Mixer tap sticky (even after replacement)

[plumbouttaluck]

A basin mixer tap was sticky. It was an old tap, so I replaced it.

Now the new one was sticky! So I pulled out the cartridge, took it apart and put silicon lubricant grease everywhere. It was somewhat sticky opening and closing the valve, but not as bad as before.

Well, a couple weeks later and it's sticky again! Could I have done something wrong... Perhaps when installing the tap?

 

[MeldrewsMate]

...and put silicon lubricant grease everywhere...

Firstly, I don't believe you. You'd need a lot of grease and I don't see any reports of the M25 being extra slippery.
I'm going to assume that you administered an excess of silicone grease around the tap internals.

Was this a cheap tap?
Some taps have a two-stage water saving operation, with a semi-click between phases of flow.
On re-assembly did you overtighten the cartridge holding nut? By this I mean is it tighter than the minimum necessary?