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I'm not always sure what project will get under my skin and make it to the top of the list. Today it happened to be my kitchen faucet. After a bit of research, I was told to find a hole in, on, under the faucet handle that would allow for an allen wrench, so as to loosen or remove a screw, set screw they seem to call it. I have been looking the thing over all morning and not finding it. They always show them on the front of the handle. After enough back and forth I did finally find it. It is on the back of the handle. Further, there is no way to get my head back far enough, or pull the whole device forward enough, that I can see. The set screw could be anywhere along the travel of the handle, up, down, left, to right. Further, I have no idea what size of an allen wrench is needed. I have tried several, but it all feels the same. I don't even know if I am hitting the screw or... I really despise poor engineering. This means, most likely, I will have to pull the whole thing. I'm still thinking on it though. That is a lot more work than I really want to do. It involves emptying the cupboard under the sink, finding the tools for that which I do have... bought them for the installation in the first place, then repairing and replacing after all that. What a pain. That is, unless I can figure something else out or just get lucky.
I can't find the package it came in, nothing is written on the faucet, and it was several years ago so it might well have been discontinued... for obvious reasons. Idiots. Gah! I could have sworn I saved the box and instructions. But when my mom visits nothing is sacrosanct. It might just have gone. I might even have seen it go, but have learned to pick my battles. Hmm, I should have remembered to take out any paperwork and put it with the rest of that though. Next time, perhaps. It may just be easier to simply buy a new faucet, with what I know, and be done with it. Even if I get this thing out, and open, I then have to buy parts of some unknown cost. Diminishing returns on time, effort, and money are kicking in... Still, I'm... thinking...
I best get the tomatoes replanted. They are simply running absolutely wild! I don't think I will need to stake them, from what I have read, until they go outdoors or get really big indoors. More of the peppers are coming up, if they are very scarce compared to the tomatoes. I sure hope the habanero come up. Those are the whole main point of gardening this year! If all else fails, I may try another batch of seedlings. I have another package. I bought two, just in case. Then again, the instructions with the pack, and those I have found online, seem to suggest the hotter the pepper the slower they are to germinate. Time almost always tells.
Later.
Hmm. On the faucet, sometimes there is a little push-in cover (soft plastic or chromed button kind of thing) that goes onto the hole over the set screw. The idea is to keep it sealed and clean so gunk does not collect in the Allen socket. Single control, right. Yes, the screw is usually in the center under the front toward the bottom. Back seems unusual. Look at it with a mirror and even a flashlight to see if you can see it better. They are normally a standard size, and most often the replacement kits have all you need, including the correct size Allen wrench. I would have to go measure it myself to be sure of size.
ReplyDeleteTo find out what brand it is, try taking a photo, posting it up here (maybe someone will recognize it), and also take the photo to the hardware store/plumbing supply place where you got it. If you can find the maker, you can find the model and get the right parts, and possibly some experienced advice on that model. If only you get a clue you can chase it on the web and even find instructions for most things now.
After going from manufacturer to manufacturer, using their guides to find the model for part replacement, I found it. A Moen Adler. As I said, I didn't buy the cheapest, if to not the most expensive. The set screw is behind the whole rig. There is no plug in the set screw hole.
ReplyDeleteI have a complete set of allen wrenches, including duplicates of the more common ones. None of them catch anything. I did figure out that the set screw is steady, in that it moves with the handle... I'm... pretty sure.
The one thing is, it being a foreign product, it may require a metric allen wrench? Bleh. Damned Canadians and their Euro ways! I'm now digging for whatever else I can online. Not much and Moen's site is full of buggy links-cookie generators, which I ban, but it makes their site pretty much dysfunctional. Bastards! I am really not liking on Moen right now.
Actually, they seem to have several "Adlers". It is this Adler.
ReplyDeleteMoen is usually good gear. It could be metric. Might it be a torx (star) instead?
ReplyDeleteI tracked the part, but the screw and handle are both considered one part, and don't seem to be available for sale either. Plus I could find no detail regarding what type of screw it is.
ReplyDeleteThey are all good gear, when they work. I haven't had running water in my sink for... weeks, save through the sprayer. This thing is only a year and a half to two years old. My water isn't that hard here. *shrug* I'll keep digging, for a while.
Ugh, but... #6 32 hex screw is what is used, or so they say. I'll... try to figure out which key, or tool, fits that.
ReplyDeleteOkay. I went looking through my other tools. The problem? Most of them are throated to heavier bases to be installed into handles. None of them go deep enough into the handle. That is on top of an whole allen wrench kit not working too.
ReplyDeleteWhile I know it is a #6, and they say hex, I don't have any idea what allen wrench fits that, actually. More research...
I am starting to think replacement is the best option.
#6 32 references the screw diameter (#6) and the thread pitch (32). It doesn't tell you the hex head size. It should be SAE and not metric though. Metric screws have different designators.
ReplyDelete