Delta Shower Faucet-Need to drill out set screw on Handle-What to watch out for??

[x26]

Update: Drilled setscrew out-Change parts-No More Drip--

Thanks All!!


Hi Folks,

Delta Shower Faucet series 1400-

I need to get off handle to change seals--faucet is leaking-

Set Screw on handle is seized up and cannot get 1/8 inch allen screw out.(calcium /mineral deposits)
Common problem so I am going to drill it out:

* Guy on youtube says start with 1/8 inch bit and finish up with 7/32 bet.
* Delta is sending a new handle and set screw.

What do I have to watch out for??
I never have had to drill out a recessed screw before?

Thanks in advance!!

like this one:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Delta-Chro...MI4ZTCr9Df2AIVi7bACh1zIg8bEAQYAyABEgLr1PD_BwE

 

[Paperdoc]

Biggest worry is damage to the old handle, but you're getting a new one and new setscrew, so no real worries there. Be careful not to drill too deep - you don't want to drill a hole or depression into the valve shaft. Also be aware that setscrews often are pretty hard, so it may take a while at modest drilling speeds. Don't try to rush with a full-speed drill. Doing it with the 2-size bit sequence will help. The first (smaller) bit will get you a straight hole and reduce the effect of the hexagonal hole at the top. Then you have smooth sailing to drill that hole larger with the second bit - large enough to remove all of the setscrew.

 

[x26]

Biggest worry is damage to the old handle, but you're getting a new one and new setscrew, so no real worries there. Be careful not to drill too deep - you don't want to drill a hole or depression into the valve shaft. Also be aware that setscrews often are pretty hard, so it may take a while at modest drilling speeds. Don't try to rush with a full-speed drill. Doing it with the 2-size bit sequence will help. The first (smaller) bit will get you a straight hole and reduce the effect of the hexagonal hole at the top. Then you have smooth sailing to drill that hole larger with the second bit - large enough to remove all of the setscrew.

Thanks a lot!!
I appreciate the response.

I have a little apprehension since I 've never had to Drill out a Bolt/Screw or anything, believe it or not!!
I just wanted to check with people that have done it to make sure there are No Surprises!!

Delta sent out the replacement parts today-should have them in a week or so.
I'll let you know how (hopefully) uneventful the surgery is!!

Thanks Again
Michael

 

[PottedMeat]

if you haven't destroyed the set screw head yet, i would try dropping muriatic acid ( hydrochloric acid ) around the head. since you're getting a new handle anyway you don't have to worry about ruining the finish. then rinse it off and drop some oil on the threads.

Delta Shower Faucet series 1400-

ugh. the bonnet nut holding in the cartridge can be a problem. the best way i found to get it off is to use a file to put a notch in the edge facing you. then use a punch or chisel in the notch to gently tap it counterclockwise. if you decide to use some wide channellocks to get it off and see the entire assembly start to twist... STOP.

if you're also having problems with flow rate (severely reduced from what it used to be) calcium builds up in the chambers after the valves. i've also found pebbles behind the cold water entrance to the cartridge.

 

[boomerang]

ugh. the bonnet nut holding in the cartridge can be a problem. the best way i found to get it off is to use a file to put a notch in the edge facing you. then use a punch or chisel in the notch to gently tap it counterclockwise. if you decide to use some wide channellocks to get it off and see the entire assembly start to twist... STOP.

I had the exact same problem the OP is having and eventually threw in the towel and hired a plumber. He cut off the shaft with a hacksaw which was fine because I had replacement trim pieces (escutcheon, etc.) from a third party supplier. He also ran into the bonnet nut being seized and cut through it with the same hacksaw. That released enough pressure to remove it.

The party was not over there. The cartridge itself which was primarily made of plastic had more or less welded itself into place. It came out in pieces. He had to bust it up piece by piece and remove them as they were freed up.

When he was done, I considered it money well spent. He had to deal with the frustration and the sweat dripping into his eyes.

