quarter turn cartridges?

jumper

Seems that too often replacing them turns (pun intended) out to be short term (more bad pun) repair.
My theory is that seat in appliance is also worn and new drip works its way out(another bad pun?) there.

Danny Scully

So change the seat too @jumper, no?

the_donut

I find that seats and springs are usually the cause and not the cartridges. Also low pressure is typically from sediment caught in the assembly and is easily fixed by removing and backflushing, saving $, especially in the case of proflow carts.

rick in Alaska

If you are talking about Delta cartridges, I have found the plastic ones have a tendency to "dish" out at the bottom. I take a flat file and make sure they are flat. Then change out the seal and spring after cleaning the hole they go in.
Two very important things; make sure you do not use generic seals ( they are like plastic and not pliable), and use some kind of stem lube.
Rick

jumper

Danny Scully said:

So change the seat too @jumper, no?

If only.....Definitely do that when you can. When people choose fixtures they don't ask if it has replaceable seats.

rick in Alaska

I didn't know anything had seats in them any more. Generally just a place for a seal to sit in, and some kind of cartridge over that. Generally ceramic cartridges.
There used to be a bunch of three handle Price Pfister tub/shower valves around here that we kept a big stock of replacement seats for, but most of those are gone now.
Rick

jumper

rick in Alaska said:

I didn't know anything had seats in them any more. Generally just a place for a seal to sit in, and some kind of cartridge over that. Generally ceramic cartridges.
There used to be a bunch of three handle Price Pfister tub/shower valves around here that we kept a big stock of replacement seats for, but most of those are gone now.
Rick

Exactly. The cartridge sits in fixture. I call what it's sitting on the seat. The cartridge has to be sealed against its seat because water comes through a hole in the seat into the cartridge. That seal on many deluxe fixtures is a pathetic piece of rubber. Sometimes a teeny O ring; sometimes an irreplaceable washer.

I hope somebody here knows a way to dress that seat so that pathetic piece of rubber will seal.

Maybe it's time to hoard those P-F replacement seats? With those you can keep those three handle & two handle fixtures going forever. Changing shower/tub fixtures usually involves breaking walls or tiles.