We have the titled tap pictured here and the part above the bench wobbles. Having gained access to the underside it appears that the design is such that the whole assembly fits to the bench through what I would class as a kitchen sink 'waste outlet'. This part is rigidly fixed through the bench and does not move when the part above the bench is wobbled. The two inlet pipes can however be felt moving in the centre of the 'waste outlet'. I can only assume that the top part is attached to the 'waste outlet' via an o ring or similar, and perhaps is somehow screwed. Does anybody have any ideas, please?
Caraflo Swan Neck Single Lever Mixer Tap
- Thread starter WoodlandsCamper
- Start date
Any chance of a photo?
I've had two design of fixings over the years. Centre nut that screws around the entire tap assembly and the C Washer fixing I mentioned to you.
It will be worth a visit to a Dealer and have look at a new tap and see how the fixing is constructed.
I've had two design of fixings over the years. Centre nut that screws around the entire tap assembly and the C Washer fixing I mentioned to you.
It will be worth a visit to a Dealer and have look at a new tap and see how the fixing is constructed.
Can't get in to photograph it but from feeling there are only the 2 pipes running down through the centre, metal until they exit the outer 'waste hole'. If you set google search to 'image' and search for 'Caraflo Swan Neck Single Lever Mixer Tap' there is a picture of the complete tap assembly lying on its side showing the pipes and metal coupling.
see here
Edit - I will put my hand in again on Friday and see if I can feel any adjustment bolts in addition to the pipes.
Edit again - good idea about visiting a dealer.
see here
Edit - I will put my hand in again on Friday and see if I can feel any adjustment bolts in addition to the pipes.
Edit again - good idea about visiting a dealer.
I think the answer lies in your reference to a waste hole. Can you feel the outside face threads?
If yes then going upwards you may be able to feel the nut??
Looking at the picture it is a large nut not the c washer fixing.
If yes then going upwards you may be able to feel the nut??
Looking at the picture it is a large nut not the c washer fixing.
Dustydog said:
As mentioned in the first post the 'waste fitting' with large hex nut is tight to the bench and does not move when the fitting above bench is wobbled, only the two pipes within the centre of the 'waste fitting' move. here are two pictures of the actual tap above and below the bench.
Good pics!
Looking at my tap the lower section does unscrew. On yours does the very bottom of the tap body move?
If the lock nut is fully tight and not turning In the housing when you rotate the top of the tap something in the tap body must be loose. Or the nut needs some washers to pack it out perhaps?
Shame we didn't play around with it last week
Looking at my tap the lower section does unscrew. On yours does the very bottom of the tap body move?
If the lock nut is fully tight and not turning In the housing when you rotate the top of the tap something in the tap body must be loose. Or the nut needs some washers to pack it out perhaps?
Shame we didn't play around with it last week
Dustydog said:
EVERYTHING above the bench moves en bloc, but the threaded part under the bench is rock solid with only the two pipes moving in the centre of it.
It may be that the threaded part is fixed into the bench first, then the above-bench assembly (complete with pipe tails) is lowered down through from the top and then fixed to the threaded part somehow.
I took the photos to the local caravan dealer this morning and tried to speak to the workshop manager, but unfortunately he was at the dentist. No-one else seemed to be interested in helping. I am loathed to take the top part of the tap off without some detailed knowledge in case I cause any more damage to an otherwise working tap.
Edit - the make is Caraflo, but can't find a website for them to ask them direct.
Dustydog said:
For the under-bench photo I removed the small panel and squeezed my right arm (carefully holding camera so not to drop it) up the right hand side of the basin and pressed the trigger, hopefully pointing in the correct direction. That was the one and only shot, so wasn't I lucky. :woohoo:
Back to the dealer I guess. Beats me without pulling it apart.
