Tradespeople cannot find replacement parts for discontinued fittings
23 posts across 8 communities in the last 30 days; 61% from r/Plumbing.
“What did you find? Or have you been trying unsuccessfully for the last 5 years? I can't get mine off either. [re: How to remove temperature control knob? I removed the screw from underneath the center portion and feel that the middle section is loose but can’t get the hot/cold…”
“It's a 400 amp meter. The utility guys already left. It doesn't unscrew, I can't pull it out, and poking tools into the holes doesn't seem to help. Please tell me this isn't a specialty tool.”
“I do realize this is a bit of an older thread but I will give it a shot. I called Oatey and that support shut me down and did not help. Did anyone else contact via email or other option?”
Multiple posts detail issues with tool damage, missing parts, and obsolete equipment among electricians, plumbers, and HVAC technicians. This points to a need for better tool maintenance, parts availability, or training on older systems.
SOURCES (60)
“Done. Thanks from Australia [re: Bought a new home with a crooked toilet seat. The seat sits on 2 pins which are not quite parallel to the cistern. As there is no access to the bottom of these fittings, can I turn one slightly without…”
“What did you find? Or have you been trying unsuccessfully for the last 5 years? I can't get mine off either. [re: How to remove temperature control knob? I removed the screw from underneath the center portion and feel that the middle section is loose but can’t get the hot/cold handle off.]”
“Need help I can’t see valve seat and valve seat wrench doesn’t go in. submitted by /u/Major-Malik [link] [comments]”
“Bought new registers to replace the old and upon removing the first one in a bathroom, I realized there isn't anything for me to drive the screws back into. It appears they just jammed the screw into the debris/sheetrock that's behind the tile and called it a day. What a shitty job whoever did this. What can I do to fix this? Thanks a million in advance. submitted by /u/Lesbo_Straightener [link] [comments]”
“So I don't have any issues with them yet. But my home (6 years old) was built with crappy builder grade push pull toilet and sink stops. I'll go so far as to say I'm handy around a home, but actually haven't done this before. So after picking up Dahl 1/2 pex expansion supply stops (confirmed my house has Pex-a) I want to go around and replace all of them in the house (7 more). These are really nice. Really for no other reason than I want them to work when necessary, and I like qu”
“We had a push button plug for our bathroom sink that the mechanism broke. I'm trying to remove the bottom but it is degraded enough that the brass chipped off. I tried penetrating oil and letting it sit for a bit but it's still stuck. Any hope here or do I need to hire someone? submitted by /u/frostlad9 [link] [comments]”
“Can you post a picture or link of the tool you think would do? Went to hd and couldn't find any [re: How to take this tarnished faucet down]”
“So I’ve bought 2 appion schrader removal tools for vacuum set ups and both have started leaking within 2 months of use…Anybody have a good brand they recommend? Cost isn’t much of a factor submitted by /u/Musso_o [link] [comments]”
“How would you go about removing this to re-use the nozzle? Not my doing. Thread on nozzle. submitted by /u/DatGingaSnappaCracka [link] [comments]”
“Hi, This is the second time in 5 years that my soft close mechanism breaks on my Lauren toilet seat (which retails for an insane amount!). What are we doing wrong to cause this? It doesn’t feel very normal to me. Thanks submitted by /u/4374J [link] [comments]”
“Just throw a fernco fitting on the copper lip of that fitting and forget about it.... leave it alone weilhammer”
I bought one this year for this exact reason, it worked so well.
“FWIW. In maintenance I don't do this enough to buy the tool but enough to want one so I made one out of a piece of 1 1/2" PVC pipe. Cut four slots in one end and drill a hole through the other end big enough for a screwdriver for leverage.”
“If you have enough grip strength you should also be able to take a channel lock and squeeze them until they snap. They aren't that strong.”
“Looks like all the solutions have been posted.. multi tool would be my go to.. in my tool box somewhere i have a pasco nut breaker that would split metal and plastic faucet nuts in half.. i havent used it since the multi tool but it was pretty badass. I did use to worry on the metal nuts that i could crack the counter top with it. Youve inspired me to dig it out... good luck bud”
“Never lifted a tool in my life and hence reaching out to the good ppl of this subreddit …Any advice on how to open this zone controller pad for my aircon ? lol just scrapping away the paint in vain …Also advice on how to fix this as none of the buttons are working Thanks🙂 submitted by /u/Wandererdownunder88 [link] [comments]”
“That's a bad design. The vacuum breaker breaks down sometimes, it should be replaceable.”
“Hi! I’m looking for a 2 inch flapper with extended arms for an old kohler toilet. Left is the old one obviously and right is the replacement which is too short. submitted by /u/Haunting-Bug-3676 [link] [comments]”
“It's a 400 amp meter. The utility guys already left. It doesn't unscrew, I can't pull it out, and poking tools into the holes doesn't seem to help. Please tell me this isn't a specialty tool. submitted by /u/No-Willingness8375 [link] [comments]”
“Hello! I've been struggling with this one. Could anyone tell me what to search for to replace the rubber seal on the pan end of the cistern pipe? Thank you! submitted by /u/MrsBoppBipp [link] [comments]”
Ok so I’m just showing the side that got ripped off. I am asking other side I can’t clean under because it’s lifting but a little. So it can’t be lifted to…
That looks corroded, might as well replace the whole thing.
