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My home has five bathroom faucets and they are all about 25 years old. Apparently, the wrench now used to install/remove these faucets was put into kits and is no longer sold. However, a plumber in ACE Hardware provided me with the old wrench from his supplies. But, I still can't get these stupid faucets out.
The problem is twofold: The hex bolt is in a very tight location that only a very narrow wrench can access. (Plus, the way this wrench fits in offers little leverage.) Secondly, the mechanism on this faucet has a kind of L-shape that blocks a traditional hex wrench from fitting over the entire thing (this wrench would give me the leverage I need to remove to faucet. See my photos. The plumber suggested beveling or drilling the bolts out as the option many people end up doing with these faucets. I don't really want to stick my face under there and have metal falling all over it, even with goggles on.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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I have an old faucet wrench that would work, if you could find one. You hold it vertically and it works like a pipe wrench. That wrench he gave you has a hole in it near the bottom. Try putting a thin screwdriver thru it for leverage. You only need to do a turn or two b fore it will be lose enough to spin by fingers. Too bad you can't remove the sink and do it on th bench, but looks like it's silicones in. I agree, using a reciprocal or hacksaw under there would be nasty. TEKTON 11 in. Basin Wrench (3/8 to 1 in.)-WRN92001 - The Home Depot
Do you own a ratchet/socket set? You can buy a crows foot wrench to fit the nut and it's a breeze to remove it. Here's what they look like but all you need is one of the right size. 7 Piece 3/8" Crowfoot Metric Wrench Set
I have an old faucet wrench that would work, if you could find one. You hold it vertically and it works like a pipe wrench. That wrench he gave you has a hole in it near the bottom. Try putting a thin screwdriver thru it for leverage. You only need to do a turn or two b fore it will be lose enough to spin by fingers. Too bad you can't remove the sink and do it on th bench, but looks like it's silicones in. I agree, using a reciprocal or hacksaw under there would be nasty. TEKTON 11 in. Basin Wrench (3/8 to 1 in.)-WRN92001 - The Home Depot
^^
I have a similar wrench in my plumber's tool box. Not one of those tools I use often but when tackling a old faucet, it's almost always a must have tool.
But, I bet you could get leverage with that wrench you have by inserting a screwdriver in the hole of the handle- then again, the handle doesn't look very long.
Remove the sink. Work around the edges carefully with a thin blade. It may take a while, but it's a whole lot easier than working upside down in cramped quarters.
Remove the sink. Work around the edges carefully with a thin blade. It may take a while, but it's a whole lot easier than working upside down in cramped quarters.
You read my mind! Sometimes (not all) it's easier to just remove the whole sink.
TrapperL has the proper solution. But a good tip for trying to loosen any nut, is to try to tighten it just a bit, this most times will break the seal and then you can back it off. This works really well on the water shut-offs under the sinks.
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