THE PROJECT: Ball-type faucet
A ball-type faucet always has a single control handle. A hollow metal or plastic ball rotates as you turn the handle that controls the mixture and volume of the hot and cold water. It has many little parts and for this reason more opportunities for leaks.
1. With the water shut off from the shut-off valves, remove the handle. Locate the set-screw in the handle housing. It’s sometimes hidden behind a small decorative cover. Pry off the cover with a flathead screwdriver or metal nail file, loosen the set-screw with an Allen wrench, and lift off the handle.
2. If the leak is coming from the bottom of the handle, you may just need to tighten the locking collar (adjusting collar). Use the wrench that is included in the ball-type repair kit (it’s a spanner wrench) to tighten the collar by turning it clockwise. To test if this has done the trick, turn on the water from the shut-off valve and see if this has corrected the leak. If it has, you’re done. Just screw the handle back on. If not, you’ll need to disassemble the rest of the faucet.
3. Make sure to shut the water back off at the shut-off valve to continue. Loosen the collar with the spanner wrench. Now remove the domed cap. First wrap the jaws of the pliers with masking tape to protect the finish on the cap, and then twist and pull off the domed cap.
4. Lift out the cam and the cam washer, and then the ball by its stem.
5. Your best bet is to replace all of these parts because you have the faucet apart anyway—the kit should have everything you need. Use penetrating oil around all the threads and parts to clean them off before replacing and reassembling the parts.
6. With needle-nose pliers or a flathead screwdriver, pull out the valve seats and springs from inside the faucet. Be aware that these little parts will try to roll away from you.
7. Slip the new seats and springs onto the tip of a screwdriver and drop them down into position—tap them in place with your finger. Note that the springs go in fi rst, and then the cupped side of the seats fit over the springs.
8. If the faucet is leaking at the base, it’s probably the O-rings that need replacing. Pull off the spout with your masking-taped pliers and examine the O-rings. Pry them off with the hooked end of the spanner wrench or screwdriver. Put plumber’s grease around the new O-rings and roll them back in place.
9. Reassemble all the parts. Insert the new ball, cam washer, and cam—make sure that any tabs and notches line up with one another.
10. Slip on the domed cap, tighten the collar with the spanner wrench. Screw on the handle and pop in the decorative cover.
11. Turn on the water from the shut-off valve and check for leaks. Nice job!
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