Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill
My guess is that the vertical black tube is cracked, either along part of its length, or more likely somewhere around its base. The crack will be hard to see because the crack closes when there is no pressure in the assembly. Try pressing your thumb tightly over the top of the black tube, turning a water knob on a little bit, and switching to shower mode. With pressure in the tube, water will spray out of any crack. If you find a crack, it is likely unrepairable because the plastic flexes under pressure, which will break a glue bond. Couldn't hurt to try, though.
If you want to get the two black parts separated, you will need to remove the two round white pieces. These are the water valve bodies. Remove the screw in the center of each white piece, pull them loose, and the black pieces should come apart.
I doubt that you will be able to find replacement component parts for the faucet assembly. You will probably need to replace the whole thing. Luckily these plastic bath and shower assemblies are cheap, and pretty much standardized in terms of supply pipe fittings and spacing. Replacing the assembly will involve pulling the entire assembly up off the tub until you get access to the pipe fittings that feed it from below. Be sure to depressurize the system before you begin, of course. Check Home Depot, Lowes, etc for replacement assemblies that will fit and look good. Many of them will come with a shower hose, whether you need a new one or not. As you shop, be sure to confirm that the decorative skirt will fit in the space allocated for it in the corner.
Do a web search on "rv tub shower faucet with diverter" to see all kinds of replacements.
Let us know
Bill
|
Thanks Bill,
I wish it weren't true but it seems most likely you are correct that there is a crack down below. And it makes sense that the crack is only open under pressure. Water looks like it's coming only out of the end of the pipe until you attach the hose and it is under pressure.
Thanks for the tip on removing the screws in the middle and then the white pieces also. When you refer to the "decorative skirt", you mean just the base piece which is the black plastic where it interfaces to the tub in my fotos? I assume so. Hopefully those sizes are fairly standard when I do the web search which you recommended. Thanks again! And I'll let you know how the project goes.. fingers crossed.