-
Hi Guest!
If you appreciate British Car Forum and our 25 years of supporting British car enthusiasts with technical and anicdotal information, collected from our thousands of great members, please support us with a low-cost subscription. You can become a supporting member for less than the dues of most car clubs.
There are some perks with a member upgrade!**Upgrade Now**
(PS: Subscribers don't see this gawd-aweful banner
but were afraid to ask: 
STOP!! Never post your email address in open forums. Bots can "harvest" your email! If you must share your email use a Private Message or use the 
smilie in place of the real @
Pretty Please - add it to our Events forum(s) and add to the calendar! >> 
Any plumbing experts?
- Thread starter NutmegCT
- Start date
Share this page
Offline
Did you have and big freezes lately?Thanks. I'll do the disassembly tomorrow after work. Seems weird that it worked fine a few weeks ago - and now zilch.
I tried to turn the valve stem with a channel lock, but stopped when it didn't turn easily. Didn't want to faucet.
OP
Offline
errr, please translate to English ...
Offline
Did you have any very cold nights that may have frozen things and caused metal failure
Online
I'd like a photographer at the ready when you are looking at the depths of the faucet - and it suddenly decides to work... 
Just kidding!! I find modern faucets last 5-10 years, then need replacing (due to mineral build-up or degraded seals). Go to your favorite plumbing supply store, buy a new valve and screw it in. If the valve is a straight shot through the house wall, it should be "easy" (nothing is!!) to unscrew from outside (or inside if you have access) and replace with new?
Just kidding!! I find modern faucets last 5-10 years, then need replacing (due to mineral build-up or degraded seals). Go to your favorite plumbing supply store, buy a new valve and screw it in. If the valve is a straight shot through the house wall, it should be "easy" (nothing is!!) to unscrew from outside (or inside if you have access) and replace with new?
Offline
There are repair kits for them available online.
OP
Offline
The progress (?) so far!
Faucet (external freeze-proof) is less than 3 years old; worked w/o problem a month ago.
Following several YT "Woodford 17 repair" videos -
Tried to pop off plastic cover for the check valve. Plastic cover rotates smoothly - but does not pop off.
Turned off water supply. Removed faucet handle, pulled out stem. No problems I could see: no worn or loose parts, packing solid. Reinstalled stem, turned water supply back on, opened faucet valve and ... no change.
Wish I knew how to figure out what isn't working!
Faucet (external freeze-proof) is less than 3 years old; worked w/o problem a month ago.
Following several YT "Woodford 17 repair" videos -
Tried to pop off plastic cover for the check valve. Plastic cover rotates smoothly - but does not pop off.
Turned off water supply. Removed faucet handle, pulled out stem. No problems I could see: no worn or loose parts, packing solid. Reinstalled stem, turned water supply back on, opened faucet valve and ... no change.
Wish I knew how to figure out what isn't working!
Offline
and might you have turned a shut off valve off and not back on?
Offline
That's a good question!
mikephillips
Yoda
Offline
Just need to call an expert, he'll get the water a running. Just maybe not shutoff after though....
OP
Offline
Mike - when you say "valve" do you mean the internal valve inside the faucet, that's opened and closed by turning the handle? Some folks call the entire faucet the "valve".
I've removed the faucet handle, removed the packing nut, and pulled out the valve stem - here's a diagram:
And then opened the supply line valve.
No water came out. Good grief.
So I'm thinking the problem is that anti-siphon valve (#9 in the diagram above) on the top of the faucet. You see it (covered with a plastic cap) here:
Wish I could figure out how to get that darn anti-siphon valve out! The "pop off plastic cap" won't pop off.
I've removed the faucet handle, removed the packing nut, and pulled out the valve stem - here's a diagram:
And then opened the supply line valve.
No water came out. Good grief.
So I'm thinking the problem is that anti-siphon valve (#9 in the diagram above) on the top of the faucet. You see it (covered with a plastic cap) here:
Wish I could figure out how to get that darn anti-siphon valve out! The "pop off plastic cap" won't pop off.
OP
Offline
Victory!
It took several mighty thwacks with a hammer, then prying with two long-stem flat-head screwdrivers, but finally got the plastic cap off the siphon valve. Stripped the cap's internal grippers doing so.
Then discovered the plastic valve itself wouldn't turn, using pipe wrench, vice grips, or channel lock. Yeesh. Had to use a flat head screwdriver as a "convincer" on the internals, which finally loosened it from the brass faucet head. Then used vise grips to turn it out. Not a pretty sight with the top chewed up, but got it out.
Noticed that the small flat rubber valve inside the plastic valve assembly was in its hole cockeyed. Straightened that out, then girded my loins and struggled to get the now-damaged plastic valve back into the faucet. What a merry circus of adventure!
Put the now-damaged plastic cap back on on the now-damaged plastic valve, and re-installed the faucet valve stem, etc. Then reopened the supply line, gingerly turned the faucet handle and ... it works!
(Now ordering complete new siphon valve assembly.)
It took several mighty thwacks with a hammer, then prying with two long-stem flat-head screwdrivers, but finally got the plastic cap off the siphon valve. Stripped the cap's internal grippers doing so.
Then discovered the plastic valve itself wouldn't turn, using pipe wrench, vice grips, or channel lock. Yeesh. Had to use a flat head screwdriver as a "convincer" on the internals, which finally loosened it from the brass faucet head. Then used vise grips to turn it out. Not a pretty sight with the top chewed up, but got it out.
Noticed that the small flat rubber valve inside the plastic valve assembly was in its hole cockeyed. Straightened that out, then girded my loins and struggled to get the now-damaged plastic valve back into the faucet. What a merry circus of adventure!
Put the now-damaged plastic cap back on on the now-damaged plastic valve, and re-installed the faucet valve stem, etc. Then reopened the supply line, gingerly turned the faucet handle and ... it works!
(Now ordering complete new siphon valve assembly.)
Last edited: