Trouble removing shower/tub trim...see photos

[Jaimeinaz]

I barely have the vocabulary to describe my problem, so please feel free to clue me in...I am attempting to remove the trim from an old shower and I have the handle and the plate off no problem. The chrome "sleeve" won't come off -it is two pieces and the outer part is very stationary, while the part closes to the wall is spinning freely abd loose. Under this the white plastic piece that I believe holds the "stop" is pretty stationary as well. I have tried yanking, pulling, spinning ( will not budge) and trying to wedge the thing outwards. I do not want to break the whole thing because it is imbedded in a wall that has wire cloth and stucco on both sides...a very specialized faux red-rock finish that I have no desire to match/repair. Any help appreciated...even an id on the valve...looks kinda like a moentrol?

 

[MichaelBukay]

the outer ring "should" unscrew. make sure the water is off, drain the valve by putting the handle on and opening it, and the outer ring should turn counter-clockwise.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Jaimeinaz]

OK I'm trying that now! Thank you!

 

[Jaimeinaz]

The valve is drained, water is off, still can't budge the outer ring. I sprayed vinegar on it earlier as well...WD-40 next?

 

[Jaimeinaz]

Here is a better image showing the valve body.

 

[MichaelBukay]

personally, i would consider a wrench. I have NO IDEA what kind of valve it is but its NOT a Moentrol. It really looks like that ring unscrews. But if you put a wrench on it you might mess up the metal. You can put a rag on the ring to protect it and use pliers, or maybe a piece of a rubber hose. Why are you taking it apart?

 

[Terry]

I sometimes use heat on the ring to loosen it.
As it heats, it expands, allowing you to spin it off.

 

[Jaimeinaz]

Ok, I used a pipe wrench and it is off. I suppose that would have been the logical next step but I used channel-lock pliers and got nowhere, and didn't understand how much more effective a wrench is. While I was at Ace I recognized the replacement cartridge and the store manager said it is a Delta...so unless this had some weird retrofit I guess this is a delta?! The shower was dripping, the trim was corroded, and I'm switching everything to oil-rubbed bronze as I go...

I have a "universal" trim from price pfister but I suspect this is not one of the models that will work...

Any idea what model this could be?

 

[Jaimeinaz]

 

[hj]

Yes, it is a #604 Scaldguard. Good luck finding anything other than chrome trim for it. You might want to replace the "balancing spool" under the hex nut on the left side, because it is probably not working by now. The valve may be inverted because that spool is usually on the right side.

 

[Jadnashua]

Hopefully, the repair kit has replacements for those two black seals in the back. Delta's website (and, if it's an OEM repair kit) should show how to do it. While you have it open, replace all of the wear parts.

 

[Gary Swart]

Several years ago when I was faced with a similar problem in trying to match older bronze trim for my Delta, I discovered that it was no longer available. I just replaced the whole valve with a Delta 1700 which has scale control and volume control. I love it.