lizzie Posted February 22, 2019 Share Posted February 22, 2019 The basin tap in my wetroom was always a bit 'loose' now it is doing quarter turn when used. The top bit - the pillar - is moving. I have taken a photo of underneath - its really difficult to get at. Is there something I can do to solve this or do I need a plumber? I have no tools beyond usual screwdrivers and pliers and not much use of hands so hoping any solution will be easier than leaking shower screen......got to have another go at that when I get the energy LOL Thanks for any advice you can give. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted February 22, 2019 Share Posted February 22, 2019 That’s a 10mm brass nut on a standard stem. Long reach socket is best, or a 10mm spanner. Depending on where it’s from though, it may be nearer 11mm as tolerances aren’t good on those if they came from overseas..! Brass bit needs nipping up to tighten the tap in place but don’t go mad ..! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizzie Posted February 22, 2019 Author Share Posted February 22, 2019 Just now, PeterW said: That’s a 10mm brass nut on a standard stem. Long reach socket is best, or a 10mm spanner. Depending on where it’s from though, it may be nearer 11mm as tolerances aren’t good on those if they came from overseas..! Brass bit needs nipping up to tighten the tap in place but don’t go mad ..! Is a long reach socket a spanner? I dont have any spanners maybe I should buy some! It's a Porcelanosa fitting made in Spain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliG Posted February 22, 2019 Share Posted February 22, 2019 Here is the installation manual. http://www.noken.com/recursos/pdf/idm/files/100130995_IDM.pdf But yes a long socket pushed up over it should be exactly what you need. You'll never get up there with a spanner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizzie Posted February 22, 2019 Author Share Posted February 22, 2019 @PeterW OMG have just googled socket spanners and fainted at the price.....came across this advertised by Aldi - would it do please? https://www.aldi.co.uk/workzone-5-piece-ratchet-spanner-set/p/096217259708700?msclkid=6426e62229821093cab3ba526980f486&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Special Buy | Non Brand | Products | BMM&utm_term=%2Bspanner %2Bset&utm_content=5 Piece Ratchet Spanner Set Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizzie Posted February 22, 2019 Author Share Posted February 22, 2019 Just now, AliG said: Here is the installation manual. http://www.noken.com/recursos/pdf/idm/files/100130995_IDM.pdf But yes a long socket pushed up over it should be exactly what you need. You'll never get up there with a spanner. Thank you thats exactly the tap! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliG Posted February 22, 2019 Share Posted February 22, 2019 A lot depends on how far up you can get your hands and how much purchase you can get. The angled spanners might work but it will be difficult to exert a lot of torque using one, a long socket would be better. As it is a one off use try and borrow one or find the cheapest piece you can find that does the job. These at £5.05 on Amazon would probably do the job assuming that you have the wrench that fits into them. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Amtech-I6400-Sockets-4-Inch-9-Piece/dp/B003XKIGR8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1550860851&sr=8-1&keywords=deep+socket+sethttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Amtech-I6400-Sockets-4-Inch-9-Piece/dp/B003XKIGR8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1550860851&sr=8-1&keywords=deep+socket+set 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProDave Posted February 22, 2019 Share Posted February 22, 2019 The Scotsmans way is the "tool-less" way. Push the tap a little to the right of centre. Hold it there. Reach up with your other hand and tighten the brass bit as tight as you can by hand. Then holding the brass bit, turn the tap back to centre to tighten it the last bit. It sometimes works,. don't blame me if it does not. I much prefer the taps with a solid copper "tail" far less likely to work loose. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cherryfountain Posted February 22, 2019 Share Posted February 22, 2019 You need a set of box spanner’s like these.Plenty on Ebay,B&Q,Screwfix,Toolstation. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliG Posted February 22, 2019 Share Posted February 22, 2019 (edited) Good call £4 with free delivery on Amazon. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B0015NSTU4/ref=dp_olp_new?ie=UTF8&condition=new Edited February 22, 2019 by AliG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizzie Posted February 22, 2019 Author Share Posted February 22, 2019 5 minutes ago, cherryfountain said: You need a set of box spanner’s like these.Plenty on Ebay,B&Q,Screwfix,Toolstation. Thank you @cherryfountain will explore those. @AliG I dont have a wrench of any description sadly. @ProDave will give that a go thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliG Posted February 22, 2019 Share Posted February 22, 2019 My fault, I thought when you said you didn't have spanners you meant you did have a socket set. Anyway, looks like @cherryfountain has the right idea if you can't tighten it by hand. