Restore the water supply.
Broken bathtub faucet stem.
Reinsert the valve stem and tighten the stem in its socket using a wrench.
This prompts the water flow.
Wiggle the handle and pull it off.
Replace the faucet knob over the stem secure with the handle screw and replace the protective cap.
You may need a faucet handle puller if the handle will not come off by hand.
After this the next step is to identify the faulty parts of a faucet stem.
First unscrew the packing nut.
How to replace a single hot cold bathtub knob.
Fix a broken ball handle on a bathtub faucet with help from a longtime plumber in.
If the stem is failing it may not be fully blocking the stream of water.
So check if the washer is broken or not.
However the valve puller screws into the shaft of the valve stem which in our case broke off pic below.
Place a socket wrench over the bathtub faucet stem until it covers the hex nut.
A loose bathtub knob can make it difficult to turn the faucet on to fill the tub and difficult to turn off to avoid a dripping spout.
Insert the packing nut into the stem and tighten it.
If you re working on a two handled faucet we recommend replacing the washers and seats in both the hot and cold valves.
You have now learned how to fix a broken bathtub faucet handle.
For example the most common reason for a faucet leaking is the washer needs to be replaced.
Repeat the steps if you have a two handle system.
A shows the bathtub plumbing faucet stem replacement parts and how to prepare the stem for reinstallation.
Faucet stems are raised and lowered when you turn the handle.
Check the faucet stem parts.
Lubricate the parts with special plumber s grease.
A broken ball handle will require a few specific tools to properly repair.
To replace the stem clear any rust wax or caulk from around the base then loosen the bolts that hold it together with an adjustable wrench if the bolts are located in the wall use a socket wrench to remove them.
Turn the wrench counterclockwise to loosen the nut until you can pull the stem free.