1.5" x 6" deep socket - to tighten kitchen facet - Where???

[james t kirk]

I'm trying to install a kitchen facet.

I can't spin the wrench due to how tight the geometry is. The nut that locks down the facet is a simple nut, but the sink is cast iron and the nut is contained within a larger opening.

Can't use a crow's foot

Can't use a crescent wrench

Can't use a pipe wrench

Can't use a big wrench

As near as I can figure a 1.5" x 6" deep socket would work perfectly.

Tried googling a 1.5" "EXtra Deep Socket" to no avail.

Does anyone know where I could find such a socket????

Any other ideas???

 

[S.C. Joe]

What about some needle nose pliers...your tightening it, correct...should not have to be very tight.

That socket if you find it won't be cheap.

I have a channel lock brand needle nose pliers that are pretty thick, I know it could grip the nut and you could use some other pliers to turn the needle nose ones down near the handle (once you get it hand tight turning the needle nose pliers)....it would get fairly tight.

 

[sailorsix]

Looking at the picture I realize that my solution will not work in your case...but years ago I had a similar problem...the space between the sink and the back wall of the cabinet did not allow room for a wrench. Because the sink was a deep one the wrench with the articulated head would not reach the nut. The actual faucet threads stuck down a lot farther than yours and the flex pipes came out much lower.

What I did was create a 4" "washer" to slip over the threaded part of the faucet. I used a piece of pipe (copper or brass) that was just slightly larger in diameter than the faucet threads. This washer positioned the nut down lower where I was able to reach it with a regular crescent wrench. Adjust the length of the "washer" to what would make yours work. The faucet is rock solid.

I am thinking that you need one of the articulated wrenches that plumbers use.

 

[james t kirk]

The "problem" is that it is a cast iron sink with large holes to allow the valve bodies to pass through.

The valve bodies actually snug up to the underside of the countertop. In other words, the holes in the cast iron are large enough that the nuts pass right through the cast.

The cast itself is probably about 3/8 thick (which you can sort of see in the photos.)

The nuts are about 3/16" thick and they sit up in these holes so getting any kind of a wrench or pliers on them is impossible.

The valve body has a copper pipe about 4" long that comes out the bottom of the valve body. These are soldered in the factory right to the valve body.

Both the sink and the facet are Kohler products, so they should be compatible (as far as that goes).

That's why I was thinking of the extra deep socket because it would contain the copper pipe, slip round the nut, and voila.

 

[islandman4567]

http://theheadlemur.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/basinwrench2.jpg

http://www.plumbworld.co.uk/images/pwsv0120l.jpg

you need a basin wrench , home depot sells them.

 

[james t kirk]

http://theheadlemur.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/basinwrench2.jpg

http://www.plumbworld.co.uk/images/pwsv0120l.jpg

you need a basin wrench , home depot sells them.

Tried that.

The wrench won't fit, plus the nut is 1.5" across.

The nut is surrounded by the cast iron which is too close to allow the use of a basin wrench.

Look at the opening on the left in the photo. (It's the sprayer.) Note the thickness of the cast iron sink. (About 3/8"). The nut is about 3/16" thick, therefore, you can't get onto the nut.

I suppose I could fabricate some big honkin washers that would drop the nut below the underside of the cast, but even then, you need a monster of a basin wrench. A simple solution would be for the manufacturer to supply the facet with wing nuts which you could tighten by hand, but no.

 

[islandman4567]

yeah, I just looked at the pic again and I can see its recessed in there.

 

[landscaper]

htere is believe it or njot a specific tool to tighten that up, home depot or lowes should have it just make sure you are sitting down when you cash out.

 

[GOLEAFSGO67]

Use your teeth!!!

Just kiddin....

But seriously....take that nut to a machine shop....have someone there spot weld on a larger ring (Nut) on the bottom side. Once you install it back..use this new nut with the basin wrench (pipe wrench) to tighten. And furthermore as an enhancement....Once he has welded the oversized nut on..get him ( or her to tack on two small arms (like a tire wrench) Not too long, but long enough that you could actually use these to tighten. I would suggest a large piece of pipe....big enough to let the copper hoses to drop through ...would work well. I know its homemade..but who the hell sees it!!

Given how little thread you have.....this will work as it allows you to tighten from beyond (below) the threads. Make it as big as you need it (Long)


But better still....Can you put the hoses on first..before dropping it thru the counter?

 

[Danolo]

This may not be the answer you want to hear, but... I've always found it easier to mount the hoses before I drop in the sink. If you can lift the sink out, even just enough to tighten that nut, that may be the only answer if the basin wrench won't work.

Good luck

 

[james t kirk]

The sink is an undermount sink. To remove it would require the removal of the counter top and that is impossible.

A deep socket would be a whole heck of a lot easier.....

 

[hamermill]

Go to Homo Despot and tell the plumbing guy you are looking for a basin wrench - get the el cheapo one for $10

 

[james t kirk]

Go to Homo Despot and tell the plumbing guy you are looking for a basin wrench - get the el cheapo one for $10

Basin wrench won't work.

 

[ed_v]

Try making your own deep socket. Get a length of pipe that fits snugly over the nut. Take the nut off, put it in the end of the pipe, and hit the sides with a hammer so that the pipe takes the shape of the nut. It'll probably get stuck in there so you'll need something to slide in the pipe to knock out the nut. Drill a hole on the opposite end of the pipe and stick a screw driver through it so that you can then twist and tighten.

 

[Ceiling Cat]

I am sure one of these will work, you might not be trying hard enough.


Crows foot wrench

http://www.steritool.com/images/product/30158.jpg

Basin wrench

http://www.postmodernsass.com/blogger/uploaded_images/BasinWrench-777517.jpg

 

[player coach]

Call a plumber...they can fix.... And a basin wrench would work there.

 

[T.O.tourist]

Go to a plumbing supply store, they have what you need. Most sinks come with a deep socket made for exactly what you are trying to do. The sockets are made of hard plastic, usually gray in color, and the bottom of them have a hexagon shape (like a nut) that your wrench will fit.
Hope this helps. I'm trying to find one to post a pic, but as usual I can't find something when I'm looking for it.

 

[seth gecko]

Noble Trade or Wolseley are plumbing wholesalers....they have just about anything you can ever require.

 

[tboy]

I always found that you start assembly one step at a time. I'd first remove the two hoses that are attached to the faucet body, that will give you more room to work.

As someone stated, it doesn't have to be 20 ft lbs tight, a little tighter than "hand tight" ought to do it. I'm surprised you can't get a channel loc pair of pliers in there. I've attached faucets in similar situations and used vice grips vertically on the nut (with no hoses attached) and it has worked fine. I know it's a tight squeeze in there, and a pain in the ass.

A crows foot wrench with a long extension should do the trick.

 

[james t kirk]

Needless to say that when I assembled it, none of the hoses were there.

It is impossible to get a set of vice grips on there, or pliers, or channel locks, or basin wrench. (I've tried all of the above.) The nut sits up in the recess, the recess is too tight, the valve body is in your way. I've tried everything, believe me.

I contacted Kohler. Apparently I need a "Deep Rough In Kit" for this combination of facet and sink. They are going to send me one. I will see what comes with this kit.