How to set up very old Price Pfister stems?

[jeffsmith1234]

Hi,

How to set up very old Price Pfister stems?
See picture attached.

I have the new stem and put it in but the water flow is barely a trickle. I tried mucking with it, but no changes. Is it supposed to be adjusted in some way? I've tried moving it up and down and whatnot, but nothing works. Just get a trickle of water, even when I put the exact old stem back in. And, yes, I turned the water back on.

Is there a YouTube video or a manual or something on how to do it? The only ones I see are for new stems that look nothing like the ones I have.

Thanks!

 

[Marlinman]

There should be a hard cap gasket that goes on the bottom of the threaded bonnet. Also have you checked the water volume without the stem uninstalled? Has the valve seat been replaced? The replacement you have is correct and they do not have an adjustment.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Jeff H Young]

something changed rust blockage possibly bits can get stuck and reduce flow. ok so clarify this, only a little water from hot or cold side or both? since you didn't say I'm assuming both. all other fixtures have full water flow or you would have told us.
remove seats as well blast out and try again. Mucking out? what's going on there?

 

[jeffsmith1234]

There should be a hard cap gasket that goes on the bottom of the threaded bonnet. Also have you checked the water volume without the stem installed? Has the valve seat been replaced? The replacement you have is correct and they do not have an adjustment.

Hi, is the hard cap gasket the rubber washer and screw like in this picture? If yes, it has that. The only thing I've done is removed the old stem and put the new one in. I haven't replaced anything else. The only reason for replacing the stem was because of some water seeping out the stem. The water flow is fine no issues with that. One thing I do notice the middle parts of stems can be rotated around the shaft so that when the stem is then screwed back into the seat, the top of the stem sits higher or lower depending on where the middle part is set. I don't know if that has any effect. I looked on YouTube and there are no videos that show this type of stem. Cheers.

 

[jeffsmith1234]

something changed rust blockage possibly bits can get stuck and reduce flow. ok so clarify this, only a little water from hot or cold side or both? since you didn't say I'm assuming both. all other fixtures have full water flow or you would have told us.
remove seats as well blast out and try again. Mucking out? what's going on there?

Hi, yes, when I put the stems back in, I only get low trickle of water from hot and cold, which is weird because it does that also when simply put the old stems back in. Before, there was normal water flow from both. The reason for replacing the stem is because there was some small leaking out the top of it. One thing I do notice the middle parts of stems can be rotated around the shaft so that when the stem is then screwed back into the seat, the top of the stem sits higher or lower depending on where the middle part is set. I don't know if that has any effect. I looked on YouTube and there are no videos that show this type of stem. Cheers. Cheers.

 

[Mr tee]

I assume this is on a lavatory faucet, if so, is the aerator clean?

 

[Jeff H Young]

what happened ? not so clear middle parts turning around stem? no idea what that means.
but if you got more questions shoot.

 

[Marlinman]

The cap gasket is # 950-190. (See the parts sheet) The fact that the water flow was adequate before you started servicing the faucet I would first remove the aerator as Mr.Tee stated. Turning the water off and on can cause debris to create your problem.