Leaking bathtap shower diverter

[Rinnes]

Looking for a bit of advice regarding the shower diverter valve on my bathtaps. Pictures attached.

Problem is that when I run the taps to fill the bath (diverter is in its default depressed position) I get water leaking from the top of the valve which trickles out and makes a bit of a mess behind the taps.

When I pull the diverter upwards against its spring to send the water flow upwards through the shower hose there is no leak.

I have unscrewed the valve and replaced the three O-rings but that didn’t help, it still leaks.

I wondered if I need to get hold of a tap reseating tool to smooth out the area where one if the O-rings is supposed to make a seal. When I run my finger over the interior of the tap it doesn’t seem particularly rough or lime-scaley Do these tools work for this sort of problem ? I’ve never used one and I’ve only seen them mentioned in connection with ordinary taps, not diverter valves.

Grateful for any help. Tap is Ideal Standard, about 30 years old if that’s relevant.

 

[Knappers]

Its a bit old!
Won't be the base seat must be leaking from top seal where thread is, or seal on spindle inside button

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Needs the orings changing aswell as the shaft / plunger one

 

[Knappers]

Looks like you've got a leak on shower hose too

 

[Rinnes]

Thanks guys:

Yes it’s the original tap from when the house was built. The bathroom will be replaced at some point, just looking for a fix for a minor irritation at the moment. The leaking water just ends up in the bath anyway, not on the floor, so it’s not causing any damage.

The top washer/seal above the thread is ok I believe. I know it looks a bit chewed up in the picture of the diverter removed from the tap and I could replace - that’s damage caused from removing and replacing it a few times while investigating. However the leaking water seems to be coming up around the spindle, not through the thread/top washer.

As I said in the OP, I replaced the 3 o-rings/seals you can see on the diverter a while ago and that made no difference. To be honest , the originals looked in reasonable condition at that time which is why I wondered if it was the seat that was the problem.

The shower hose has been leaking as well but that just needs cleaning up the limescale and a new washer. I’m not too bothered about that anyway - if I’m having a shower there’s water going everywhere anyway.

I guess I could try new o-rings again (they’re cheap !). Maybe the size is critical ? I took the diverter to the plumbers merchant and they provided the replacements which seem to fit ok.

Thanks for your help

 

[Knappers]

There must be a seal we can't see on the spindle above spring

 

[Rinnes]

I’ll try to get a photo of the diverter with the knob pulled up against the spring but I’ll need to get someone to help me take the photo. I’ll repost later.

Thanks for your help

 

[Rinnes]

A few more pictures of the diverter with the knob pulled up against the spring. Can’t see any other seals apart from the 3 obvious ones. There is nothing inside the knob, it’s just attached to the brass spindle which slides up and down against the force of the spring.

My thoughts were that the water leaks past the big O-ring at the bottom of the diverter (either the o-ring is defective or the seat is worn) and then runs up and round the sides of the spindle where it passes through the body of the diverter under the knob (EDIT : I’ve tried to show path of leaking water in last photo) It’s only leaking when the knob is in the lowered position and the spring is pressing the bottom O-ring against its seal. At least that’s how I think it works. I have to say I’ve peered into the hole where the diverter is fitted and I struggle to work out the pathways of the water in the 2 knob positions up/down.

 

[Knappers]

I think...
the bottom chamber in body is shower,
the middle is inlet of hot and cold,
The top is tap outlet.

With button down shower is shut off (bottom chamber), with button up tap is shut off (top chamber).

The 2 lower seals stop shower or bath tap dribbling when other is in use, top seal stops water coming out from around button.

There will be another seal around the spindle,
Have you tried undoing the nut on plunger and pulling spindle and knob out, would imagine it will be a captive seal or gland in plunger body rather than on spindle itself.

Hope this old tap is worth the effort

 

[Rinnes]

I think...
the bottom chamber in body is shower,
the middle is inlet of hot and cold,
The top is tap outlet.

With button down shower is shut off (bottom chamber), with button up tap is shut off (top chamber).

The 2 lower seals stop shower or bath tap dribbling when other is in use, top seal stops water coming out from around button.

There will be another seal around the spindle,
Have you tried undoing the nut on plunger and pulling spindle and knob out, would imagine it will be a captive seal or gland in plunger body rather than on spindle itself.

Hope this old tap is worth the effort

Bingo ! I found the seals around the spindle under the button that you’ve been pointing me at from your first post.

Managed to get the little nut off the bottom of the plunger with a struggle and there are 2 further o-rings on the spindle which I shall replace. If that doesn’t fix the dribble I’ll just put up with it till it’s time to redo the bathroom.

Many thanks for your help on this, I’d never have known about these extra hidden seals without your guidance.

 

[Knappers]

Your welcome!
I've honestly never looked at one before (with labour costs it would just get replaced) but thanks to your persistence and great pics, we now both know how it works, win-win!

 

[Rinnes]

A final update : I obtained new o-rings this morning for the spindle. They were a bit fatter than the old ones, so i just replaced one of the 2, in case the fit was going to be too tight for the plunger to move up and down easily.

Result : No dribble. The button is indeed a bit stiff to move up and down but I think it will ease off with use. Maybe I could have made more effort to sourrce a slightly less chunky o-ring, but I'm quite happy with the result.