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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Mackay North Qld
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    6,446

    Default Washing machine tap woes!

    One of my regular "honey do" jobs is the tap washer.

    It probably was made to last a lifetime but due to childhood training my wife tightens the bejesus out of said tap when the exhibit a tendency to leak.
    In fact is this one in particular tap is not usually leaking, but just a takes a few moments of time to drain the last vestiges of water from the flexible floppy sink spout.

    Due to ongoing ill treatment the face of the washer is now torn and distorted and leaks for sure and is unable to be stopped. For now I have reversed the washer and refitted it to the assembly.

    The washing machine /sink combination tap washer/jumper appears to be a non standard being 10mm at the major diameter.

    I have searched and searched but there appears to be no washer and jump of this dimension that I can Google up.

    I have resolved to look for some flexible poly material to stamp some jumper washers from it. The Australian made ones in 13 and 20mm are trade named DURA.

    Any ideas?

    Urgent help needed to assist an otherwise good woman avoid strangulation

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Location
    Werribee, Melbourne
    Posts
    177

    Default

    Grahame, I might be misunderstanding the application but the valves for toilet mini-taps are 10mm?

    These taps are so cheap that most people would just throw the tap away but the tap valves can be had on eBay.

    https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/FIX-A-TA...72.m2749.l2649

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    gold coast
    Posts
    303

    Default

    Hi mate,

    The best material is "Lurethane", possibly a propriety name.
    Most current stock of washers seem to be from China, and are a similar material but in my opinion, not as good. The original 'stuff' was a sort of red/orange , if my memory serves me correctly.
    Small amounts might be a challenge, so good luck.

    It goes without saying that cutting a new, smooth seat in the tap body, is a given?

    warm regards

    Brian

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    4,779

    Default

    My poor tap washers cop an absolute flogging from both the kids and the wife. No mechanical sympathy whatsoever!

    Got to the stage the taps in the kids bathroom needed a to be turned off with a 4' bar.... until my son striped the thread on the tap spindle and it wouldn't turn off any more!

    In desperation I replaced them with a ceramic tap set and showed him he no longer needed to work out in the gym to turn the tap off! So far so good.

    Last week the tap washer in our ensuite shower finally gave up after years of abuse so replaced with standard washers. I can already tell they are not going to last long. After use from "others" I can tell that they are cranked up into oblivion. That beautiful snug positive feel you get from a new washer is almost gone!

    All our washers are 10mm too. Bnnings have a wide range of 10mm washers.

    Simon

    Sent from my SM-G970F using Tapatalk
    Girl, I don't wanna know about your mild-mannered alter ego or anything like that." I mean, you tell me you're, uh, super-mega-ultra-lightning babe? That's all right with me. I'm good. I'm good.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Mackay North Qld
    Posts
    6,446

    Default

    Thanks Simon,
    You are a lifesaver!

    It seems I had to use the right combination of google search words.

    I finally came across a KINETIC 10MM Brass Tap Valve I/N: 4920337.

    Going by the pic it seems to be the one I require.

    Thanks
    Grahame

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    4,779

    Default

    No worries Grahame.

    I think Bunnings increased their stock of 10mm washers some time back because I remember them being difficult to find at one point.

    Simon

    Sent from my SM-G970F using Tapatalk
    Girl, I don't wanna know about your mild-mannered alter ego or anything like that." I mean, you tell me you're, uh, super-mega-ultra-lightning babe? That's all right with me. I'm good. I'm good.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    York, North Yorkshire UK
    Posts
    6,439

    Default

    Hi Guys,

    Over the years I've replaced all the taps with sliding ceramic seat ones, even the shower tap, no more tightening the crap out of them ! But you're right about the kids having heavy hands, at least it's their problem now in their own homes.
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Ipswich QLD
    Age
    68
    Posts
    1,996

    Default

    Ceramic is the way to go 1/4 turn with little finger & they are on or off. We had everything replaced when we moved here, Sue has wrist problems where she can not use force unless strangling me Washing machine tap woes!
    Warning though if forced you break the Ceramic which is costly to replace. Laundry taps are hard to find in Ceramic the set we had fitted although marked and sold by Coroma are in fact washer type!

  9. #9
    BobL is online now Member: Blue and white apron brigade
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
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    7,183

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by wheelinround View Post
    Ceramic is the way to go 1/4 turn with little finger & they are on or off. We had everything replaced when we moved here, Sue has wrist problems where she can not use force unless strangling me Washing machine tap woes!
    Warning though if forced you break the Ceramic which is costly to replace. Laundry taps are hard to find in Ceramic the set we had fitted although marked and sold by Coroma are in fact washer type!
    Yep agree 100%.

    The pipes in our street are over 100 years old and break/leak every couple of years inevitable sucking in enough grit/sand to stick in our tap washers.
    I got sick and tired of arguing with the Water Authority about this so about 5 years ago I changed our bathroom taps to ceramics and haven't had any probs since.
    I just used the cheap Chinese ceramics vale/spindle replacements from bunnings. They are not a perfect fit to the outer tap body thread so had to pack this with a few more turns of thread tape but they easily hold the ceramic valve and spindle so it does not leak.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    4,779

    Default

    Definitely a convert to ceramic..... so far.

    But how do you replace your bath/shower or laundry taps with ceramic without accessing the wall cavity or doing a complete shower makeover?

    Simon

    Sent from my SM-G970F using Tapatalk
    Girl, I don't wanna know about your mild-mannered alter ego or anything like that." I mean, you tell me you're, uh, super-mega-ultra-lightning babe? That's all right with me. I'm good. I'm good.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Ipswich QLD
    Age
    68
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    1,996

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by simonl View Post
    Definitely a convert to ceramic..... so far.

    But how do you replace your bath/shower or laundry taps with ceramic without accessing the wall cavity or doing a complete shower makeover?

    Simon

    Sent from my SM-G970F using Tapatalk
    Simon the replacement units are available now you no longer have to buy full sets. To replace is simiple same as if removing a washer unit of course turn the water off at main first. There is a special tool required to remove the back lock nut this needs to be kept in a safe unforgetable place.

  12. #12
    BobL is online now Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    Feb 2006
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    Perth
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    Default

    These are the ones I used
    https://www.bunnings.com.au/shaw-mas...indle_p5050154

    Screen Shot 2020-11-01 at 6.50.42 am.png

    They still have a washer that seals off at the seat, but it's a "one use only", ie when it's fitted, so it's not constantly rubbing on the valve seat when being opened and closed. Before I switched over to these I was replacing one washer or other in out bathroom about every 6 months. I haven't had to touch converted taps for more than 5 years.

    No special tools needed for these.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Melbourne
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    Ok I'm going to look into that. When I replaced the bathroom sink taps with ceramic, I needed access to the entire assembly underneath.

    Sent from my SM-G970F using Tapatalk
    Girl, I don't wanna know about your mild-mannered alter ego or anything like that." I mean, you tell me you're, uh, super-mega-ultra-lightning babe? That's all right with me. I'm good. I'm good.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
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    Ipswich QLD
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    68
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  15. #15
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Syd
    Posts
    492

    Default

    Had similar problems with accessing shower spindles (coming through a single brick wall).....you can only replace washers by prying on the pipework and unscrewing, but removal requires desoldering joints.

    60s era looong spindle and even the spline are obsolete for added fun.009.jpg

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