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tightening taps

townail | Posted in General Discussion on June 28, 2009 06:06am

Anyone have a suggestion on a tool or technique to tighten these nuts on a top mount bath sink…. the cavity is too narrow to fit either of my basin wrenches and I’ve had no luck with anything else.

Thanks

TN

 

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Replies

  1. john7g | Jun 28, 2009 06:17pm | #1

    flare nut crows foot?  12 point style?

  2. User avater
    IMERC | Jun 28, 2009 07:08pm | #2

    2nd vote for the crows foot...

     

    Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

    WOW!!! What a Ride!


    Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

     

    "Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"

    1. User avater
      popawheelie | Jun 28, 2009 10:46pm | #8

      Third>>>"There are three kinds of men: The one that learns by reading, the few who learn by observation and the rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves."Will Rogers

  3. gfretwell | Jun 28, 2009 07:49pm | #3

    Take the extension off and use a deep socket?

    1. User avater
      IMERC | Jun 28, 2009 08:04pm | #4

      if it doesn't leak as is...

      don't mess with it... 

      Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

      WOW!!! What a Ride!

      Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

       

      "Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"

      1. ncproperties | Jun 28, 2009 08:45pm | #5

        Hand tighten, back off just a bit. Than turn handle or stub, on top side 1/2 turn away from correct final facing position. Again re-hand tighten nut from underside to just barely snug. Than top side twist handle or stub forward. Their should be enough pressure when hand tightened from bellow for nut to stay put as turning from top tightens. Sort of like tightening conduit connectors to knock-outs in junction boxes. Had a guy ask last week while struggling and smashing his knuckles with small channel locks in the box to remove the nuts, "Man how did you get these so frigging tight?" Told him "Ahh Danial son one must at times think outside the box." Ehhh, junction box, outside the box, tighten connector from outside. Ya, he didn't think it so funny with bloody knuckles either. Oh well.

  4. JTC1 | Jun 28, 2009 08:46pm | #6

    I am confused at what the photo shows.

    Starting at the bottom of the basin and working down the faucet body: there appears to be a washer, then a flanged nut (which needs tightening) then a threaded portion, then an unknown lump of brass (is this an adapter of some sort?), then another short set of threads to attach the supply tubes 

    Does the "unknown lump of brass" thread on to the upper threaded section?

    If yes, remove the "unknown lump of brass" and tighten the flanged nut with a plumbers socket wrench -- thin walled, steel, hexagonal shaped -- which is designed to be turned with an open end wrench, another socket, or a rod which is passed through two holes in the sides of the socket. Plumber's sockets are open on both ends and any length of pipe will pass through them.  A plumbing supply house will sell such sockets in sets along with the rod to turn them. Maybe at a big box also......

    Does the faucet set have another nut on the top side of the basin? If yes, then it becomes a game of loosening the top nut and adjusting the bottom nut to the point where, when the top nut is tightened the bottom nut also tightens up.

    As others have said a crows foot wrench may go into that opening, it would be dicey with the ones I have -- mine are open end, not a flare nut or box style.

    Good luck,

    Jim

    Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.
  5. oldbeachbum | Jun 28, 2009 10:43pm | #7

    maybe a speed wrench....but a crow's foot would be so easy (flare nut style),

    if the arms on the crow's foot are too wide you could grind them down.  You don't need much torque there and you'd have the tool for future similar applications

     

    I'm not flippin' you off.........just counting cubits

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