bkspero
Member
I have a couple of 30 year old inside shut-off valves to hose bibs and both no longer shut off the flow completely. Photo of one attached.
Neither are leaking externally, but I want to replace the seat washers to see if they'll work again. Problem is that I can't get the bonnet to unscrew. The packing nut is larger than the lands on the bonnet, so I can't use a socket or combination wrench with the packing nut in place. I can get a fair amount of torque on the bonnet with an open end wrench but the bonnet won't budge even to the point where the soft brass starts to round off.
Are there any tricks to break it free? The best option that I can see is to remove the packing nut and handle from the stem and use a deep socket or combination wrench to put more force on the bonnet. But I'm hoping there's an easier way to loosen it so the open end wrench works. I worry that I'll damage the packing nut getting it past the corrosion on the stem.
Neither are leaking externally, but I want to replace the seat washers to see if they'll work again. Problem is that I can't get the bonnet to unscrew. The packing nut is larger than the lands on the bonnet, so I can't use a socket or combination wrench with the packing nut in place. I can get a fair amount of torque on the bonnet with an open end wrench but the bonnet won't budge even to the point where the soft brass starts to round off.
Are there any tricks to break it free? The best option that I can see is to remove the packing nut and handle from the stem and use a deep socket or combination wrench to put more force on the bonnet. But I'm hoping there's an easier way to loosen it so the open end wrench works. I worry that I'll damage the packing nut getting it past the corrosion on the stem.