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizzie Posted February 22, 2019 Author Share Posted February 22, 2019 Guys thanks so much. Just found a utube on use of monobloc spanner. Think I can give that a go - a 2 person job but I have another (even less adept than me) body here so will make use of him. Off to screwies tomorrow! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizzie Posted February 22, 2019 Author Share Posted February 22, 2019 @ProDave tried the scotsmans method (OH would like that being mostly Scots himself) sadly my fingers are not strong enough I couldn't shift it at all...got a dribble of water run done my fingers though, hope thats not a bad sign. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Harris Posted February 22, 2019 Share Posted February 22, 2019 We have one tap with exactly that type of fixing, and I can understand your frustration, as I've had to tighten it back up twice so far, and it's a complete PITA to get at, even with a deep socket and extension. Our kitchen tap, OTOH, has a brilliant fixing, a deep (around 150mm) hollow nut, around 30mm in diameter, that projects down far enough that you can see it. It was a doddle to install, and made me wonder why more tap manufacturers don't use something like this. Mind you, it was Dutch, so may be they like to make life easier for installers. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted February 22, 2019 Share Posted February 22, 2019 6 minutes ago, lizzie said: got a dribble of water run done my fingers though, hope thats not a bad sign. It possibly is ... was there any water on the top of the sink when you did this ..?? If there is water under there it could be coming from one of the tap flexi tails that is not done up tight ... do not over tighten these as they have O Rings in them..! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliG Posted February 22, 2019 Share Posted February 22, 2019 In the old place we had a corroded waste in a basin. It was a pedestal basin. I suspect that they put in the basin, connected up the fittings then put the pedestal in. Then we tiled around the base of the pedestal. I couldn't see any way to change the waste, so I just gave up and built a new house. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizzie Posted February 22, 2019 Author Share Posted February 22, 2019 3 minutes ago, PeterW said: It possibly is ... was there any water on the top of the sink when you did this ..?? If there is water under there it could be coming from one of the tap flexi tails that is not done up tight ... do not over tighten these as they have O Rings in them..! No water on top it came from underneath as I was trying to turn the nut with fingers and holding pillar steady with other hand per Pro Dave method....................I thought I felt water on the flexi pipe when I first started looking at it but ignored it. So next question is how do I tighten those tails - not with monobloc spanner I guess. My water system alerts me to a micro leak regularly and I have driven myself nuts trying to find it, could this be it I wonder. Iceberg looming I fear! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Harris Posted February 22, 2019 Share Posted February 22, 2019 The tails are only done up hand-tight, usually, so maybe one has loosened slightly? To tighten it may mean slacking off the pipe fitting where it attaches, in order to make it free to turn without twisting the flexible pipe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizzie Posted February 22, 2019 Author Share Posted February 22, 2019 Thank you @JSHarris......guess I should turn the water off in case it all falls apart while I am doing it. Wish I had taken night school in plumbing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted March 8, 2019 Share Posted March 8, 2019 @lizzie, did you sort your wobbly tap? Got one to install shortly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProDave Posted March 8, 2019 Share Posted March 8, 2019 2 hours ago, Onoff said: @lizzie, did you sort your wobbly tap? Got one to install shortly. Are you going to deliberately install it wobbly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizzie Posted March 8, 2019 Author Share Posted March 8, 2019 2 hours ago, Onoff said: @lizzie, did you sort your wobbly tap? Got one to install shortly. I did ....in the end I got a local man in to do it I just couldnt manage it with my hands. He charged me £40....outrageous really as he could walk here he lives that close and it only took 5 minutes. Still better than £80 silicone lot though ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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