Stuck tap head

[aidank]

Need to replace the rubber seal in a bathroom tap. It lasted 48 years and is now dripping. 3/4 tap

The chrome outer cover moved without issue.

The tap handle, the part you twist is well and truly stuck fast yes I have the retaining screw removed.

Can just get in a skinny 23mm spanner to grip the retaining brass fitting that I need to remove to replace the seal but it's stuck fast.

Have given some heat with blowtorch for 1min but not enough.

Any ideas

Any ideas

 

[Welderpaul]

Unless you are fond of the taps, replace the full taps

 

[Mark 5]

Need to replace the rubber seal in a bathroom tap. It lasted 48 years and is now dripping. 3/4 tap

The chrome outer cover moved without issue.

The tap handle, the part you twist is well and truly stuck fast yes I have the retaining screw removed.

Can just get in a skinny 23mm spanner to grip the retaining brass fitting that I need to remove to replace the seal but it's stuck fast.

Have given some heat with blowtorch for 1min but not enough.

Any ideas

Any ideas

In a situation like this and all else had failed a bearing type puller, two leg tap puller maybe your friend, they are not expensive and if you are creative you can DIY one up.

I agree with @Welderpaul, maybe time for a new set of taps.

However if they are bath taps, back nuts can be a bitchh to get at/remove so understand your reluctance and wanting to change the washer only--if you can get to it.

 

[angellonewolf]

https://www.screwfix.com/p/swirl-traditional-chrome-85-5mm-deck-mounted-cross-head-2-tap-holes-bath-pillar-tap/93716

not far out in looks
swap them out

want to make it easy cut the pipe and put in flexes to the taps as well if your going this way

 

[Ton-up]

Screw cover back on. Get two open end spanners and put them between handle and cover, one on top of the other. Pull apart, they normally come off.

 

[voipio]

Some water types seem to be able to produce a cement-like mineral deposit between brass parts, making them exceedingly difficult to move against each other. Trying a bit of back and forth direction to the applied force may help.

I also have a tap that is stuck fast, and using back and forth movements hasn't helped, although this approach has worked elsewhere on stuck shower control connections, so I am now contemplating the use of an impact wrench to try and get some movement. Trouble is, I haven't got an impact wrench......yet!! ;-) I have an impact driver, but that isn't really up to the job.

 

[aidank]

Some water types seem to be able to produce a cement-like mineral deposit between brass parts, making them exceedingly difficult to move against each other. Trying a bit of back and forth direction to the applied force may help.

I also have a tap that is stuck fast, and using back and forth movements hasn't helped, although this approach has worked elsewhere on stuck shower control connections, so I am now contemplating the use of an impact wrench to try and get some movement. Trouble is, I haven't got an impact wrench......yet!! ;-) I have an impact driver, but that isn't really up to the job.

might want to be careful with an impact, is there a risk of tearing the copper pipe feeding it to pieces. The whole tap was going around rather it unscrewing itself when i gripped the brass nut which is holding it together

I guess I could have propped the tap against the wall against the side of the bath

 

[hunter27]

If possible remove the tap and get it in a vice with suitable protection then you can give it a serious looking at without damaging the enamel and the pipe.

 

[Agroshield]

If you have lots of patience, repeatedly squirt some citric acid into the screw hole. Over time, it will dissolve the crud holding the head to the splines.

If you are confident of the backnut (and being old, it is likely to be brass, not plastic), put something between bath surface and underside of wings on tap and try to jack it upwards. Make a U-shaped washer so the force goes as close to the vertical spindle as possible.

If you can get the slim spanner in and remove the cartridge from the tap body, you can immerse the whole lot in citric to loosen the bond.