Mueller tub seats replacement problem

[JacekJ]

Have an old Mueller tub assembly which is leaking. Replacing washers does't work anymore. Finally found that I have to replace a seats. The problem is they wont come out because they are too big (see picture 4). Any advise will be appreciated.

 

[hj]

What do you mean by "they are too big"? They were small enough to put in there in the first place. You are doing something wrong if you cannot get them out. Picture #4 just shows a stem and packing nut, nothing to do with the seat.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[JacekJ]

Hi. thanks for reply. Picture 4 shows unscrewed seat inside a fixture. seat outside diameter seems bigger that the fixture. Here is what is inside on picture 4

 

[JacekJ]

This is a wrench I used. Problem is I can not take seat out. Do I have to remove another part before seat will be free. What I need is a schematics of Mueller tab assembly

 

[hj]

Let me ask you a question. IF the seat is larger than the opening, HOW did they install it originally? IF you could remove the stem, then you have taken everything apart that you could.

 

[JacekJ]

Well I am not sure if I removed everything. Here is another picture, how can I remove the part in which stem is sitting? (next 2 pictures)

 

[Reach4]

Arrow 1 points to the seat. The smooth side that is up would have come out first. Arrow 2 points to some kind of debris that seems to be wedging the seat in. I would find some needle-nose tweezers or whatever small tool you have and try to get that debris out, or at least not interfering with removing the seat. Then I would fish the seat back to its original position and try to pull it out. An old dental pick can be a good tool for this. The old tools are often sold to hobbyists. A tiny jeweler's screwdriver or a straightened+rebent paper clip may be an OK tool.

 

[JacekJ]

Thanks a lot. I will try ans let you know

 

[JacekJ]

Thanks for a great advice, it worked. I used small hook and was able to remove seat which was damaged. Thanks again.

 

[Reach4]

Nice picture. That new seat going to make a big difference. While you are on a roll, you might replace the other seat and washer too. Then you can close the faucets much more lightly.

I like to lightly lube the stem with silicone grease.

 

[JacekJ]

Yes I did replaced both. This one was really bad.

 

[hj]

IF you had shown us the picture with the seat "sideways" originally we could have told you IMMEDIATELY why you were having a problem removing it. You should have reinserted the wrench you used to unscrew it, then used IT to take the seat out of the faucet.