How do you get this cartridge out of the tap?

[Justin0]

We've got a Sottini lever tap that has started leaking out of the handle when turned on.

I've never replaced a tap cartridge before, but following various youtube videos I removed the handle and went to take out the cartridge. However the online examples suggest there should be a large metal nut holding the cartridge in which you can unscrew.

But the cartridge looks like this, and there is no metal nut to unscrew. The cartridge seems to be embedded:

Tap_guides

• Justin0
• 19 Oct 2019

Or here with the plastic guide things removed:

Tap_noguides

• Justin0
• 19 Oct 2019

I think the cartridge may be something like this:
https://www.bathroomspareparts.co.u...-single-lever-cartridge-e960679nu-10969-p.asp

But I still can't see how to get the cartridge out. The closest I've found is this video for an Ideal Standard "Firmaflow" cartridge, in which a plastic adapter is placed over the cartridge so it can be unscrewed with a wrench (see 1:20 in the video). I haven't been able to find the plastic adapter thing anywhere, searching for "extraction tool" and the like:

That firmaflow cartridge seems to be smaller than mine though, which I think is 47mm.

Anyone got any ideas how to remove the cartridge? Or if I might be looking at the wrong replacement, or barking up the wrong pipe entirely?

Thanks.

 

[oldbuffer]

Unscrew the outer nylon coloured ring with the two slots?

 

[Justin0]

Right, but how?

If you look 1:20 into the youtube link I posted, an adapter is placed over the nylon ring with the slots that allows it to be unscrewed using a spanner or socket.

But I don't know where to find that adapter or what its called.

 

[denso13]

Right, but how?

Pair of grips on the plastic/nylon bit (gently). It may not be too tight given that it isn't metal.

Or something home made to fit in the two slots and turn?

 

[Justin0]

Thanks! I used a mole grip and it did the job. I was afraid I'd break something but it was fine, although it flexed a fair bit.

Here is the nylon ring:

Nylon_ring

• Justin0
• 19 Oct 2019

 

[Justin0]

So now I've got the cartridge out, which I was intending to replace on the basis it was broken.

Except I found a strange thing when I took it out. One of the gaskets (is that what it is?) wasn't in the cartridge at all, it was loose in the tap:

Cartridge1

• Justin0
• 19 Oct 2019

In fact it doesn't even fit in the cartridge! How is that possible? See below picture trying to force the ring into the cartridge - its just too big.

Cartridge_nofit

• Justin0
• 19 Oct 2019

I'm wondering if it was incorrectly fitted when it was installed. I think I'll get a new rubber seal/gasket.

It is about 19mm diameter (so about 3/4 inch) by 7mm, so it's not like a normal o-ring. Does anyone know where to find something like that?

 

[denso13]

Does anyone know where to find something like that?

I doubt you'll find the seals own their own, probably new cartridge time if you cant get the seal back in.

 

[FiremanT]

..

 

[Justin0]

I doubt you'll find the seals own their own, probably new cartridge time if you cant get the seal back in.

But what's so confusing is that it seems to be too large - how did it ever fit in? Could it have expanded?

Cartridge_nofit

• Justin0
• 19 Oct 2019

 

[denso13]

Could it have expanded?

Looks like it. Just one more plumbing mystery.......