Bath tap problem

[scotman]

My bath taps need maintenance.
I estimate the age of these taps as about 30 years.

The problem is that the internal screw which moves the plunger vertically is badly worn and the tap sometimes jams. It has to be removed from the body and freed by hand then refitted.

Replacement internal workings of a similar design are available as in link following

http://www.screwfix.c...rs-4.1/&company=ae235

but these are not exactly the same. The overall length of the new ones is about 6mm shorter than the original. The result of this is that, when closing the tap, the plunger falls off the end of the internal screw before the tap is shut.

The original plungers do not fit in the new housings because some diameters are larger than the new version.
Also the new screwed shafts do not fit the old housings as various dimensions are different.

Does anyone know of any fix short of replacing the entire tap?

thanks

[The Builder]

If I haven't got the wrong end of the stick, Scotters...................

A proper plumbers merchants (City Plumbing, Plumb Centre etc) should have reducing rings.......... but they may only be to fit a new valve into an old body :o(
Maybe a daft dea, but........... any chance of packing out the new valve with two washers or a spacer and a washer.......... with a longer retaining screw?
Or............ go to a reclamation yard (architectural salvage for taps that match the old ones, and use the valves from them.

[Old_Geezer]

Would a mate with a metalworking lathe be able to cut a new screw for you, long enough to do the job ? It's just that I don't feel confident about finding unworn original screws to use as replacements. Might need a custom job.

Or I may just be being pessimistic.

[scotman]

Thanks both for the input.
I have thought about putting in more rubber washers. My concern is that it will need at least 2, possibly 3, more and I feel that so much rubber with no side support will not be robust enough to produce reliable seal. No harm in trying though.

[The Builder]

OK Scot, try one washer with a steel or brass spacer/washer to keep it rigid maybe?

[AlBags]

I know the problem with these damn modern hex/thread heads.
I think you will end up fed up trying to get them working properly and replace the taps.
The new type heads are not really suitable to the older type head housings .. as you say, the range of travel is not correct.

[scotman]

Al

Thanks for reply
I am going to try the stack of washers on the new parts and see how that goes. If I had simple machining facility I could have adapted new parts to fit the old housing, but I don't and none of my friends do either. Bummer!

[AlBags]

Should work .. but not sure how long it will last!
A.

[scotman]

It is working - so far. We shall see how long it lasts.