Here's a little tip that will keep many of you from twisting off the copper feed lines that he warned you about. Don't use channel lock pliers to remove the rounded cap. Use a pipe wrench like Steve does. When you use pliers you are squeezing the cap so tightly that the threads underneath are pressed so forcefully against the threads of the valve that you are effectively "locking" the cap in place. A pipe wrench does not squeeze, it only rotates and this is what is needed to remove the cap. I learned this only after trying large channel locks, penetrating oil, and even a torch, all with no success because of the channel lock pliers. Once I put a pipe wrench on the cap, it came off almost effortlessly. I hope Steve pins this comment to the top so everyone will see it and save themselves a lot of time and expense by not twisting off the three copper feed lines.

Steve: Thanks for the tip about reusing the springs in the original unit. Delta sent me replacement springs and seals, (part RP4993) but when I opened it up and compared it with the spring and rubber gaskets in the original, the spring sizes were completely different! I thought Delta sent me the wrong set, and went to look in the Delta site for the "correct" version, but there wasn't one. Then I saw your video and heard your mention about using the original springs. I tore the valve open again and did as you said and it works! Also in the fine print in the instructions it says, "If there is 1/8" between these holes, reuse springs just removed." Duh! guess that applies to my old 1962 shower valve! Thanks again!

Thank YOU for the awesome video stressing the importance of the 3 copper pipes. You and another man's video stressing the same issue has very-well likely saved me a major disaster... THANK-YOU!

Thank you! I do maintenance at a rental property and I hate these things. I took your advice and got it off no problems.

I've tapped them off...heated them off...and I've seen quite a few people saw them off. Whatever it takes! Nice video.

Excellent repair Steve and I like the tapping on the wrench trick, learned something new thanks.

Thank God I stumbled across you doing an AC repair as I couldn't find this video I watched yesterday! I have the exact same issue and needed to watch your "tapping" technique so I don't break the brass pipes behind this shower valve. Mine is a Peerless but I've found in those older models, Peerless and Delta are pretty much the same. Thank you so much! P.S. I wouldn't have found you if I didn't recognize your voice and your blue plastic gloves!!!!

Always great takeaways on these old repair jobs!

Hit the pipe wrench with a hammer....15 seconds and the damn thing was off. THANK YOU!

Great video with lots of detail showing all the bad stuff that can happen. That's why it is Great. I used a curved jaw channel locks to remove the dome. Got lucky and did not break the copper tubes.

Thanks Steven, I actually destroyed one of mine a while back but needed a rehab anyway :-). This video helped me not to destroy my other shower. Great info thanks for sharing. For DIY'ers I used a Danco kit part# 86970

This is the scenario exactly that I needed to see.

Thank you for posting this. Wish I'd have found it before I broke mine. The first video I was able to find on these (after I broke mine, of course) shows how these things twist off. That's what I did, unfortunately. I have posted the title of your video in the comments for that video for reference, since you are showing an actual repair of this style. It was difficult finding info on these particular shower valves. I wound up having to cut into the wall and replace my whole setup. What a pain! Anyhow, if anybody wants to see what happens when they twist off just watch "Repairing a delta or peerless faucet (must know)".

Another fine job Steve great video

Replaced many of these shower valves due to home owners wrenching on them. Great job

i just learned something,,, the tapping the wrench worked,,, thays sort of like a manual impact driver via pipe wrench,, thanks for the vid and showing that,,, good vid

Snapped one of these off yesterday. I had used this trick in the past but yesterday no luck. Luckily I had play in the copper and cut the pipes as close to the old valve. Bought four shark bite female adapters and bingo new delta valve in place

Great work Steven,,,,I can tell you have many years with a pipe wrench in your hands. I like to spray old valves down with something called Kano AeroKroil penetrating oil in an aerasol can. Its hard to find , but you can find it in a good HVAC supply house. Ive taken things apart I never dreamed I could take apart with the stuff. More vids please ,Thanks. DD in Los Angeles

Nice one Steven!!!

Good job man!!! I did a toilet tank thios morning, replacing the bolts. They were rust as hell. I used my handy saw cutting them.

Wouldn't using a little silicon grease on the rubber and plastic parts make things move freer and aid in taking it apart next time?

Nice job steve. Even some of the next generation delta valves with the cartridge still have those same 3 tubes and the the cartridge retaining nut is way more heavy duty. . You have to bust out the dremel and cut the nut and split it. They say a rag soaked in white vinegar will do the trick......hasn't worked as well as the mini cut off wheel.....for me at least.

This is a real do it yourself vid. Instead of these other idiots showing you how to do it with a brand new faucet.

I had to use a dremel with a small cut off wheel to cut the nut off. I tried the pipe wrench and rapping on it. Soaking it in PB blaster. Then screwed up by using heat which melted the nylon pieces. I slightly twisted the whole thing and gave up before I really messed it up. The dremel cut me two slots quickly and then I put a flat screwdriver in the slots and gave it a twist. Both halves popped right off. Anyone doing this, do yourself, or someone else a favor and put a little never seize, or silicone grease on the threads before you reassemble it.

What do u mean by “feed up the retaining nut”. Thanks for making this video. U have no idea how long I’ve been trying to figure out how to get this thing off.

I don't understand the people who pay Steve to come out and mess around with old shower valves. Just pay the man a few hundred bucks more, get him to put in a brand new one, and don't worry about it for another 40 years.

