K31230 Valve Seats

K31230 Valve Seats

Water supply valves MUST be shut off. Remove lime and calcium deposits prior to disassembly. Use white vinegar or a commercially available product. Lubricate rubber parts and threads with NSF-61 certified silicone (plumber's) grease before reassembly.

old style

If your seats are very old they may not have a hex shaped hole to accommodate a hex key. They will have notches for a standard screwdriver with approximately 5/16" wide blade.

 

Remove Cover and Tank

  • Remove screws from valve handles.
  • Pull valve handles forward to remove.
  • Remove knurled retaining rings.
  • Pull cover and face plate forward to remove.
  • Pull hose and retaining clips from the cover slot.
  • Pull plastic tube with spring from detergent tank.
  • With spout pointing straight forward, lift tank to remove.

Remove Valve Body Assembly

  • Unscrew union nuts to remove valve body assembly from unions.
  • If screens are present, remove and discard.
  • Remove union O-rings.
  • Remove Valve Seats (if required for this repair). Use 7/32” Allen wrench to remove valve seats with valve seat O-rings.

Reassemble

  • Place valve seats with O-rings into union nuts and reassemble into valve body assembly using 7/32” Allen wrench. Make certain the union nuts swivel freely.
  • Insert new 5/8 OD x 1/2 ID x 1/16 CS union O-rings into face grooves of unions. O-rings MUST be installed to prevent leaks.
  • Screw union nuts onto unions. Do NOT over tighten union nuts – LIGHTLY snug with pliers if necessary. These are NOT pipe threads – the seal is made by the O-rings.
  • Thoroughly wash detergent tank and replace on faucet.
  • Attach tube with spring to detergent tank.
  • Reassemble cover but do NOT yet replace handles.

Replace Handles

  • These instructions are for the hot side. Cold side instructions are in parenthesis ( )
  • With the lever at the 6:00 o’clock position, push the handle straight onto the stem.
  • Rotate the handle counter-clockwise (clockwise for cold) until water flows.
  • Slowly rotate the handle clockwise (counter-clockwise for cold) until the water just stops flowing. Do NOT over tighten.
  • Without rotating the handle, pull the handle straight off the stem.
  • While the handle is still pulled off, rotate the handle to place the lever in the 9 o'clock position (3 o'clock for cold)
  • Push the handle straight onto the stem to fully engage the knurls.
  • Replace the screw.
  • If water drips from spout, see Adjust Handles procedure.

Adjust Handles

  • Check the temperature of the water that is dripping from the spout to determine whether it is the hot or cold handle that needs adjusted. These instructions are for the hot side. Cold side instructions are in parenthesis ( )
  • Remove the screw from the handle.
  • Turn the handle clockwise to the 9:00 o'clock closed position (counter-clockwise to 3:00 o'clock for cold)
  • Without rotating the handle, pull the handle straight off the stem.
  • While the handle is still pulled off, rotate the handle counter-clockwise one notch clockwise for cold) - one notch only. Do NOT over tighten.
  • Push the handle straight onto the stem to fully engage the knurls.
  • Turn the handle clockwise to the closed position (counter-clockwise for cold)
  • Reinstall the screw.

If the drip has slowed but not stopped, repeat the procedure or check to see if it is the other side that is causing the drip.

Follow this procedure anytime in the future that a drip from the spout develops.   Being careful to NOT over tighten the stems will greatly extend the life of the bibb washers.