I replaced my bath faucet and now am struggling (to say the least) to get the tub spout to not leak.
It is a brand new spout that come with the faucet. A delta faucet.
I cannot get the spout to not leak.
I did the directions to a T and for whatever reason the spout keeps leaking thru the back end. It only does this after the shower is turned on. It does not leak when the bath faucet is on! VERY ODD!!
I took a guess that the spout was either faulty or maybe that I cracked the inside when I tightened it so I went out and purchased a replacemnet spout. This one did the same and it was a worse leak. I called Delta, they said that that I must have cracked the inside diverter and to try another replacemnt spout (a 3rd). I do this and same thing happens. I have to be doing something wrong but just cannot put a nail on it. I do the driections exactly and carefully as they say.
ANY IDEAS HERE???
I did call Delta again today and they said their spout has to be faulty so they are sending out a replacement. But why the leaks?????
I am going to wait until I get their replacement and just call them back and have them take me thru the steps one by one so I know it is right but the thing is there is only so many things that can be wrong when changing a faucet.
This has got me at my wits end. Any ideas in the mean time while I wait for the replacement spout.

speedball1

There are two types of bath tub diverter spouts. A chrome metal spout that has female threads and a chrome over plastic spout that secures with a Allen Head Set Screw. I'm going to take a guess and say it's #2.
This spout uses a Set Screw that clamps down on a "O" ring to contain the water in the spout. Your problem's a simple one and I'm suprised the Delta people didn't inform you of what's going wrong. What's happened is that the 1/2" copper spout stub-out has a rough spot on it that causes the "O" ring to bind and roll out of the clamp as you're pushing it on. There's nothing wrong with the spouts. The reason it works filling the tub without leaking is that there's no back pressure untill you divert the water to the shower raiser. If I were there I'd pull the spout and clean up the copper stub-out with sand cloth. Next I'd position the "O" ring back in the clamp where it belongs. Next coat the copper stub-out with dish detergent, open up the clamp and slip the spout on the pipe and crank down on the Allen Head Set Screw to make the job watertight. Now test the shower. Better now? Regards, tom

ejj88

It makes sense but I am not exactly sure what you mean by the copper stub-out. I did notice with the replacement spouts that I purchased that there was an allen wrench supplied with it. But the directions don't show where or how to use it. The original spout (the Delta one), from what I can tell, has no where to use a allen wrench. Again, from I can tell and I have had the spout apart over and over.

As far as the type of spout, it is a chrome over plastic spout, but again, I am not sure what is this "copper stub-out" piece you are referring to.
The only only o-ring that I see in the spout is at the very front of the spout and it sits in the spout loose.

speedball1

The copper stub-out is the pipe you slip the spout over. The end of this pipe must be free of burrs and rough spots. Clean up the copper stub-out with sand cloth. Next position the "O" ring back in the clamp where it belongs. Next coat the copper stub-out with dish detergent, open up the clamp and slip the spout on the pipe and crank down and tighten the Allen Head Set Screw located on the bottom back of the spout to make the job watertight. Now test the shower. Better now? regards, Tom

ejj88

Are you talking about the pipe that comes hooks to the faucet itself and comes thru the wall?
If so, it is not a copper pipe.
I think you are talking about a different type spout all together This one just screws onto the pipe or nipple that comes from the faucet.

PalmMP3

Have you tried wrapping the threads with teflon tape or applying pipe joint compound? If yes, how many wraps (i.e. layers) of tape did you put on? Its good to put on at least 5 or 6 layers - I usually put on even more.

That could be your problem: the water is leaking through the threads. While the tub is running, nothing leaks since the water finds it much easier to go out the spout opening. Once the diverter is engaged, however, the entire spout assembly is now serving as a "pressure vessel" (i.e. being put to the water-tightness test), and even a small opening (i.e. the spaces between the threads) will leak. The solution is to put on a generous amount of teflon tape - I would even go for 8 or 9 wraps if you can make it.

Cheers,
Moishe
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speedball1

Whoa!! If you've been purchasing spouts that come with Allen Head Wrenchs as you say you have in a earlier post then you're attempting to force a slip on spout on to a threaded stub-out that you just told me that you have. I'm going to put up two images. One slips over a copper stub-out and clamps on with a Allen Head Set Screw and the other threads on a threaded stub-out. Since you've discribed one spout in one post and quite a different one in another. Which one are you installing? (Hint) If you have a threaded nipple it better be the spout with the threads. Good luck, Tom

ejj88

I was not that generous. Maybe one or two wraps. The instructions specify to use teflon tape only and not to use any kind of pipe compound.
I will try this tonight with more teflon tape and see what happens.
I might as well try some thing as I am still waiting for Delta to send me a new spout to try.

ejj88

The 2 replacement spouts that I tried are universal types. They are for use on any type of faucet. There were adapters with the spout that allow one to use the spout on any type application.
I do have an iron nipple that is threaded that comes from my faucet.
The spout that come with the faucet that I purchased to replace my old one with is the kind that screws on.
The replacement spouts that I tried would work for either type.

ejj88

Figure 1 is exactly what I am dealing with and will be replacing as soon as Delta gets me the new again to try.
In the mean time, I may try using more Teflon tape on the threads and see if that stops the leaking.
See what happens.