Ask Me Help Desk - Seat is stuck in bathtub hot water and middle Shower turner and I NEED TO GET IT OUT!

Seat is stuck in bathtub hot water and middle Shower turner and I NEED TO GET IT OUT!

The seat is worn smooth on the inside of the Hot water and the shower turner. It is a 50s house with pfeister stem and seat. The seat remover is useless. Someone on another post said for the shower spray they used a screwdrive and wedged it in and turned. What size screwdriver and how do I get one that long to reach. I also do not want to damage the pipes. So do I take the screw driver and hammer it in and then turn with a pipe wrench. I am not clear on the size of the screwdriver, the size of the end of the screwdriver and do not want to turn something I am not supposed to or any other suggestions other than calling a plumber because that is not a financial possibility. Any suggestions appreciated.

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Someone on another post said for the shower spray they used a screwdrive and wedged it in and turned. What size screwdriver and how do I get one that long to reach. I also do not want to damage the pipes.

Guilty! I was the guy that said if you couldn't get a seat wrench,(see image) to work then take a long handled screwdriver and follow your own advice which was to,

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take the screw driver and hammer it in and then turn with a pipe wrench.

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Try the seat wrench first. And if that doesn't work you can locate a screwdriver with a long shank and a blade wide enough to wedge into the seat. Good luck, Tom

I have, on occasion had the type of seat wrench shown above, bottom out on the back of the valve body before engaging the seat. Try cutting off about 1/4" of the seat wrench and see it it properly engages the seat.

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Originally Posted by hkstroud

I have, on occasion had the type of seat wrench shown above, bottom out on the back of the valve body before engaging the seat. Try cutting off about 1/4" of the seat wrench and see it it properly engages the seat.

. Thanks. How do you cut off the seat wrench? With what? (((hugs)))

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Thanks. How do you cut off the seat wrench? With what?

With a hacksaw but try it first. Good luck, Tom

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Originally Posted by speedball1

Guilty!! I was the guy that said if you couldn't get a seat wrench,(see image) to work then take a long handled screwdriver and follow your own advice which was to, .
Try the seat wrench first. and if that doesn't work you can locate a screwdriver with a long shank and a blade wide enough to wedge into the seat. Good luck, Tom

Really should have given you credit speedball. Ok, I am going to the hardware store to find a huge headed screw driver and I will let you know if it worked. Then if it does not hopefully the other answer will tell me how to cut off the seat wrench. Thanks (((Hugs)))

Try the seat wrench first. Then if it doesn't work go after it with a screwdriver. Good luck, Tom

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Originally Posted by speedball1

Try the seat wrench first. Then if it doesn't work go after it with a screwdriver. Good luck, Tom

Ok, you want me to try to seat wrench first with 1/4 trimmed off it and then the screw driver. Ok. Will do Roger that!

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Originally Posted by needyhelpy

Ok, you want me to try to seat wrench first with 1/4 trimmed off of it and then the screw driver. Ok. Will do Roger that!

Are you saying that you have a seat wrench that's so long it bottoms out and you have to trim it back? Cheers, Tom

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Originally Posted by speedball1

Are you saying that you have a seat wrench that's so long it bottoms out and you have to trim it back? Cheers, Tom

I am saying that I already tried the seat wrench and it flip flops around and does not catch on aything which I assume is bottoms out. The seat has lost it's groove that would normally fit on the handle as I was able to remove one. The seat itself is worn. I will have to call you for $.95 a minute and I bet you talk very very slow.(joke) if neither works. I can not rate your question because I have to rate someone else first and so... I have to try it before I rate it although I received a nasty rating on my answer. I will definitely rate every answer with a nice reply unlike know it all "Judy". Right! Cheers (I think)

Hey Needy,
If I had my way all the greenies could turn black. You don't have to rate my answer. Your thanks were rate enough for me.
If the groves are worn and the wrench slips then you'll have to make the grooves with a screwdriver. I had a large screwdriver, in my truck, with both sides of
The blade ground a bit so it would bite into the brass seat as I backed it out. Good luck, Tom

Comment on hkstroud's post

Very Good Answer & Thank You Som Much.

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Originally Posted by speedball1

Hey Needy,
If I had my way all the greenies could turn black. You don't have to rate my answer. Your thanks were rate enough for me.
If the groves are worn and the wrench slips then you'll have to make the grooves with a screwdriver. I had a large screwdriver, in my truck, with both sides of
the blade ground a bit so it would bite into the brass seat as I backed it out. Good luck, Tom

:) Thanks speedball1. Did you grind it a certain way. Could you diagram it with picture.:rolleyes: A great answer as always, but they still will not let me rate. I do not know how much I have to spread around before they let me rate you again.:eek: If someone answers, they should let me rate.:mad: Black? No GREEN is better!JMHO, but Juuuuuuuuuuudy is the xpert on everything!:rolleyes: Wish I could vote against her again! LOL

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Did you grind it a certain way. Could you diagram it with picture.

I simply ground the sides of the blade down a bit so they would bite into the brass seat when I drove it with a hammer. However, Some faucet seats do not have removable seats, they are built in. If that's the case a reseating tool, (see image) is needed to grind and mill a new seat.
Good luck, Tom

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Originally Posted by speedball1

I simply ground the sides of the blade down a bit so they would bite into the brass seat when I drove it with a hammer. However, Some faucet seats do not have removable seats, they are built in. If that's the case a reseating tool, (see image) is needed to grind and mill a new seat.
Good luck, Tom

Thanks for the photo of the seat grinder. Is there any possibility that you would sell me that screwdriver? I do not have a grinder to grind it down and I think that would be the solution. If you put it on eBay, I could buy it from you? Since I did remove one, I think the other one might be removable, but if the screw driver does not work, perhaps I could use that tool.Thanks Tom. You are the Best!:D

Back in yhe days before seats were removable We all carried a reseating tool on our trucks. It was either that or a new faucet. As far as my screwdriver goes, I've been retired since 88. About the work I do on the computer. Simply file a bevel, on the blade with a file or a bench grinder. Good Luck, Tom

If the seat has a square hole, like some used to have, will a 1/4 " drive fit into it ? If som maybe you can use a long 1/4" extension and turn it with a ratchet?

It might also be possible to grind the end of a long 1/4" bolt to shape the hole in the seat ?
You could turn the bolt head with a wrench.

OK, since you got one out, how about an "easy out" inserted into a 1/4" extension that can be turned with the ratchet. You may need to use a socket on the tip of the "easy out" to fit the extension.. But with an "easy out" the harder you turn the tighter it fits.

Just a few ideas.