My outside faucet handle broke off. I finally got the rusted screw out and it started leaking. I pulled the valve stem out put it back in, put a new handle on and now the handle will not turn at all. I've tried to turn the screw part of the stem with a needle nose pliers without the handle on and that will not turn at all either. The rubber washer at the end of the stem that goes into the house looks in great shape. I've seated the stem in properly and all the way inside. I can put the packing nut back on easily. Is it possible that the part which is turned by the valve stem inside the house is frozen (not by weather, maybe rust?). After the handle broke off, I turned left the faucet off for more than a year because I couldn't get the screw out and only turned it on once or twice by using a wrench.

Will the stem turn with the packing nut removed? Back to you, Tom

No, it will not turn at all.

Hi Steph

Remove the stem assembly and then reinsert it, but this time, keep the stem spinning back and forth as you install the packing nut. As the packing nut starts to snug up a bit make sure you keep the handle in the OPEN position as you continue to snug the packing nut up. Check periodically that the stem turns on/off as you go step by step to get this job done.

Once the packing nut is tight, install the handle with the screw and turn the water on to see how you made out...;)

Back to you...

Mark