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DIY mixer repair: replacing the shower-spout switch

This WordPress post outlines the steps involved in a DIY repair of a shower-spout switch. Replacing the switch yourself instead of relying on a professional repairman can save you time and money. The post provides detailed instructions on how to shut off the water supply before removing and cleaning the old switch, replacing the assembly, and turning the water back on. Additionally, it offers safety tips to ensure a successful and safe repair experience. With this post, you can make a quick and easy repair, without any hassle.

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One of the main problems of the bath-shower mixer is the breakdown of the shower-spout switching mechanism. Sometimes the only solution is to buy a new mixer. However, in some cases only the mechanism itself can be changed. How to do it yourself, we will tell you in this article..

DIY mixer repair replacing the shower-spout switch

Symptoms of a broken shower / spout switch will be:

  • inability or difficulty in switching the mechanism;
  • simultaneous operation of both the shower and the spout of the mixer in any switch position.

Shower / spout switch mechanisms are of the following types:

  • eccentric;
  • cartridge;
  • axle boxes;
  • ball;
  • as a separate unit (for some types of one-hand mixers).

DIY mixer repair replacing the shower-spout switch

Required tool

To carry out the work, we need:

  1. Wallpaper knife.
  2. Slotted (flat) screwdriver.
  3. Adjustable wrench.
  4. Gas wrench.

Replacing the shower / spout selector mechanism

Ball switches are the most reliable, but, unfortunately, they cannot be repaired, so if you have a mixer with just such a switching mechanism and it breaks down, then you will have to buy a new one..

For cartridge, axle and eccentric switches, the repair work will be as follows:

1. Dismantle the decorative cover on the shift knob. In some mixers, it is necessary to remove the plug with a wallpaper knife and unscrew the fastening screw that it covered with a screwdriver. In our case, it itself is such a screw. Turn it away.

DIY mixer repair. Replacing the shower / spout switch

DIY mixer repair. Replacing the shower / spout switch

2. Remove the handle.

DIY mixer repair. Replacing the shower / spout switch

3. Under the handle there is either an axle-box mechanism or a nut that secures the mechanism (cartridge or eccentric). Turn away.

DIY mixer repair. Replacing the shower / spout switch

4. We take out the mechanism. The axlebox or cartridge can be removed entirely. For eccentric ones, only one part will be removed – the eccentric itself.

DIY mixer repair. Replacing the shower / spout switch

5. To completely dismantle the eccentric switch, remove its inner part. To do this, unscrew the spout nut with our hands.

DIY mixer repair. Replacing the shower / spout switch

6. Remove the spout down.

DIY mixer repair. Replacing the shower / spout switch

7. Under the nut you will find a removable part of the body. You have to turn it away. This is very difficult to do. Wrap this part with a cloth so as not to damage the chrome coating during the dismantling process, and using a gas (not adjustable) wrench for the case itself, we unscrew this part.

DIY mixer repair. Replacing the shower / spout switch

8. If you manage to do this, then the inner part of the mechanism can be easily removed from the case. In general, it will look something like this:

DIY mixer repair. Replacing the shower / spout switch

On the right is the eccentric part, turns away first, on the left is the inner part. If you cannot remove the inner part, then you will have to change the mixer.

9. After dismantling, according to the samples received in the store, we buy the necessary spare parts and, in the reverse order to the described works, we assemble the mixer.

To replace a separate switching unit, it must be completely disconnected from the mixer.

1. Unscrew the shower hose by hand.

DIY mixer repair. Replacing the shower / spout switch

DIY mixer repair. Replacing the shower / spout switch

2. Unscrew the upper nut fastening the mechanism with the mixer body.

DIY mixer repair. Replacing the shower / spout switch

3. Remove the mechanism with a spout.

DIY mixer repair. Replacing the shower / spout switch

4. Unscrew the spout nut.

DIY mixer repair. Replacing the shower / spout switch

5. As a result, we get the switching mechanism.

DIY mixer repair. Replacing the shower / spout switch

6. In the store we buy a new mechanism and install it on the mixer.

Spout repair

We will not highlight the problem of water leakage from under the spout nut in a separate article. However, this problem is close, in fact, to the topic of this article and occurs quite often..

There are two types of spouts – round and flat. Water leaking from the retaining nuts indicates the need to replace the O-rings. To replace them, you need to dismantle the spouts themselves..

For round spouts, the dismantling process is described above in points 5 and 6 of the previous chapter. As a result, you will see two rubber rings on the spout..

DIY mixer repair. Replacing the shower / spout switch

It is them that need to be replaced. The photo shows another white ring. It serves to secure the spout when tightening the fastening nut..

For flat spouts, the dismantling process is the same – unscrew the fastening nut and remove the spout. Two o-rings are also visible on the inside, which need to be replaced.

DIY mixer repair. Replacing the shower / spout switch

It will be more convenient to do this if you dismantle the inner part. For this:

1. Unscrew the inner brass bushing with a hex key of a suitable size.

DIY mixer repair. Replacing the shower / spout switch

2. Take out the sleeve together with the nut.

DIY mixer repair. Replacing the shower / spout switch

3. Now the bushing itself can be easily removed from the nut.

DIY mixer repair. Replacing the shower / spout switch

4. Access to the O-rings is open.

At the end, once again, you should pay attention to the fact that almost all work on disassembly and assembly of mixers is done by hand. Keys are used only for tightening already twisted connections. Excessive forces when screwing in threads lead to damage, up to the complete destruction of the tightened parts..

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Comments: 2
  1. Hadley

    Can you provide step-by-step instructions on how to replace the shower-spout switch in a mixer? I’m not sure where to start and could use some guidance.

    Reply
  2. Wyatt Hayes

    I understand that this article talks about repairing a mixer by replacing the shower-spout switch. However, as a reader, I’m curious to know if it is possible to fix the switch without replacing it, or if there are any alternative solutions you can recommend. Additionally, are there any specific tools or techniques that should be used for this repair? Any advice or additional information would be greatly appreciated.

    Reply
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