I was changing out my shower head and gently using a wrench to tighten the new shower head. It was not tightening it very hard, but the shower arm broke off right at the threads. About 1/2 of the threads came off inside the new shower head female end. It was no problem to get those out, but now I have a shower arm with only 1/2 of the threads on it. I have never tried my own repairs of this type, but really don't want to pay someone to do this if it is easy. The shower goes into tile. It looks like it is grouted around the neck of the shower arm where it goes into the tile.

Help please? In VERY simple language would be best... Thanks!

If your lucky it goes into the 90 deg drop ear elbow shown on this page:

Copper fittings - PlumbingStore.com

The shower arm screws out. A pipe wrench can be used here because it's damaged.

It might just be flopping around, which will be a bigger problem to fix, but nonetheless it's screwed into something.

Remove it. Remove the grout. Get a new elbow.

Put teflon tape or pipe sealant. The sealant might be easier since your looking for a particular orientatio. Tighten about 2 turns past finger tight.

Use a pair of soft-jawed pliers, about $25, to tighten. About $40 total if you don't have the tools.

Install the shower head using teflon tape or seal the same way.

Turn on and inspect for leaks.

Re-caulk opening.

Do not remove the tile. Keep it simple. There is a specific tool made to remove those threads. Some that do not have that tool will use the back end of a bastard file by gently driving it into the threads and wedge it in then simply unscrew it. Others will use a hack saw blade and gently cut out a 1/3 section of the broken piece and then wedge out the rest with a small flat screwdriver. Do not cut deep.

Doug:

I think you got the wrong picture. I got the following one. The broken threads removed easily from the shower nozzle. Now there is this shower arm with broken male threads sticking out of the wall.

The OP didn't break the shower arm off in the wall. Yet.

You are correct, I mis read the post. I would simply unscrew the damaged shower arm and replace.