Where can I find this nut?

Roo · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 10:46 am

I hope somebody can help.

I'm not a plumber and have just attempted to fit a bath/shower mixer tap to my shiny new bath.

All went well until I decided to give everything a final nip up before I finished.

This final nip up resulted in a small leak and dopey here nipped up a bit more and a bit more in an attempt to stop the leak.

I've now a cracked nut and can't find a replacement anywhere.

This is the tap in question and the nut is where the tap bolts on to what I can describe as the stands.
Below are some pictures of my mess.

I'd be grateful if somebody could point me in the right direction to finding a replacement.

P.S Just to add the nut seems to be a 3/4" the same as you would find on a flexible tap pipe.

Agile · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 10:52 am

Have you asked the suppliers?

Roo · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 12:31 pm

Tap came as part of a bathroom package bought online over a year ago.

Yes it has taken me that long to fit it.

I can't remember where we bought it from and although I have found the tap online it doesn't seem to have a make?

Agile · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 12:41 pm

Credit charge statements?

Or dont you keep them either?

Burnerman · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 1:06 pm

Are the threads different to an ordinary back nut, then?
John

Roo · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 2:58 pm

I've just tried and it does seem the threads are the same as a back nut but all the back nuts I have found are quite slim compared to this, and do not have the lip this nut has to hold the tap to it's mounts.

Looks like I'll have to go through my bank statements as Agile suggested to see if I can find the company I bought it off.

TicklyT · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 8:02 pm

A nut from a compression fitting may do the job. Get one from a chrome plated fitting, and you night not even notice the difference.

The nut from a radiator valve union coupling is another possibility.

Burnerman · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 8:33 pm

I can live with being fairly thick but I don't fully understand this one....does this cracked nut secure the water pipe in via an olive, and secure the tap in place too?
John

MANDATE · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 8:39 pm

when you say it seems to be a 3/4". It will most likely be 1/2in BSP which measures 0.825in major diam with 14 threads per inch.

algas · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 8:57 pm

A 15mm x 3/4 tap con should have the nut you want also it will just come off the fitting rather than having to butcher a 22mm tap con to get it off,

MANDATE · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 9:09 pm

I was trying to fathom out how it got cracked?
Was this by using a thin spanner on the front end of the nut? allowing the front to turn whilst the back end is up against its mating face.

Roo · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 9:37 pm

Burnerman wrote:

I can live with being fairly thick but I don't fully understand this one....does this cracked nut secure the water pipe in via an olive, and secure the tap in place too?
John

Burnerman this nut is part of the tap design (ie not the back nut) and secures the tap to the mounting which can be seen in this picture.

MANDATE wrote:

I was trying to fathom out how it got cracked?
Was this by using a thin spanner on the front end of the nut? allowing the front to turn whilst the back end is up against its mating face.

The nut was tight Mandate.
I turned the water back on and all was working perfectly.
Then because I double check everything I double checked and caused a small leak.

I then nipped up a bit more and a bit more and a bit more each time causing a bigger leak.

It looks like the nut was as tight as it could go then I double checked and split it.

Thanks everyone for all the advice, I have had a look in B&Q, FOCUS and got the usual unhelpfulness from my local Plumb centre but have yet to find a fitting then I can dismantle without butchering something.

Any suggestions?

My back up plan is butchering a flexible tap connector but at 7 quid a piece just for a nut, it is a last resort.

AlanE · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 9:53 pm

If the nut has a lip, as distinct from a taper as used in a compression fitting, then how about nut on a standard 3/4 inch end fed tap connector?

You will have to cut the fitting to remove nut but will only cost a pound or two gepending where you buy it.

JimCrow · Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 12:08 am

Try your local scrap yard you might find a similar mixer tap there.

tamz · Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 12:52 am

Cheap unbranded shyte made in China.

Buy one of these and take the nut off the tail.
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/87168/Plumbing/Radiator-Valves/Flowflex-Radiator-Valve-15mm

The hard part will be getting it on the tap.