Changing the gland in a bathroom tap...

[Cobra]

Hi folks,

Once again, I'm hoping to draw on the collective knowledge of all those on the forum - any advice would be most appreciated, as usual!

One of my bathroom taps began to play up, and wasn't turning on easily. It needed a new washer, but when I got in about it I found the the gland is really badly corroded. I paid Homebase a visit but I found that they stock only ceramic "quarter-turn" glands, as opposed to the ones used in my bathroom taps, like these:

http://www.hardwarewholesale.co.uk/user/products/large/R37088.jpg

...which do this:

http://www.diydata.com/problem/taps/standard2.gif

Is it possible to fit ceramic glands like these:

http://www.cutlershardware.com/images/products/ceramic-glands-tap-tops-C3wl.jpg

...to old-style taps?

I've tried Google but without much success, and I didn't want to spend £18 on a pair of glands that I couldn't use.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

Cobra

[Birons]

I don't have a straightforward answer to your question, (sorry), but we stock tap conversion kits that have the glands you want and they come with new tap tops as well.

We are open as usual on bank holiday Monday.

www.birons.co.uk (http://www.birons.co.uk)

[Birons]

I just checked the ones we have and they are a universal tap conversion kit that comes with the tap tops for £16.68 complete.

www.birons.co.uk (http://www.birons.co.uk)

[Cobra]

Hi folks, thanks very much for your answers, but unfortunately these are old-fashioned brass taps so the conversion kits would look slightly odd! I've fixed the taps as it is (I can't even get washers for them) but will simply replace them when they eventually die a death.

Thanks again for your suggestions - as always, it is most appreciated!

[Ray the plumber]

Hello, My first post woo hoo! :)You can get the tap restore kit the same as the top picture out of plumb centre in wick.I usually strip the gland out, clean the lime scale off with steel wool, replace washers then get loads of silicone grease in the inside threads (makes the tap head turn smoother when done) after that refit the glands, fit tap heads, then water on. Job done :) A wee tip. (If you done have any washers the size you need, take out the washers and fit them the other way round)