Thanks for the Help Guys. +1

Does Delta make a replacement cartridge instead of using the old steel ball? Wanting to change from old plastic handle to a lever style handle.

I always use a little heat from a propane torch to help remove the ring.

nice job. :)

Steve, I have a Delta related question: On a classic Delta single handle kitchen faucet, if the "off" position is out of alignment to the right of center-down, what is likely wrong with it? What you mentioned about the three tubes gave me the idea that the last guy that worked on it might have over-torqued the packing.

Great video Steve. My next DIY is to rebuild a delta kitchen sink faucet. Already purchased repair kit (seats/springs). Question I have is...what parts do I have to grease, if any at all?

Great Job.... I have the same but mine doesn't say Delta... it has nothing on it, took the face plate off and it has 121-202 number on it ... looked that number up on google, turns out to be a B&K ? I want to update the fixtures... Question, do I have to go back with the same or can I buy something else without changing the shower valve? The shower valve has GOBO E015 on it

Steve question, why do they call some Faust's washer-less if they do have springs and washers in them ?? Thanks for your input

Try spraying the cap with Aerokroil penetrating aerasol spray and tapping it with a light ball peen hammer first. Wait 5 or 10 minutes,,,tap again and make an attempt to spin off the cap counterclockwise with visegrips or 440 channel locks.

Hi Steven ,are you from Minnesota or Boston? Interesting accent brother. Nice video,,I still dread rebuilding a Delta valve even after 32 years in the trade. DD

Dopey Delta

Thanks for the unscrewing tip I'll trust plumbers with accents more now

nice work. Where do you get your cool wind chimes?

good one.....................

I have a similar if not the same shower faucet. Purchased the Delta genuine part# RP3614A. Has the rubber washers, springs, ball seat, and some sort of tool that I don’t know what to do with. Also purchased the ball part# RP212

Do they sell the replacements for Delta faucet or valve?

What does it mean when these Delta faucets leak in the off position, but only when its straight up and down? If you turn the handle to hot or cold, while off, its perfect. But you put the handle in the middle, when off, and you can hear hissing and it leaks out the faucet... I changed the seat and springs yesterday, and also the cam and bushing. Thank you

You must be talking about the shower valve, not our age. "51" is just around the corner for both of us Brother!

the shower head in my bathroom is leaking very bad it is also a Delta. I was wondering if this is what I need to do to fix my shower? this house was built in 1950s so it is really old as well.

Steven- what do you think is the Delta valve model# for this style. I think I have this same one (up/down for on/off and twist left/right for not/cold), and I’d like to see if the parts are readily available. Faceplate escutcheon has something about patent 1962 on it. Thank you!

Use rubber strap wrench to remove instead of pipe wrench or channel locks

Glad I found this video, otherwise, I definitely would have TWISTED the 3 pipes off....but....I've been doing this "tapping" for what feels like an ETERNITY and have not been successful in removing the dome! I did spray it with WD-40 and tapped the dome (moderately) with a hammer and nothing..........Any other suggestions? Mine too is a DELTA and has been in this house for 30+ years........ TY in advance and GREAT Video!

Grunt and groan drives me crazy

Steven- How come plumbers don't wrap the thread that receives the retaining nut with teflon tape? This should make the next repair job less stressful.

You spoke of a job where a (rookie wanna be) twisted the copper pipes trying to remove. Do you have the video of that repair? I have a customer that did just that. thanks!

Do they make offer different trim kits to update the look of this old model of delta

This guy has never installed a delta, nor read the simple instructions on what to do prior to removing that nut... o well, he got luckyy with it twisting off tho.. 👏

Nice job...

Steven is all that snow got yet?

Those tablets eat up the flapper. I only put cheap Clorox in the bowl.

I know you can't spend too much time on each job but white vinegar can help to dissolve the calcium buildup. Also if you put anti seieze (permatex) on the threads it is guaranteed to come off 40 years later. good video as usual. www.permatex.com/products-2/product-categories/lubricants/specialty-lubricants-anti-seize/permatex--nickel-anti-seize-lubricant-detail

Can those old ball valves be replaced with a single handle twist? I hate the Ouija board action of those things.

Did He try to steal Your Pliers?

You're a pro Steve! I was wondering if I could tap on my frozen nut under my sink. Plumber came out and rooted line through vent on the roof since I had no cleanout for it. He wouldn't undo the nut under sink unless I signed a waiver in case it broke. Line is clear, but now I got a small drip at that rusted nut connection probably from the CLR or Coke I had sitting in the pipe overnight. Didn't you use some kind of penetrating oil spray in another video? Help me out here. Nobody wants to mess with this nut and I got to do something. Can't put back all my stuff under sink and got to keep a pan in there now to collect drippage.

this is a good way to screw up an old delta faucet

I use some heat from a torch.to lose the delta shower stem.

What if the 3 copper tube is twisted? What do I do?

wheres your grease

TRY LUBRICANT

Hi, wanted to know the model number of the shower faucet. I have the same one and needs some TLC. Looking for the right parts to buy. Thanks.

So I ended up rebuilding this same delta model (or very similar). I just needed to replace the handle but noticed there was no silicone around the escutcheon. As I took it part I figured Id replace the components before they failed, but the rubber washers seen in this video between the spring and steel ball (plastic) were missing! How the hell was this thing not leaking? Anyone know?

didnt show the two springs inside, he only removed one rubber cap. Not impressed

I was born in Feb 1975