My Delta Monitor single handle shower faucet leaks at the shower head. Delta sent me a free replacement cartridge to fix it. I can not get the brass bonnet to unscrew and I'm worried about breaking something. Any advice?

Hi Kenny...

You got the handle off and everything associated with the anti-scald feature and the trim plate off the valve and now there is just a big round chrome or brass screw cap to remove before accessing the cartridge? If this is accurate then believe it or not the correct tool for removing that cap is going to be either your hands or a strap wrench. A little WD-40 or Anti-Seize let to soak for a couple hours won't hurt either...

Here, if you use a tool such as a pair of pliers, for example, the squeeze needed to grip the cap is so great that you actually fight yourself and it won't budge. After many attempts at this using tools I finally figured out that I could just use my hands to remove the cap. On real tough jobs I used a strap wrench, but most of the time I could get iot started with my hands and then I used a pair of pliers to finish removing it.

Check the picture out below... the "bonnet" or "cap" should be similar to your setup and if so, try these things and let me know how you are making out, OK?

If this all fails then you may be well to use a large 18" wrench and see if that will remove the cap... works as a last resort... ;)

Back to you...

Mark

Hello Mark, I am experiencing the same problem. I have tried with one of those adjustable pliers, but you are right, due to the wide squeeze, I do not get much leverage and the pliers slip out of position. I have not tried WD-40 or anti-seize as yet, nor a stap wrench. I will try with the WD-40 or anti-seize and see how I make out

Regards
Sugith

Hi Sugith...

Hopefully, the strap wrench will get it done!