Not every novice in plumbing knows that such a device as a taps is a type of shut-off mechanism for the water supply system in an apartment. Unfortunately, everything sooner or later fails. And if the water continues to flow when the valve is completely closed, then the replacement of the axle box valve is required. Previously, these elements were equipped with rubber inserts, which have a rather limited service life. Against this background, a ceramic box crane stands out.
The axle box valve is the locking mechanism that faucets and some types of valves are equipped with.
Content
Features and principle of operation
First of all, it should be said that such parts have certain sizes and standards. At the same time, the typical design of the ceramic axle box allows it to be mounted even on mixers in which the switching of water from hot to cold and vice versa was carried out earlier by similar elements, but with rubber bands. However, this approach requires careful selection of a specific model.
The ceramic box stop valve has the following features:
- quite a long service life. Therefore, it is rarely necessary to repair a ceramic faucet for a axle box, but it is easier to change it with a mixer that has become unusable;
- to get the maximum pressure, the valve is enough to turn half a turn. However, not all users like the half-turn axle stopcock. At the same time, experience appears with a little practice.. The same applies to the repair of this part, for example, when the shut-off valve for the mixer box is not twisted;
- such products do not tolerate the effects of water transported through engineering communications with an abundance of sand. It creates the production of ceramics. However, ceramic faucet box does not particularly suffer in plumbing systems equipped with special filters to hold small particles;
- when compared with the price of products with rubber gaskets, it should be said that the ceramic shut-off valve axle box is more expensive. However, in relation to the costs of the mixer, these are perfectly acceptable costs;
- An important factor is the ease of repair and replacement of such systems. The contractor is not required to have special education.
A ceramic box crane is a modern type of similar parts that does not require the installation of rubber gaskets
Advice! When replacing this type of axle box crane, it is better to come to the market with a dismantled part so that the seller can choose the most suitable model. Due to the fact that such designs are further developed and modernized, the search for the exact same product may be unsuccessful.
The main element of the ceramic crane axle box 1/2 inch is the frame. Two plates with holes are mounted on it. Install them in special grooves. It is only natural that ceramic materials are used as raw materials for the manufacture of plates. When the valve is turned, the movable part of the axle box valve is displaced, as a result of which the holes are either aligned, opening, or, conversely, are shifted, closing.
Please note that a ¾-inch ceramic box stopcock usually has larger gaps, however, there are models on the market with a strictly defined diameter, thanks to which you can create a specific flow.
Varieties
It would be unfair to ignore the fact that other types of axle boxes are available on the market.
1. Crane axle box shut-off worm. This is a kind of "classic of the genre." Such a box for the crane owes its name to the special shaft of the rotary rod. Outside, a thread is applied to the housing for connection to the mixer and on it there are faces for a certain size wrench.
The axle box screw crane has been used as a locking mechanism for decades, but it has a lot of disadvantages
The jumpers located inside are of the following types:
- with guides for the locking movable valve;
- with thread, the turns of which are cut back to the worm shaft.
In products with a worm gear box of the first embodiment, the valve handles rotate relative to the mixer in one plane. The rod is attached to the jumper movably by means of a washer or a special bracket. The inner surfaces of the stem are equipped with special o-rings, gaskets that prevent leakage through the water connection.
There is a screw gasket on the protective shell. The whole structure is fixedly mounted directly to the stem or to the valve. Outside, the closure is equipped with a head with a slotted or square cross-section and an opening, inside which the thread for the fastening bolt is cut.
2. Ball axle box. Simplicity of design is the distinguishing feature of axleboxes for a crane of this type. Here, the role of the locking element is played by an ordinary metal ball with a through hole. How such a detail works is intuitive: to shut off the water, it is enough to turn it a quarter of a turn.
The shower box faucet has the same structure as in a conventional faucet, and it’s easy to replace it
How to replace the axle box faucet to switch the shower
Having decided to replace the old locking element with a new one, it must be remembered that the axle box crane is such a part that has different design features for different models of mixers.
Good to know! On mixers assembled on the territory of our country, a shut-off valve with a square flywheel is used. Foreign products differ in the connection under the handle and length.
