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 through 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 through 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.

:confused:

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 surprised 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 " copper spout stub-out has a rough spot on it that causes the " 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 until 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 " 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 " 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

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.

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

Are you talking about the pipe that comes hooks to the faucet itself and comes through 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.

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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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 described 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

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 something as I am still waiting for Delta to send me a new spout to try.

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.

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.

"Figure 1 is exactly what I am dealing with and will be replacing as soon as Delta gets me the new again to try."
Not quite figure 1 is a chrome over brass threaded tub spout. What you have is a chrome over plastic universial tub spout.(see image) Right? Tom

The Delta one is chrome over plastic. One of the replacement ones I have is similar but is a chrome over brass.

Well, interesting thing. Last night I tried to redo and used more teflon tape this time. At first we seen no leaks and the amount of water that was coming from the spout after turning the shower was much less than before this.
Then we gave all 3 kids a shower and still nothing so cool, we are thrilled. However, after I take shower this morning, I notice there is water again!
GRRRRRRR! The amount of water seems to be less but still it is leaking.
I wrapped that iron nipple about 4 times so that should have fixed it. The odd thing is, it may have helped some but not completely.

I am telling I think this dam faucet is haunted, playing tricks on me.
I am so puzzled with this.
I think now I am just going to have to wait for the new spout that Delta is sending me and when I put it on, make sure I use generous amounts of teflon tape and see what happens.

We are able to use the shower but every time we do there is a small amount of water that leaks out from the tub and onto the floor so we just been wiping it up and using a fan to dry it up right away.

BLOWING ME AWAY I TELL YA!!

The only thing I can think of this that I was only able to use tape on the iron nipple and not the inner piece to the spout. That piece is too tightly screwed into the spout and I could not get it out.
It may be that if I could get that out and tape them threads up real good, could eliminate the rest of the leaking.
Any ideas how to get this piece out from inside the spout?

It's time to let us know exactly what you have for a stub-out. Do you have,
A threaded nipple? How far out of the wall does it extend? A copper pipe with threads soldered on. How far out of the wall does it extend? Once we know what your set-up is we can advise you as to what type of spout to install. Hint: I don't think it's going to be the Unversial Spout. My guess is on the threaded one. Cheers, Tom

Threaded iron pipe nipple that extends about 1/2" from tub wall

Yep! It's the threaded one that will install and not leak. Let me know. Tom

Common for newbs to overtighten the D spout and cause a crack or deform the thread of these pot metal castings causing them to leak.

Y'know, something just hit me: if the diverter is indeed on the tub spout, that might change the story a bit. Here's why: if you have a separate diverter knob, it cuts off the water flow to the spout comletely, all the way from the diverter knob downward - that entire pipe is cut off. On the other hand, if the diverter is on the tub spout, then the spout, the nipple, and the pipe feeding it stay filled with pressurized water - the cut-off point is inside the tub spout.

Having said that, since (if I read your original post correctly) you have a spout that has the diverter on it (you said "I called Delta, they said that that I must have cracked the inside diverter and to try another replacemnt spout (a 3rd)"), it's possible that the leak is actually coming from the other end of the nipple (the one inside the wall, where it screws into the drop-ear elbow). Or perhaps originally the water was leaking from both ends of the nipple, and now that you wrapped the threads well on the spout side, it's only leaking out of the wall side.

In any case, here's an easy, simple test: go to a plumbing supply store or home center, and buy a [b]½" brass pipe cap (female threads)", which looks like this:

It usually costs about a buck and a half. Wrap the end of the nipple with teflon tape, and screw the cap on. Tighten it with a pipe wrench, and then turn on the water. Now, in theory, if the spouts were faulty, there should be water coming only out of the shower head, since we eliminated the spout from the picture. If, on the other hand, you see water leaking from anywhere else, then you know that your problem is not in the spout - or worse, you have problems with the spout and something else.

Let us know what happens.

Cheers,
Moishe
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I don't think this is the case as I am all but positive that all the water leaks out from the spout to the rear end (towards the tub wall) but I still am going to spend the little money and try your theory.
So, if, after I put this cap on, and there is no leak, the water should only come out the showerhead? Correct?
Then this also means that the spout is the problem??