how to tighten up tap spindle on monobloc bathroom tap

[ashdale]

The spindle on the hot water tap of my monobloc bathroom mixer tap is loose (though only two years old!!), but there are no drips. If I unscrew the casing (see attached photo--the tap is in front of a mirror, by the way), I can see a large nut (about 18mm A/F). Is this what needs to be tightened? If so, the clearance is too narrow for a normal open-ended spanner. I'd need one about 4mm thick. Do such things exist?

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• ashdale
• 10 Sep 2013
• 1

 

[Burnerman]

The nut you refer to is actually the tap insert.....that holds the rubber washer (if it has one) or is the ceramic tap cartridge itself.
A rubber washered tap will have a couple of turns from off to on, whereas a ceramic insert is only a quarter of a turn.
Either way, the tap cross head has to be removed before the insert can be comfortably unscrewed.
John

 

[Madrab]

Is it the spindle or just the handle/capstan of the tap that's loose? You should be able to pop the cap off of the top of the tap head or a grub screw in the side and unscrew and remove it so the shroud can be removed or tighten the tap handle up if it's that that's loose.

 

[ashdale]

It's a ceramic tap. (Trafalgar Serie 4 Basin). The handle and the tap rock together. The handle and spindle look like a single casting, unless the handle is an interference fit onto splines. There is no grub screw.

 

[Madrab]

Have you tried to lift this top part of the handle by say using a stanley blade and work it in or unscrewing it with a pair of grips and a wet cloth?
View media item 66252

 

[ashdale]

Now you've mentioned it, I can see a thin peripheral line around the tap handle at the end, as your diagram suggests. But how to stop the Stanley blade from chipping away the chrome plate? I've tried pressing the blade in gently and am in danger of the blade slipping off and cutting me, if not the chrome. I assume the cap is a push fit rather than a screw cap but it's a pretty snug fit!!!!

 

[Burnerman]

I think that cap is actually threaded but its difficult to tell (often they are knurled)....time to turn a thumb and forefinger into a vice!
John

 

[Madrab]

unscrewing it with a pair of grips and a wet cloth?

 

[ashdale]

Done it! I used a small rubber band wrapped around the end of the tap a couple of times to get a grip and the cap came off. Bolt all tightened up now.
I'm happy. Thanks guys!