SINGLE LEVER MIXER REPAIR

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Old mixer - throw or leave?
If any mixer is lying around in your household unnecessarily, do not rush to throw it away or turn it into scrap metal: it may turn out that it is quite ready to serve yet, you just have to conjure it a bit.
Let's try to figure out how to disassemble and what to repair, using just such an example as an example.
At our disposal was a faucet for the sink of the Swedish company Osgard.
The design is the usual single-lever, so, I think, there will be no difficulties. Getting to the first stage of our work.

Crane disassembly

First, we need to disassemble the product in order to understand the degree of its suitability and the reasonableness of replacing some of its parts if necessary. But before that, it will not be superfluous to connect it to the existing eyeliner in the house: we must make sure that it holds the water pressure or not. Based on the result, it will be possible to conclude whether we have to change the cartridge or do only cleaning.
The list of tools that we will need:

- flat screwdriver,
- a hex key (in this case 2.5 mm),
- locksmith beard,
- hammer,
- adjustable wrench,
- WD-40.

Getting down. To begin with, we need to remove the lever - we pry up with a screwdriver and remove the technical plug of red-blue color.

By removing it, we gain access to the hexagon screw. He holds the handle on the cartridge.

Unscrewing it, remove the upper part and screw the cap.
Now we have to remove the threaded connection. It is yellow (brass). Most likely, over the years of service, it has become stuck, so it’s not so easy to unscrew it. But this does not matter: take the WD-40 and lubricate it with the gap between the housing and the connection. Leave for a while.
After that, we try to unscrew. In general, there is a special key for this operation, but, as you yourself understand, it is difficult to find it. We can do without it - an ordinary locksmith or an impact screwdriver and a hammer will help us out.
We put the mixer on the floor or table (pre-laying the fabric), position the tool on one of the ledges and, gently tapping, shift it in the direction of unscrewing.
Do not forget that the chrome-plated surface of the faucets is easily scratched, therefore, in all operations with them, try not to allow the mixer to come into contact with materials that could damage it!

Having unscrewed the connection, take out the cartridge, it is blue here. We carefully inspect it for damage.
If the cartridge is intact and operational, then continue to work.
Remove and clean the aerator. Despite the unsightly appearance, it still serves, although it can be replaced with a new one - the price of a new (simple) is only about 50 rubles.

Disassembly is complete. We wash all the parts, if possible, remove the deposits inside the case.

DIY mixer repair

If during the check it turned out that the cartridge does not hold water (it is dripping or running), then it will need to be replaced. This is the most expensive part in the mixer (after the case), so we take this part and go to the plumbing store - we find out their presence (they differ from different manufacturers) and cost. Having received the information, we conclude whether it is worth buying or easier to throw the crane. Here, of course, the initial price of this model plays a big role: for example, if such a new mixer costs 2 thousand rubles and a cartridge costs 700 rubles, then it’s worth considering whether the game is worth the candle.
In addition, it may well turn out that the studs with which the tap is screwed to the sink simply rotted and there is no way to unscrew them.
Such a situation is possible with inexpensive models; for high-quality faucets, these elements are made of brass!
It's okay, we can handle this problem as well. However, for this we need additional tools: a hacksaw and a drill bit for metal, a drill, a tap, a screwdriver.
We cut the studs with a hacksaw. Do not rush to throw them away: on them you will pick up new ones, knowing their diameter and thread pitch.
Then we drill with the help of a drill or a screwdriver the remaining ends of the studs. We select the drill so as not to touch the walls of the holes. If they are still damaged, it is necessary to renew the thread.

To find out which tap is needed, it is necessary to measure the diameter of the hole with a vernier caliper and measure the thread pitch with a special metric thread gauge (M60). Surely you have neither one nor the other. This is where the old hairpin comes in handy - if you come with it to any tool store, they will pick it all up.
At the same time, do not forget to buy two bolts with the necessary dimensions and nuts for them. Why bolts? Because the studs are sold only meter, and we cut the heads with a hacksaw for metal and get what we need.

In our case, it was also not possible to drill accurately, so the M6x1 tap had to update the thread. The housings of the mixers are made of non-ferrous metals, i.e. non-solid, so the tap will fit the cheapest.
After doing this, we screw in new studs, and that, in fact, is all. It remains only to tidy the mixer: clean it from dirt and lime deposits.