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kebbin · Jan 31, 2008, 12:26 AM

I'm having a difficult time taking off an old ball type end shower arm. I tried twisting it off with a wrench and I'm afraid that I'm going to break the pipe off the wall. Is there a way to check that the this old ball type end shower arm is screwed in or if the shower arm attached or is there a converter I can buy to make the end a conventional half inch shower arm? Please help. Thanks

massplumber2008 · Jan 31, 2008, 06:47 AM

Hi... shower arm will still be a 1/2" IPS thread behind the wall... so I am afraid you just grab on with a good pair of pliers and go for it.

Hold the arm in your left hand and turn counterclockwise with pliers (reverse if lefty)... many are hard to get out... many aren't. The point here is that most likely it will come out just fine. In 26 years I have only had three break off behind the wall... so pretty rare.

If it doesn't come out nicely then you may need to open the area around the shower arm (or on back side of wall) and repair, etc. NOT much else to do... *sorry*

OH! And if it does break off get back to us here because there are a couple options before opening wall.

I hope this helped.. if it did then please rate the answer below! Thank you.

speedball1 · Jan 31, 2008, 07:06 AM

Originally Posted by kebbin

im having a difficult time taking off an old ball type end shower arm. I tried twisting it off with a wrench and im afraid that im going to break the pipe off the wall. Is there a way to check that the this old ball type end shower arm is screwed in or if the shower arm attached or is there a converter i can buy to make the end a conventional half inch shower arm? please help. thanks

Follow Massplumbers advice, he's bang on! Let me show you what's behind the tiles and what the shower arm is screwed into. Your shower head is screwed into a drop-eared ell, (see image) which is secured by two screws. Since the drop eared ell is made of brass and the shower arm is chrome over brass there can be no rust on the threads. Put a pipe wrench on that sucker and back it out. Good luck, Tom

kebbin · Jan 31, 2008, 10:28 AM

Instead of ripping it out of the wall is there a converter for the 1/2 inch shower arm?

speedball1 · Jan 31, 2008, 10:40 AM

Originally Posted by kebbin

instead of ripping it out of the wall is there a converter for the 1/2 inch shower arm?

For a shower arm that ends in a ball? Not that I've ever run into. Follow Mass plumbers and simply uinscrew the damm thing. You aren't going to "rip" it out. You'r making a big operation out of a 5 minute job. Don't forget to wrap the threads in Teflon Tape when you replace the shower arm and head. Good luck, Tom

kebbin · Feb 1, 2008, 10:12 AM

Thanks guys! I ended up putting some strength in it and got it out. It was just really tight and needed an extra push. Thanks for all your help guys!