Antique faucet repair (opener, washers, installed, kitchen)

[Bourbononthrocks]

I have an antique kitchen faucet that has small leaks around the barrel and stem. Can I open up the barrel and fix

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AustinDesignWorks

We'd really love to repair it, but I'm afraid to tinker with it too much without knowing more. My main concern is whether or not the top portions of the barrels are threaded, they almost appear to be crimped on.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Dave

[Cosmic]

Originally Posted by Bourbononthrocks

I have an antique kitchen faucet that has small leaks around the barrel and stem. Can I open up the barrel and fix

You can view it here.

MobileMe

or here:

AustinDesignWorks

We'd really love to repair it, but I'm afraid to tinker with it too much without knowing more. My main concern is whether or not the top portions of the barrels are threaded, they almost appear to be crimped on.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Dave

It should be able to be disassembled completely. Just about has to be, at some point the washers would have had be to replaced.

Tricky lil sucker in they gave no wrench flats to do the tops. First you can just remove it totally and open the valves, look up in there with a very bright flashlight. See what can be determined if you are worried.

The handles come off for sure. Then the barrel will unscrew. Once inside you can use a new packing ring or use the old trick of wrapping some string around the top of the stem before putting it back together. Have to be able to slide the stem out of the top barrel to do that.

You really never know until you get inside. Most of those valves did use a type of packing, most was a graphite type disk, some maybe a type of leather one. That sealed the stem from leaking as there is no type of packing nut. In the right plumbing places you can still get those type packing disks. In a pinch can use the string trick, cotton string is best.

The bear is getting it apart without damage. wrapping it in a strip of cloth and then use a canvas type strap wrench. These new nylon type strap wrenches with rubber strap. Only they are pretty gimpy generating much force. I would never apply any force without a protective strip of cloth wrapped around a bunch of times.

The threads are probably well up in the hood of that cover. You want the valve installed to provide the stability to crank on it with some force. Worse part will be to avoid making marks on it. I would never use a pipe wrench with good teeth. Old worn out one with very worn teeth can be used with enough protective covers.

Should not require that much force but you never know. Best of luck.

I'm not sure that is actually a real antique, looks to be in too good a shape to be years old. They always have some wear showing. Got to have been taken apart many times. Might be some restoration knock off antique look alike and be a pretty new valve. Might even be able to unscrew them by one of those fancy jar lid opener that are all rubber on the contact surfaces using just hand power. Something does not look right to be an extremely old valve, maybe been replated, but I am guessing it is a modern knock off design, made in an old style. Bet it has been chemically aged. Don't look like the real McCoy to me.

Going to be like that box of chocolates, never know what you got until you get in there. Better not be a China knock off.

Those links don't work in my browser, only get to see the thumbnail blowup.

You can use that old trick of wrapping the jaws of a pipe wrench with good quality ducktape. That and some cloth wound around it to protect the surface. Damn fool design if you ask me. Couple of dings in it will make it really look old.

[Bourbononthrocks]

Thanks for the info. I figured they must be threaded. I'm fairly certain it's old, we got it in a small used shop in a small village in France. it's a little more beat up than it looks in the picture. There's a small dent in the side of the spigot about halfway up the curve. Not enough to ruin it, but enough to notice it if you're looking. I'll repost with progress reports.

[Cosmic]

If I was going to do that. I have strips of old truck rubber inter tubes that I have cut up for all sorts of purposes.

I would wind those around the barrel for protection and then just use a worn pipe wrench with a big cant.

You might have an old bike inter tube, could cut up and do the same.

They do make rubber boots to go over the jaws of pipe wrenches but even many plumbers don't have them. I never want the tool to move over a completely unprotected surface anyway. Somehow marks always seem to happen.

[Bourbononthrocks]

great idea, I know i've got old inner tubes around, probably do the trick perfectly