Another distinguishing characteristic of these products is the diameter of the thread. If it is necessary to replace the locking part with a half-inch cross section, no problems will arise when searching for a new one. Finding a crane with a flywheel axle and a three-quarter inch thread is much more difficult: in many stores it is simply not available.
After acquiring the necessary part, before proceeding with its installation, it is necessary to shut off both types of water supply - cold and hot. To carry out the work you should have at hand the following simplest tool:
- adjustable wrench or gas wrench;
- pliers;
- flat and phillips screwdriver.
Replacing the axle box faucet in the bathroom involves the following activities:
- the upper cap is removed from the flywheel;
- the tap valve is removed. For this, the fixing bolt hidden under the cap is unscrewed;
- after you remove the “lamb”, pay attention to the thread. If there are traces of oxidation and operational debris on it, clean the surface with sandpaper (nulevka) or a metal brush;
- in order to get to a damaged part, accessories and other paraphernalia are removed from the mixer. From this moment, the replacement of the axle box crane itself begins. To remove the old locking element, you just need to unscrew it with a key. But what to do with the axle box not getting out? First you should try the buildup method, firmly grasping the "licked" edges of the jumper with a pipe wrench.If this does not help, it is possible, by using chemical means, to loosen the threaded connection, and then again try to remove the axle box that does not loosen. In the end, the thermal method will help to solve the problem. Warm the threaded part of the mixer body with a building hairdryer until you manage to unscrew the jumper by hand;
- having removed the defective part, clean the thread from dirt;
- then the thread of the new shower axle faucet in the mixer with a switch to the cold / hot water tap is wrapped in several layers with tow or FUM tape, after which the part itself is tightly screwed into the old one.
When replacing the axle box faucet, it is important to pay attention to its size and diameter of the bore in the mixer
Interchangeability crane box
Very often the question arises of the advisability of replacing a worm-type axle box constantly leaking with a crane for a ceramic axle box. Finding an answer to it is not so simple. In this context, it is important to know whether the installation of a new crane is required, or if replacement of a failed axle box crane is sufficient. When selecting a guideline is the diameter of the bore hole. That is, in this case we are talking about the dimensions of the axle box crane, which characterizes its part, which is twisted into a mixing device.
Important! Dimensions must match the diameter of the socket.
You also need to study how the part is arranged under the flywheel. In detail from foreign companies, the number of notches is crucial. But the shut-off valve for the mixer box from domestic manufacturers has this part, made in the form of a tetrahedron. The conclusion is obvious. If a new ceramic imported axle box crane is installed, the flywheel itself will need to be replaced.
If we consider such an indicator as length, then everything is much simpler. In many similar details its meanings are identical. Thus, replacing a ceramic box crane is not difficult.
Possible malfunctions of ceramic faucet boxes in shower faucets and their elimination
The main types of malfunctions of locking elements of this type include:
- wear on the stem of the o-rings;
- wear on the stem of the sealing washer;
- chip ceramic plates.
To determine which part of the axle box crane has failed, you need to disassemble it
In these cases, you can try to repair the failed axle box crane and save on buying a new one. But first you need to disassemble it. For this:
- remove the o-ring that holds the plates from the bottom of the part;
- remove the plates;
- using a flat screwdriver, pull out the latch holding the rod in the housing;
- pull out the stem.
Then carefully study everything. If plates are damaged, replace them and collect box element.
Taking out the stem from the housing, pay attention to the flat ring. This washer abrases over time, due to which the stock rises higher. For this reason, proper compression between the plates is not ensured, and water leaks appear. There are two ways to eliminate them:
- replace the puck itself;
- stick a strip of electrical tape at the junction of the upper plate with the turn signal.
If the o-rings on the stem are worn, water can enter through the housing. In shower faucets this is rare, but it happens. To fix this, simply replace these rings with new ones. If they are not currently available, gently pull the ring out of the groove, wind up quite a bit of FUM tape and put it back. With the right approach, this method of ensuring tightness shows good results. And another plus is the savings. After all, the new ceramic box shut-off valve will cost more.
