What sits under the 'O' ring on Pegler bathroom taps?

[Klaus_K]

Hi, I am in the process of replacing the 'O' rings on my bathroom taps. I've removed the tap heads and the retaining nut that sits above the 'O' ring. I have also removed some PTFE tape that I had used as a temporary fix in the past. However, underneath this is a black ring of some kind, that I'm having real trouble removing

The reason I need to remove it is that when I try to put a new O ring in, there isn't enough thread visible for me to be able to screw in the retaining nut. This makes me suspect that the black is the old O ring, compressed down after years of use.

Can anybody confirm if this an old rubber 'O' ring, that I can safely rip out (destroying in the process) or is this an important part of the tap that I mustn't damage. I hope it's not the latter, since I've already done quite a bit of damage to it

If I do need to remove it, can anybody suggest the easiest way of doing it? I've tried attacking it with the point of a bradawl, and a small screwdriver, but with not much impact.

 

[Terrywookfit]

To replace the spindle o ring, the valve has to be removed from the tap and dismantled.

 

[Klaus_K]

To replace the spindle o ring, the valve has to be removed from the tap and dismantled.

Hi Terry, could you give a bit more detail please? Am I likely to have done any serious damage by attempting to remove it from above?

 

[Terrywookfit]

Photo would be good.

 

[Klaus_K]

Here is a photo of the tap. I have dismantled it, as if I was going to change the washer. Once I've done this, I can completely remove the central 'rod' by screwing it down (as if I was closing the tap). Once I've done this, I can pull the rod out and look at the insides. It looks as if the O ring might be in the middle, under a plastic tube, which is pushed down when I tighten the retaining nut on the top. However, I can't seem to remove that plastic tube - and I don't think it's just because of the damage I might have done - it just seems firmly wedged into the top bit.

Update: I have managed to prise out the plastic tube bit, and it seems to be just that - a rigid plastic tube, with no O ring. I've tried putting an O ring in place underneath the tube, when viewed from above, but then the retaining nut only just fits in and the is quite hard to turn. I'm thinking I could just dispense with the tube bit and put a rubber O ring in its place. Be interested in your views Terry.

 

[Klaus_K]

In the end, I went ahead and prised out the black plastic tubing and put a couple of O rings in its place. Seems to work OK-ish, but it's a bit tight to turn the tap. I've now gone ahead and ordered some plastic tubing, to see if I can cut this down into some short lengths, to replace the plastic tube that used to be there. Ideally, I want just one O ring, then a bit of plastic tubing, and then the retaining nut. I figure a single O ring ought to provide a good enough seal against water coming up the spindle, without making the tap too hard to turn.

 

[Phill Peck]

Feck me replace the taps.....

 

[AGAS]

is it really worth all the messing about ffs , think how much taps are compared to how much time you have spent fooking about mending it . op taps don't cost that much ,i would advise to have a look just in case you haven't . if you need advice on installing taps someone on here will surely give advice

 

[Klaus_K]

Thank you for your kind words of support gentlemen . To be honest, I really enjoy this kind of thing - I don't get paid for doing it, and it's not as if I have to do it full time. I'd have no problem replacing the taps but I don't think I'd be able to find an exact match. I wanted to know how to do it, and I'm pretty close to a solution. If it pains you to read me wittering on, then just don't read. I'm the kind of person who takes apart a yale cylinder, just to find out how it works - and those buggers are really hard to put back together.

 

[Klaus_K]

is it really worth all the messing about ffs , think how much taps are compared to how much time you have spent fooking about mending it . op taps don't cost that much ,i would advise to have a look just in case you haven't . if you need advice on installing taps someone on here will surely give advice

My time is my own - and free. This is what I do to enjoy myself.

 

[AGAS]

well if you enjoy it then fair play

 

[Klaus_K]

well if you enjoy it then fair play

Thanks - rest assured, if I didn't, then I wouldn't do it! I've loved taking things apart and putting them back together, ever since I was a kid, and I'm well away from those years. There's always a couple of bits left over at the end though

 

[AGAS]

There's always a couple of bits left over at the end though

thats what i worry about when mending boilers

 

[Klaus_K]

There's always a couple of bits left over at the end though

thats what i worry about when mending boilers

Aaah, well, mending boilers, you can end up killing people - so I tend to stay away from that. Plus all those pesky regulations

 

[AGAS]

all those pesky regulations

i can think of more colourful language but will refrain