I was wondering if a novice could get some advice. I have an old home and with it an old plumbing system. I have faucet knobs for my shower and 2 for my tub water. The hotwater knob for my Shower started to spray water from the stem. I took it apart and exposed the Cartridge and after that it completely stopped working. I could no longer turn the knob on or off. I tried getting a replacement knob and was told that American Standard stopped making the "one Piece" as they called it. What can I do to replace this knob. Is there anything I can buy or do I have to replace the whole system. Sorry if I did not clearly get my point across. If you ask me a pointed question I should be able to help you further. Thanks mike. :confused:

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Originally Posted by mikeblo17

I was wondering if a novice could get some advice. I have an old home and with it an old plumbing system. I have faucet knobs for my shower and 2 for my tub water. The hotwater knob for my Shower started to spray water from the stem. I took it apart and exposed the Cartridge and after that it completely stopped working. I could no longer turn the knob on or off. I tried getting a replacement knob and was told that American Standard stopped making the "one Piece" as they called it. What can I do to replace this knob. is there anything I can buy or do I have to replace the whole system. sorry if I did not clearly get my point accross. If you ask me a pointed question I should be able to help you further. thanks mike. :confused:

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Hey Mike,

Now we're both confused. I don't know whether you're attempting to replace.
The cartridge, the knob or the complete stem and washer assembly. To help you farther help me I'm going to post a image of a two handled tub /shower valve and you can tell me if it looks like what you pulled out of yours. If you can't give me a model number then describe the knob/stem/cartridge?? That you took out of the valve? Regards, Tom

Thanks for the illustration. I appreciate your time. I currently don't have hot water and I will explain. I was having trouble with the hot water knob to the shower. The system is very old. There are 2 knobs for the shower and 2 separate knobs for the bath water. 4 knobs in all. The hot water knob for the shower started to leak. I took it apart and brought it to home depot. The worker there told me that I would have to remove the cover (it looks like a cone shaped, stainless look). It turns out that it is a one piece and the cover is part of the stem. Trying to get it off I broke it. Went to a couple of plumbing stores and was told that it was an american standard stem (one piece), and they were no longer made. I would have to find a plumbing store that still had some in stock. No luck there. I have an access panel and the pipes in the back of the shower look like one big square going to all 4 pipes. They are old, I think brass. I want to know if there is any way I can use another type of stem to replace this antiquated stem. I hope I made more sense this time. Mike.

Hi Mike,

Without model and/or part numbers on the valve or stem your best bet is to run around to plumbing shops and attempt to match it out of their bone pile.
Failing that, bite the bullet and change out the entire valve. But before you do that bhave you contacted American Standard and inquired there? Regards, Tom