Bathroom pedestal sink faucet replacement according to TOH not the plumbers friend. Has anyone done this?

[Don2222]

Hello - According to This Old House it is not easy!

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After many good years with the old Moen sink faucet in the Bathroom pedestal sink the handles are hard to turn and the build up of scale greatly diminishes the volume of water flow.
After replacing the kitchen faucet this pedestal sink in the bathroom is a harder Job
At the very least, require 2 special tools that cost $50 dollars to make it easier!
Superior Tool Basin Buddy

Superior Tool Basin Buddy 1 in. Faucet Nut Wrench 1/4 and 3/8 in. drive Mfr# 3825 - Ace Hardware

Superior Tool's Basin Buddy Faucet Nut Wrench is a universal basin tool used to remove a variety of coupling nuts and locknuts in hard-to-reach places like under your bathroom vanity or pedestal sink.Find the FAUCET NUT WRENCH 1 at Ace.

www.acehardware.com

Basin Wrench

Superior Tool 1 in. D X 16 in. L Telescopic Basin Wrench Mfr# 3812 - Ace Hardware

Superior Tools Telescopic Basin Wrench is a must have tool for plumbing projects in hard-to-reach areas, like under kitchen and bathroom sinks. The spring-loaded jaw tightly grips faucet nuts in tight spots, making fixture removal and installation easier. The 180 degree adjustable pivoting head...

www.acehardware.com

The first tool Basin Buddy disconnects the water connection which came off fairly easy but the larger nut that holds the faucet to the sink is rusty and will not budge using the basin wrench, ( a long tool with the black ratchet head to get in the tight space ) even after it soaked all night with PB Blaster.
I found this video to be very helpful.
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It shows how to cut the handle out with an oscillating multi tool.
I also found on this faucet and probably others that after unscrewing the handle shell, the base that holds the cartridge housing is held in place by a retaining ring c-Clip. I just took a hammer and screw driver and using a pick probe tool, I pryed out the clip and pryed it off and the faucet cartridge housing dropped right out!!
Taking the nut off that holds the horse shoe which holds the water spout in place not easy. After soaking the brass nut overnight with PB Blaster it still would not budge. Luckily I found a DeWalt Oscillating Multi Tool on sale and only one Lowe’s in this area had one left! It was the Tool, battery, charger, 3 cutting blades, 3 sanding blades and sanding pad holder, and cutting guide. Reg Price $259.00 on sale for $119.00
Therefore with this tool, it just bearly fit in the space to cut the brass nut that holds the water spout! So I made 3 cuts on the corners of the nut and the rest of it just fell off and the spout could be removed!
To remove the old drain pipe to install the new pop up drain
1. - The trap was unscrewed to disconnect it from the sink too.
2. - 2 bolts that connect the sink top to the wall studs were removed.
3. The sink top was lifted off to remove the large drain nut.
Good news - the space is tight under the sink drain but having the right size channel lock pliers and while holding the drain pipe, the large nut was easy to remove! Now the new style pop up drain can be installed!
Now the new pop up drain was easy to install. The trick is that the Moen instructions showed the included rubber washer to be placed under the waste gate flange and dropped into the bottom drain hole in the sink. However rubber washers get brittle with age and can wear out. This is why plumbers use non hardening plumbers putty. Since the drain pipe is ABS plastic the plumbers must say stain free so it will not harm the plastic pipe. After more research I found that the recommended sealant is 100% Silicone which is more chemically compatible and lasts long which is what I used. Also it is recommended to add 3 layers of thread tape on the black threaded part of the drain pipe to prevent water leaking through the inside of the big plastic nut.
Then just install the new faucet and connect the water supply. All done!
Pic 1 - Moen 3 hole lav faucet
Pic 2 - Superior Tool Basin Buddy with ratchet & extension and a Basin wrench.
Pic 3 - unscrewing handle body with channel lock pliers
Pic 4 - Prying out retaining C-Clip
Pic 5 - Pulling out retaining C-Clip
Pic 6 - Retaining C-Clip
Pic 7 - DeWalt Multi Tool on sale
Pic 8 - Titanium Nitride High Speed Steel blade with performance coating for cutting steel and other metals
Pic 9 - Brass nut and horse shoe holding water spout shows first cut
Pic 10 - Nut that will not budge that must be removed
Pic 11 - DeWalt oscillating multi tool just fits up there!
Pic 12 - Water spout is out that shows where the nut was sliced off.
Pic 13 - Faucet removed!
Pic 14 - The nut that was cut with the oscillating multi tool. What is left of it!
Pic 15 - Drain pipe that must be removed to install the pop up drain.
Pic 16 - Channel lock fits and enough room to loosen it!
Pic 17 - Drain pipe and ring is out!
Pic 18 - New pop up drain waste gate pipe below the sink
Pic 19 - New pop up drain inserted into waste gate flange.
Just got the water spout on and the faucets in and water connection done. Tested it and it works! Also one thing I found not in the manual is that after installing the water valves we did have to put on tha handles and loosen the screws underneath to make the handles stick straight out when turned on full and be exactly perpendicular when off. Then tighten the screws. Also this must be done before the silicone applied under the handle washer/trim ring dries and hardens!
Another item not mentioned was after the handle and valve bodies of the two facets are pushed into the valve, the handles wobble quite a bit and the solution is two fold.
1. Tap the top of the handle with a runner hammer to assure the handles and valve body is pushed into the valve all the way.
2. Then turn the valve body to tighten.
Then the handles will turn properly.
See Final pics
Pic 20 - Faucet and Popup Drain
Pic 21 - Faucet underside Complete
Pic 22 - Faucet Close Up
Just upgraded from the pop up to the push down drain stopper with the hair and lint trap.
Pic 23 - Push Down Faucet Description
Pic 24 - Push Down Faucet Assembled
Pic 25 - Push Down Faucet with top unscrewed for easy cleaning
Pic 26 - Push Down Faucet open for draining
Pic 27 - Push Down Faucet closed for filling
Summary
When I could not get that frozen bolt off, I thought I was done and had to call in a plumber! That just made it more of a challenge and when a got a new tool out of it, it made it worth while! Also interesting is that when this oscillating multi tool first came out I could not see many uses for it and I don’t d not have any. However since they have good metal cutting blades and it can cut bolts off especially in tight places, I can now see why most manufacturers make them because of this it seems very useful to me. Now I have the experience in using it too!
You may click on pic to Enlarge

 

[Don2222]

Monday at 6:58 PM

Ricks said:
Great job!

With most sinks, especially in new builds or complete remodels, the plumber will install all the fixtures before installing the sink. While this works out great for the initial install, removing those fixtures years down the road can be very tricky!

Glad to hear you were able to make the repair.

Thanks Rick.
Yes the fixtures were installed on this before the sink was installed about 10 years ago. I did a lot of research each step of the way because I did thought I would have to unbolt the sink from the wall to replace the faucet but when the channel lock wrench fit in and I could cut the bolt off without removing it, I knew I could do it this way.
Thanks for your comments.