I propose the King makes you the Official Woosie Photographer :kiss:
I propose the King makes you the Official Woosie Photographer :kiss:
I don't have much experience with caravan taps but have seen similar taps in other situations. The thread that is clamped by the undercounter nut may well screw into the body of the tap before it is pushed through the mounting hole. It wouldn't move if it was held in place by sealant and the top of the tap was loose on the thread.. I would try slackening the lock nut to loosen the threaded part and see if it will tighten into the body of the tap. Failing that it will probably be easier to remove the tap and look at it on the bench to see exactly what the problem is. Good luck
Thank you for your reply. The tap wobbles in its vertical axis, so not sure about its failure. Loose threads would make it loose in a rotational manner (which it isn't). Removing the tap completely is my last resort as the fridge would need to be removed to gain access to the underside with tools and to access the pipe joints. Have looked from the outside via fridge vents, but access blocked off by the fridge. The van goes in for its 5 year service at the beginning of July, so if I haven't sorted it by then I will probably have the workshop look at it (more expense). We have more trips before July so I hope the tap keeps going until then.
The van goes in for its 5 year service at the beginning of July, so if I haven't sorted it by then I will probably have the workshop look at it (more expense). We have more trips before July so I hope the tap keeps going until then.
Sir WC
What a shame we can't find a technical drawing of the individual tap components. Therein lies the answer. I've trawled the net and can't find anything.
I suspect the user threaded section in the main tap body has failed but that doesn't explain why the underneath lock nut is secure :woohoo:
What a shame we can't find a technical drawing of the individual tap components. Therein lies the answer. I've trawled the net and can't find anything.
I suspect the user threaded section in the main tap body has failed but that doesn't explain why the underneath lock nut is secure :woohoo:
WoodlandsCamper said:
No Woosie paparazzi on my watch
Reference tap.........from your description logic would suggest an internal part has worn or come loose and this part is likely to be accessible by removing the collar at the base of the chrome spout.
Does this collar unscrew?.......maybe easier said than done!
Gafferbill said:
Yes, the collar unscrews (only finger-tight) and a nylon insert, which supports the swan neck, is visible. I guess the nylon insert permits the mixed water to come up to the neck and provides the watertight seal. Looking online there are various videos showing how to change a mixer element, which by the design of my tap would be under the nylon insert holding the swan neck and inserted sideways. Without confirmation of how the complete upper assembly is attached to the under-bench part I am loathe to take it apart as the tap is still functioning at present. If broken inside, once apart it might not work again.
I've found and ordered a replacement tap on-line for less than £24, which I thought was very reasonable for a caravan part. When it arrives I can examine it and decide whether to mend or replace the one in the caravan, thus shortening the timescales of waiting until July.
When it arrives I can examine it and decide whether to mend or replace the one in the caravan, thus shortening the timescales of waiting until July.
That's a good price!
If you need to change the whole tap will you be able to undo the pipe joints? Or are the pipes "push fits"?
Will the sink come out easily?
Or maybe make a bigger inspection hatch behind the drawer?
Good luck WC.
If you need to change the whole tap will you be able to undo the pipe joints? Or are the pipes "push fits"?
Will the sink come out easily?
Or maybe make a bigger inspection hatch behind the drawer?
Good luck WC.
The listing says "This product comes with 12mm Push end Tails" and the required connection may be in the cupboard to the side of the fridge. I need to go to storage to check though.
Probably can't get to the 2 screws at the rear of the sink so that may have to stay.
Probably can't get to the 2 screws at the rear of the sink so that may have to stay.
New tap received this morning, excellent service. I have unscrewed the 'through-bench' part, which itself is screwed into the pillar base. However, unscrewing a few turns still does not produce the wobble being experienced on the van tap, so looks like a complete removal and replacement. Will need to go to storage and have a play sometime.
The cold inlet has the extension chrome pipe, whereas the hot pipe screws directly into the nylon block inside the pillar.
Will need to go to storage and have a play sometime.
The cold inlet has the extension chrome pipe, whereas the hot pipe screws directly into the nylon block inside the pillar.
If your lucky you may be able to leave the through counter part in place on the original tap and screw the new body to it, easier than trying to get in from underneath to undo the nut.
Good luck
Good luck
Could you get longer tails that would enable you reach the supply pipes at a more convenient place? Might also be possible to couple a piece of water pipe to each tail then join to the existing pipes with a straight coupler. Easy to have lots of ideas when you don't have the problem in front of you, hope it helps.
Whilst checking the size of the fixing nut today I realized that, although the nut is brass, the threaded part is actually chromed plastic. I therefore think that the wobbly tap pillar in the van is caused by the upper threaded part fracturing at the shoulder, possibly caused by a knock to the pillar or stress from original over-tightening.
Just need to get back over to the van in storage to work out how to replace it.
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