Moentrol, Help identify Moen single-handle shower part. Is it replaceable?

[kriebz]

I just bought a house built in 1995. All of the showers use Moen posi-temp valve bodies and metal singe-handle controls. They look like a medium-high end trim, and use an escutcheon with a protruding tab retained by a metal two-part cover over the extension, not the sheet-metal tube I see in every example I've seen online. The stop tube/extension body is black plastic piece with a metal bracket bonded to it at the back, and that's the part that I need to replace. It's cracked at the back where it bonds to the metal bracket, and cracked at the front where the top lug of the metal handle adapter levers on it.

It may be that the best path is to replace the whole extension and handle assembly with a different style, possibly replacing the cartridge while I'm in this far. I'm going to try calling Moen tomorrow.

 

[Marlinman]

This is a Moentrol valve not a Positemp. The trim you have is Danco fit-all trim. It would probably be best to reinstall original Moen trim. The link shows all of the Moen trims for your valve. The escutcheon shown is Danco. You can see it is identical to yours.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[kriebz]

Excellent. Yes, it's a cheap off-brand trim, I was hoping it had the part I needed, but it doesn't. I don't need to replace the trim at all.

So the valve / fixture looks like a LEGEND® MOENTROL®, but the current manuals for these show the bent sheet metal stop tube with a protruding lateral ridge, and a matching notch in the escutcheon, which is retained with two screws. Mine works nothing like this. I'll try to take some more pictures later. I need to know if the black plastic part is replaceable, or if not, if the new style is boltable to my valve body.

 

[kriebz]

The valve with the extension removed.

The solid metal two-piece telescoping extension cover that retains the escutcheon and the escutcheon itself, right side up, with the protrusion at top dead center, and no screw holes.

 

[Terry]

This is a Posi-Temp valve

There is no adjustment for volume. You rotate counterclockwise to get hot water.

The Moentrol pulls out for volume, and twist left for hot and right for cold.

What was the handle like on your trim? It may be one that is no longer available.

Moentrol

 

[kriebz]

It looks just like a Moentrol Legend, with a metal lever handle. Pulls on, pushes off, turns for temp. Works just as Moen's site describes a Moentrol, except it was no longer shutting off all the way. Under the handle is a cast metal piece that has a soft plastic part in the middle, which screws through an extension into the valve stem, to give the two-axis connection. A lug on the metal piece rides in a groove in the black plastic part, which is now cracked, so it wasn't levering very well. Here's all of the other parts of the thing that I haven't shown.

 

[Terry]

Moen TL170 trim

http://pro.moen.com/legend/chrome-moentrol-r-valve-trim/_/R-TPORTAL-ALL:TL170?next=SiteSearch.Image

 

[Dr.V]

I need the same part. My shower wouldn't shut off and leaking awful. I replaced the cartridge, then noticed the stop tube/extension had some "give" as I reattached the extension cover, then discovered the crack. Mine is in the back right by the bracket. Did you find it?
I'm unemployed right now, and really can't afford a plumber and whole new faucet.

 

[kriebz]

Moen says they don't make them any more, and since I'm not the original home owner, I can pound sand. Buy it for life my sweaty plumber crack.

OK, my work-around for a few weeks was to remove the handle and gently tap the tip of the valve stem extension with a rod and small (tiny. love taps.) hammer.

I was able to install the Danco trim, which should be in the $45 range at home stores, but it does *not* lever, you have to pull the handle straight out for on/off, no matter if you install the handle or the crystal clear knob thing. Oh well. It also doesn't work on one shower that was installed incorrectly with too much backspacing from the surface of the stall to the valve. I don't know if the real Moen part will work, either. I haven't worked up the nerve to drop $110 on the real replacement. Need to refurbish a stuck balance spool on my other shower first.

So, you can replace this style with the new style, but it's like 8 parts that need to be swapped, the whole trim kit, since it works totally differently. All that nice expensive metal in the scrap bucket. The generic trim kit will work as long as the valve body is correctly positioned relative the the shower wall. The Moen trim kit will probably be better, especially if have the lever type, but if you have the "tacky crystal acorn" knob, it seems "good enough".

Also, if you rig a valve stem extension and a handle, just know there is no turn stop in the valve body, so it sill work, but you'll have to eyeball where the temp scale would be... and you're on your on your own for keeping water out of the wall. I'll try to remember to post some pics the next time I work on this, which should be soon.

 

[Terry]

The Moentrol is an easy to use valve. Yes you pull the handle out for volume. Rotate all the way to the left for hot or all the way to the right for cold.
The TL170 trim
https://www.homedepot.com/p/MOEN-Le...nd-Shower-Head-Not-Included-TL171NH/300486596

That's a pretty good deal. Does it come with the sleeve or limit stop? I wish I knew, you will need the right one.
10066 Chrome

 

[Dr.V]

Well, screw me then. In true woman fashion, I reattached the tube stop loosely with some tape on the threads (to not "open" the crack) and super glued it in place, so it won't rotate tighter or looser. It works ok, but it leaks from the handle when on, probably into the wall. Guess I know what my tax refund is going to...