low_delta

Tonight I decided to check a different hardware store, just in case they had some 40 year old faucet innards. They were closed. I checked the previous store, just in case I saw something I'd overlooked, had some insight on the problem, or got better help. Negative on all counts. I thought that if I could get the handle off, I could get new packing into it. The handle wouldn't come off. I tried a solution to remove the hard water deposits that I hoped were locking it onto the stem. It didn't work. I drilled off the screw head, hoping to pop the handle off, and then hopefully be able to remove the headless screw. The handle broke off leaving its hub behind. There's not enough leverage with the small hub, so it remains stuck. I continued to destroy the thing, hoping I would gain insight on how to disassemble the other one, but that was probably fruitless as well. There's a slim chance I can get an o-ring to fit it, but only if I can stretch it over the outside of the thing before skipping it in its groove. Not sure if that's possible.

Next step will be to replace the hose bibb. I'll have to cut the pipe inside the house, and pry the hose bibb out through the wall. Then attach a pipe to a new one, slide that in, hope I got the length right, and then connect it all. This involves pipe threads and also soldering connections. And possibly shutting off the water and draining the houses system. All for a couple of leaky faucets.