re: Shower handle snapped off. Repair ideas?

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His shower valve looks too old to have a retaining clip like in the youtube video

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That’s what I’m thinking.

In the pic I posted, there is a brass fitting. The fitting itself won’t pull out because there is a flange on the back of it. Whatever the insert is (cartridge/valve stem) can’t be pulled out because the brass fitting seems to have a lip inside (looks like a washer but it’s not).

And what do you mean it snapped off? What broke? You need to show that too because it will give a bette idea of what the inside is made of and how to take the remainder apart.

Often times the shower handle just has a little set screw that you tighten to hold the handle onto the valve. That set screw works it's way out and the handle becomes loose and falls off.

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And what do you mean it snapped off? What broke?

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This is from inside the handle, it fits onto that white piece in the pic.

I used this plastic piece to turn the water off. Problem is, I turned it as far as it will go and there is still a slight drip from the shower head. I’m assuming when the handle broke off it also did some damage to the cartridge. Can’t pull the cartridge out because of the brass piece. Can’t pull the brass fitting out because there is (what seems to be) a flange on it.

There are no brand markings on any components. The shower head was changed out a few years back with a generic head/wand.

Slightly better pic

This is why the brass fitting won’t come out


Was able to push it out of the way though...so what do I do now?

Well, I’ve never seen that done before. The outside ring was essentially a tiling flange or something.

At this point, you are either going to have to identify the valve, or make the decision to replace it. If you want to fix it, you’ll be able to find info on how to get it apart without damaging the valve body once you ID it. I’ve found google image searches to be helpful. Put in shower valve, and some of the identifying characteristics, and do an image search.

I’m a plumbing sales rep, and I’ll help if I can. Bout to hit the hay. I’ll check back tomorrow.

Call a plumber and call someone with a BA and find out which one can fix it.

First, do not turn your water back on with the brass nut removed. That is what keeps the cartridge in place. Second, if you live in Baton Rouge, there is a business called B&B Faucet Repair. They generally have parts for older shower valves. I’d bet it’s Kohler.

Lol, yeah just cut a bigger hole. It shouldn't be that small. The plumber that did the final work should have cut the hole bigger but was lazy. The tile guy or whoever installed that shower wall did a nice job of keeping it small but that did you a disservice for the repair.