“I do realize this is a bit of an older thread but I will give it a shot. I called Oatey and that support shut me down and did not help. Did anyone else contact via email or other option?”
“Hello! the round (male?) part is stuck and won't budge, what pliers do i use? how do i remove? any help is appreciated! (please ignore the way i'm gripping it, it leaks so i was tryna wipe the water so it doesn't get on my phone) submitted by /u/godisnotmyson [link] [comments]”
“Finally! The most important piece of information! Unless, of course, you're trying to inventory it.”
“I know it's been a few years but do you by chance remember which tool you bought? The Moen branded tool? Amazon has pages of different tools for pulling cartridges, none of them have glowing reviews.”
Small pipe wrench and a dead blow. All else fails. Sawzall
“If anyone on here has one they’d be willing to sell I’d be much obliged. submitted by /u/longhairedspreadnek [link] [comments]”
“After 5ish years of daily use I decided to change the head and handle. Crazy how much wear I put on this thing. submitted by /u/upsidedownlunchbox [link] [comments]”
No couplers either. submitted by /u/cowimck [link] [comments]
“Hey all, What do you do when the one single part that you need is discontinued? I’m looking SO hard for a suction line to compressor adapter(?) line. It’s ORM, but i cannot find it anywhere. All of my orders get bounced because mazda has discontinued it. I look up the part # EVERYWHERE, but the interchange ONLY gives me the goddamn suction line submitted by /u/spain_spain [link] [comments]”
“You want plumbing repair parts, you go to a plumbing supply house that specializes in repair parts. Home Depot and Lowe's aren't plumbing supply houses”
“Toto uses specialty parts for the flapper and fill valve but they can be replaced with Fluidmaster 3” universal flapper and a standard Fluidmaster 400A fill valve. The trip lever is more specific but just buy one spare. I just put an American Standard Cadet 3 or whatever they call it now in my house. Most all new toilets have goofy handles. I use the Drake for all my commercial accounts that have tank type toilets.”
I think it’s because they used a danco trim which is making it look off
“Question - what is this black duct tape repairing? See my last post for context if desired: https://www.reddit.com/r/hvacadvice/s/6dxNb52s79 Landlord’s handyman came over with black duct tape, pliers and an unidentifiable aerosol can. I went and looked at the unit after he left and see this. Can you tell me what was likely the issue if this area was not sealed properly before? Is this duct tape an actual repair that will hold? Thank you! submitted by /u/DubiousPeaches [link] [c”
“Soak toilet paper in any tar and glue remover and stick it on top of the adhesive and leave for 10-15 minutes. Come back and it will literally just fall off.”
“I ruined my trusty Klein linesman pliers. Like anyone else would, I went to my local Lowe’s and bought a brand new set. Upon taking it out of the box, I noticed that it was very different. The handles on the new set are significantly thicker, and they don’t sit as close together when closed. They feel absolutely terrible. Same part number: d213-9ne. Upon researching, I found that Klein changed the design from the classic to this bulkier version 2021-2022. Surprisingly, it seems nobody has notice”
“Because for that particular brush, it's cheaper to buy a new one (~$3) than it is to buy a new pack of end caps. I also suggested two separate fixes, electrical tape being the one that is probably easiest.”
“Seconding the age point, and the mold seam someone spotted above is the giveaway. Worth naming which part it is though: on these it's usually the molded plastic nut that lets go, and it goes brittle sitting under a warm bathroom floor for a decade. The metal nut versions run a couple bucks more and I've had better luck with them. Hand tight plus a quarter turn, and leave the wrench in the box.”
“One of the two needs to be removed no way to get a skinny tank lid for a toilet that doesn’t come with a skinny tank lid”
“Left hand threads, couldn’t find a replacement, and don’t need upper threads. I’m not a welder, I just use one. Worked out. submitted by /u/plant-painter [link] [comments]”
“Im aware knipex is the superior product. But lets not be delusional and suggest that channel locks havent been getting the job done just fine by 1000’s of plumbers for decades.”
“If you decide to replace some of the 1/2” copper (mine is dated 1950) with 1/2” PEX: what kind of brass fitting to use to go from 1/2” copper to 1/2” PEX. In my case I don’t want to sweat on connect to old copper and I don’t want to use push-on connection (like SharkBite)?”
“How to do you remove a striped and stuck faucet seat? The keeps turning but doesn't actually remove it, it just stripeds it more. submitted by /u/SweetCherryMonster [link] [comments]”
“Trim down the rubber packing with a sharp razor knife to decrease the thickness so you can start the packing nut, source a different (more accurate) packing, or use graphite string packing to make your own.”
“Hi! I live in a 1940s apartment and need to replace the handle parts on my toilet. I don’t want to order the wrong one — can anyone help me with what model I have and what part I need to order? Thanks in advance! submitted by /u/bigfatbottom [link] [comments]”
“There's a little hole close to the bottom that you have to push a pin or something in. It's really small and a pain to do.”
“No advertising here just a quick question that wont harm anyone, here goes hopefully this doesnt get taken down but if so that's fine. So Im a plumber and noticed my foreman constantly trying to track down orders, always missing inventory, or just my fellow crew forgets to ask for certain things till its too late, so i had an idea, if there was an app/software that let you place an order through any supplier out there with live tracking for the order and your crew can also request parts/mate”