re-seated the seats.
        I then replaced everything with like for like (to avoid using ceramic extenders) - new taps, spindles, spindle extensions, fibre washers & upgraded jumper washers.
        Works perfectly now.

        It would never have been possible to "yank" the jumper washer through the spindle extension. The washer was several mm wider than the spindle extension internal diameter.

        Thanks everyone.

        • Euphemistic on 06/09/2022 - 16:06
          +1

          Yay for follow ups!

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