 

[x26]

if you haven't destroyed the set screw head yet, i would try dropping muriatic acid ( hydrochloric acid ) around the head. since you're getting a new handle anyway you don't have to worry about ruining the finish. then rinse it off and drop some oil on the threads.


ugh. the bonnet nut holding in the cartridge can be a problem. the best way i found to get it off is to use a file to put a notch in the edge facing you. then use a punch or chisel in the notch to gently tap it counterclockwise. if you decide to use some wide channellocks to get it off and see the entire assembly start to twist... STOP.

if you're also having problems with flow rate (severely reduced from what it used to be) calcium builds up in the chambers after the valves. i've also found pebbles behind the cold water entrance to the cartridge.

Thanks I'll keep you updated--Delta is sending the Parts--warranty-should receive 7-10 days.

 

[x26]

I had the exact same problem the OP is having and eventually threw in the towel and hired a plumber. He cut off the shaft with a hacksaw which was fine because I had replacement trim pieces (escutcheon, etc.) from a third party supplier. He also ran into the bonnet nut being seized and cut through it with the same hacksaw. That released enough pressure to remove it.

The party was not over there. The cartridge itself which was primarily made of plastic had more or less welded itself into place. It came out in pieces. He had to bust it up piece by piece and remove them as they were freed up.

When he was done, I considered it money well spent. He had to deal with the frustration and the sweat dripping into his eyes.

I've considered hiring a Plumber as well.
If I believed I would run into those problems I absolutely would.
The Faucet has only had moderate use for 9 years-I wonder if I would run into all those Problems??

The Plumber would be a minimum of $195.00 and up but would be worth it to save all the greif that you and others have had with their Delta shower faucet. Kinda sounds like an Engineering Flaw for end users to have so much grief just to stop a leak in their Faucet after 8 or 9 years??

Remember what the plumber Charged you?? 1 hour + Service charge right?

Thanks

 

[boomerang]

I've considered hiring a Plumber as well.
If I believed I would run into those problems I absolutely would.
The Faucet has only had moderate use for 9 years-I wonder if I would run into all those Problems??

The Plumber would be a minimum of $195.00 and up but would be worth it to save all the greif that you and others have had with their Delta shower faucet. Kinda sounds like an Engineering Flaw for end users to have so much grief just to stop a leak in their Faucet after 8 or 9 years??

Remember what the plumber Charged you?? 1 hour + Service charge right?

Thanks

It was about four years ago in our snowbird condo but my recollection was that it was under $300. That was parts and labor. But remember, I had found and purchased the escutcheon, handle and the rest at Home Depot in a kit from a company called DANCO. It sounds as though the parts for yours are still in production and available from Delta though. I absolutely needed the kit because several of the parts in the kit had to be destroyed when the handle was sawed off.

An underlying issue for me was that we were at the condo for the winter and I was loathe to buy too many tools to do the repair. Back home I had tons of tools amassed over many decades and in some cases, doubles and even triples of everything and I just didn't want to buy still more tools.

In my case, I couldn't even get the handle off. In my case it was rather obvious that the problem was water quality. Lot's of minerals in the water that built up over time. Back home we had a water softener so scale and the like was not a problem.

 

[highland145]

Kinda sounds like an Engineering Flaw for end users to have so much grief just to stop a leak in their Faucet after 8 or 9 years??

lol the front end flaw was that it didn't crap out after 6 years.

$95/hr here. Assuming that you don't have boomerang's problems, 1 hr should be enough.

 

[PottedMeat]

The cartridge itself which was primarily made of plastic had more or less welded itself into place.

i knew i forgot something....

the 2 orings at the water inlets and the large one at the bonnet made it really hard to get out. i had to wedge the housing so it didn't move forward while i gently pushed a screwdriver and dripped oil between the plastic and the top. the cartridge was actually in really good shape - the seals were still good and the pressure balance was clean. i may have gone overkill on applying silicone grease on the orings lol.