I am having trouble with a Moen faucet handle in one of my showers. It is a Posi-Temp unit. The handle rotates but will not turn the water on. Fine, I can deal with that, probably a stripped handle. Popped the cap off the handle and tried to remove the screw holding the handle on to the cartridge but it won't loosen! Turning the screw turns the water off and on.

Any idea on how to get this busted handle off the cartridge?

turn off the supply and then on the valve there is a retaining clip. slide it out and then the cartridge will pull out. make sure the supply is off or you will have water everywhere very fast

And then replace it with a Delta faucet :)

turn off the supply and then on the valve there is a retaining clip. slide it out and then the cartridge will pull out. make sure the supply is off or you will have water everywhere very fast
I'll bet it's real tough getting at that clip with the handle stuck on tho!

Bet it was quite a surprise when the water went on, too!

Perhaps some lime-away would help get things moving?
Also, as I recall, it's still lefty loosey... woulda been a righty to turn the water on!

I would think that a hacksaw on the handle is in order. They are not soild and you can cut striaght across untill you reach the screw and use tin snips to finish the job on the sides. Then the clip and the cartridge/handle replacement.

Good Luck and as other said make sure the supply (water) is off when you pull the retainer........

8ball

Can you say, impact screw driver? Or try a little tapping with a hammer on the end of you phillips screwdriver as you turn it....seems to work more often then not...good luck Jim, and don't forget the clip...The cartridge sometimes stick in the housing as well...

Rules of plumbing... **** runs downhill and payday is on Friday, what else do you need to know?

I believe the handle is stripped and therefore when I try to back the screw out it is actually turning the water on and off.

Looks like I will have to bust out the hacksaw and saw the handle off cuz the handle just spins freely. If the assembly was working correctly the screw should come right off. At least that's how it works on my other Moen faucet that works correctly.

Rules of plumbing... **** runs downhill and payday is on Friday, what else do you need to know?

LOL actually the rule's are Hot on the left, Cold on the right, **** runs downhill unless you have a sewer injector, and payday is Friday.

Normally you would hold the handle and loosen the screw so the water doesn't come on. With a stripped handle, shut the water off at the main then turn the screw until it stops (the water would be on full if the main were on at this point). Now you are ready to turn the screw and remove it. If the faucet didn't leak before just install a new handle (remembering it's in the wide open position) and tighten down the screw.

Now you are ready to turn the screw and remove it.

This is where the plan falls apart. The screw will not back out of the cartridge. It just turns and turns and turns and well, turns.

I got a call into Moen.

It sounds like someone forgot to put the stopper back in before the handle.

If you hold the handle and then back the screw out??:confused:


If not, my next guess without seeing it, someone used the wrong handle.

Drill the screw out?

alan

I would pry up on the handle and or screw while turning the screwdriver because the screw is stripped in the cartridge. BTW see link below :)

Kev


http://www.moen.com/consumersupport/installation/moen0132/flash/index.html

I would pry up on the handle and or screw while turning the screwdriver because the screw is stripped in the cartridge. BTW see link below :)

Kev


http://www.moen.com/consumersupport/installation/moen0132/flash/index.html

Cool link, they should do that for the factory assembly and service manual.

:beers:

alan

the posi temps that have a lever type handle have a set screw on the side under the lever to hold it on to the cartridge, what type of handle is on the valve? moen is good about warrentys, call them and they will send out replacement parts for free

I Think On A Posi Temp Unit You Pull The Handle Out To Turn On The Water Then Turn It Left And Right To Ajust The Temp.

And then replace it with a Delta faucet :)

What he said! :yes:

Mike, It is one of the Posi-Temp units.

Yeah, Zuma. You can fly your butt out here and replace the whole unit for me. I don't feel like tearing out sheet rock just to access the whole assembly. :D

Anyway, we have a winner :hurray:.

Score:

Dremel: 1

Moen: 0

http://www.funkconsulting.com/67camaro/misc_images/moen.jpg

I talked to Moen and they will be sending the necessary parts to fix this tub and as a bonus they are sending me a replacement cartridge for the downstairs shower that has a problem suppling hot water all the time. All for the total cost of zero dollars.

Thanks for chipping in guys.

I knew Funk was all wet... :)

Chris, Hows the weather right now? Do I need to bring a Jacket? ;) Glad it went well Funk, thats showing it who's the boss! :D

Good deal, Chris!

There were 2 very differnet flavors of the posi-temp.
In our old house, you just turned them, they started out cold and got warmer the more you turned, no adjustment for volume at all.

The ones in my new house, you pull out to set the volume, and turn to set the temp.

CFUNK

If your valve is a positemp unit the handle will not move in and out , it's designed to start at full cold and rotate counterclockwise to get warmer water . There is an adjustable temp limit stop behind the handle which limits the amount of hot water that the valve can supply , it's a two piece plastic ring . You will see a chrome tube with a square lug at 12:00 around the cartridge and the plastic pieces set inside of it . The inner plastic ring is what limits the amount of hot water to the valve , the more you move it to 12:00 the more hot water . A moen tub/shower valve where the handle moves in and out and then rotates to set the temp is a old style Chateau or a Moentrol ,the cartridges are different and don't interchange . Positemp cartridges have the pressure balancing spool built in to the cartridge and Moentrol valves have a balancing spool separate from the cartridge . To remove the cartridge , turn off water supply , bleed pressure from valve , pull temp limit and chrome tube ( stop tube ) , remove small brass horseshoe clip from cartridge body ,Positemp cartridges usually wont pull straight out they have to be twisted back and forth to remove and they will push themselfs out , some of the replacement cartridges come with a small plastic tool that fits over the cartridge stem and you just turn it back and forth to pop out the cartridge . I know I'm getting long winded here , when you remove a Positemp cart. shake it real hard and you should hear it rattle if it doesn't the balancing spool is seized up and it can limit flow ,it can be caused by various reasons . Don't use products like Scrubbing Bubbles to clean it , they react with the plastic handles and the handle will crack on the back side where it meets the cart and make it seem like it stripped. Send me a PM if you have questions


Steve
31 year state licensed plumber in Il.
and Chicago