Well, there is that!

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No, still haven't found the problem with the ceramic disc.  While turn the water on and off, however, the stem to the cold water valve broke off.  Great.  So they craft a valve that functions well and then put a stem on the handle that breaks after a mere half dozen turns?  Seriously.  It's going back, as with all of those valves.  I don't have time to babysit things that should just work.  I'll put in solid brass ball valves.  I know those work.  Extra fittings be damned, I need valves that don't fail or fall apart!  I told you I broke things, but this is ridiculous.  The way it broke, I am not sure if the valve is closed or open.  Assume open.

Before that, however, I did find a video about how to take these discs apart.  It wasn't exactly like mine, but the idea was there.  So I did just that.  I took the original one apart.  Some of the plumber's pipe seal muck was in there, just a tiny bit and back on a few plastic pieces, like comb teeth, which have nothing to do with flow, probably used to aerate the water on the way through if I had to guess, or even catch debris, and I cleaned that out.  And there was some black stuff in there, if that looked like it had been put on by the manufacturer.  Just trust me, too patterened to be random or such.  Still, I cleaned off the ceramic discs and added a fresh coat of vaseline.  Everything seemed okay though.  There didn't seem to be a problem with the plates seating, the twisting, or any other movement... or anything else.  I reinstalled it, got one last turn on the cold water valve, and... nothing from the faucet.  The cold water valve broke after that so my day with tinkering is pretty much done.  Tomorrow I'll shut off the house water, take that valve, and the other, plus the unused ones, and return them, pick up inline brass valves and fittings, and... tomorrow, or the next day I can work, will be about replacing the valves, again, again.

Hmm... I think I do have one brass inline valve and fittings.  I should just check to see if those go together as intended.  This set is a little different.  The first one I did actually install has a line out to the r.o., which is different than what will go to the water lines, the ones into the faucet.  Perhaps a 1/4" coupling for the r.o. and a 3/8" for actual water lines?  Something like that, if the numbers are a bit off.   Yeah, I'll make sure they fit, then actually take those in, if so, to make sure I get the right pieces.

While I am still a bit peeved, I might find the bolts and such, and while taking the cotter pins to their new home, fit the vice and grinder to the bench.  I might put my various adjustable stools out there, so I have a place to sit if I need to do a bit of work at the bench any time soon.  Better to have that ready than to have to look for seating before even starting work.  And, I suppose, I could reheat the dishes while I am doing all that and letting the grill get hot.  First, though, a bit more coffee and a little time to let the stew juices drain.  *stewing*

Hmm... but meat is thawed.  I'll cook up what I have out for chicken, and a steak while I am at it.  I'm going to need some food to get through my woes(tm)!  Heh.  I am digging in.  Might lose, we'll see.  You can't say I am not giving it a go.  Later.