Amateur question on shower valve cartridge

CalamariFritti

Hello Guys,

I wonder could anyone help me out please.

My shower valves are old and I suspect they are the cause for a dripping shower.

After talking to aftersales/spares I got a replacement cartridge ordered for my PURA concealed shower valve installation. Me and the phone agent were both looking at the part online on their website and he identified the one I need.
And it does indeed look exactly like my valves. Except for the long spindle protruding from the top on my valves.

He says thats normal I just have a spindle extension. I can take it off my old valve and put it on the new one.

Here's the question. How do I do that?

I tried to simply unscrew it counter clockwise, but its not budging. Does it simply need convincing or is there a trick to it?

I'm attaching a pic/link to avoid misunderstanding.

This is what I was told I need to order: https://www.bathroomspareparts.co.uk/pura-onoff-clockwise-close-shower-cartridge---tc102-16913-p.asp

This is my cartridge:


Thanks for reading some DIY amateur's stuff. Cheers!

K.Flyer

I think that piece just slides off.
Try get a flat screwdriver between the end of it and the start of the valve and try prise it off.

CalamariFritti

I tried, but its not budging. Seems to be just a cartridge with a long spindle (40mm). But I can't find such a thing. it's weird, I understand PURA is pretty standard stuff and around for a while.

CalamariFritti

So I've done some research and I 'm none the wiser. I have a receipt for a PURA ct333 but the manufacturer says they dont recognise it as their product from the pictures.

Whatever, its ten years old and it works fine and valves just go over time I guess. No hassle. The problem is to identify and source the right replacement cartridge. Anyone ever seen anything with those measurements?



Thanks

K.Flyer

Its a quarter turn, long stem (80mm?) 3/4" on / off flow valve.
You might be lucky to find one here, but you'd be better off trawling the UK bathroom shower spares websites. But if you do find something very close you will need to phone them to verify the dimensions as the price prices range from GBP 10 to 50 plus postage, which can be expensive if you order the wrong one.

CalamariFritti

Related question. Could I not buy a different 3/4 inch flow cartridge with a shorter stem and extend it with something like this?

http://www.amazon.com/Pfister-974-3750-Extension-Sleeve-Screw/dp/B005UNNFD6

As a layman I would imagine putting concealed shower valves into walls and lining it up with exterior bits and taps and stuff... Things will never be 100% precise and making a valve stem longer would be standard enough?

Would I find something like the above with a local supplier in various lengths?

CalamariFritti

Found something close enough trawling UK suppliers. 3mm longer but should be no prob shaving that off. At least I won't have to have a whole new unit installed.

K.Flyer

Its either the ceramic discs or the rubber seal that is causing the dripping. Why not go back to your local supplier and compare the valve barrel and see if the discs and seal can be swapped over. Might be a much simpler way of fixing it.

CalamariFritti

^ Thanks

Quite chuffed with myself. :pac:

Bought a different 3/4 flow cartridge with a short stem and swapped my old valve stem into that using the new cartridge's case and discs and o-rings. Just had to put a file to my old valve to make it fit into the groove on the new disc. But works perfectly. No dripping, no pump coming on. Perfect.

K.Flyer

Well done