[DIYGST]

I cannot use a hose with this faucet, the water just comes out on the tiny holes which it is not supposed to. I know what this device does but I don't know how to remove it. It appears a set screw is broken to be tamperproof, but 20 years later, it's at end of life.


Would the threads on the hose bib be a standard garden hose thread (MHT) or something inside? Please let me know how to replace short of removing the whole faucet.

 

[joecaption]

It just unscrews from the faucet. There is no locking screw holding it on.

 

[TheEplumber]

I cannot use a hose with this faucet, the water just comes out on the tiny holes which it is not supposed to. I know what this device does but I don't know how to remove it. It appears a set screw is broken to be tamperproof, but 20 years later, it's at end of life.


Would the threads on the hose bib be a standard garden hose thread (MHT) or something inside? Please let me know how to replace short of removing the whole faucet.

You need to drill out the tamper resistant screws. Then it will unscrew using adjustable pliers.
It has female hose threads and the replacement part is about 10 bucks at HD/Lowes.
If you use a spray attachment on your hose the VB will spit water-that's as designed

 

[DIYGST]

You need to drill out the tamper resistant screws. Then it will unscrew using adjustable pliers.
It has female hose threads and the replacement part is about 10 bucks at HD/Lowes.
If you use a spray attachment on your hose the VB will spit water-that's as designed

I am going to try to drill it out without damage. how big of a drill bit do I use? A little bigger than the screw itself?

I have also heard of the inside thread is not a garden hose thread but a fine thread? I hope that is not true ..

 

[TarheelTerp]

I am going to try to drill it out without damage. how big of a drill bit do I use? A little bigger than the screw itself?

What's on the OTHER side of that wall?

I'd be inclined to change out the done it's duty faucet as well...
and by that make the rest of the job simpler.

 

[DIYGST]

inside is copper plumbing and galvinized 6" long nipple (guessing) coming out the stucco and the faucet is screwed on the nipple.

If I replace the faucet, what do you use to grab on the galv so I don't accidentally tweak something inside the wall that I cannot see.

I would rather not because the faucet isn't dripping, and replacing the AVB is something I can try first..

 

[Hardway]

You need to drill out the tamper resistant screws. Then it will unscrew using adjustable pliers.
It has female hose threads and the replacement part is about 10 bucks at HD/Lowes.
If you use a spray attachment on your hose the VB will spit water-that's as designed

“If you use a spray attachment on your hose the VB will spit water-that's as designed.”
That is not correct unless the VB is bad no matter what is on the end of the hose it will not activate it. Let’s say for some reason the hose is in a dirty swimming pool and water pressure is lost at the main. The Vacuum breaker will open prevent the dirty water from being sucked back into the fresh water supply!

 

[Hardway]

inside is copper plumbing and galvinized 6" long nipple (guessing) coming out the stucco and the faucet is screwed on the nipple.

If I replace the faucet, what do you use to grab on the galv so I don't accidentally tweak something inside the wall that I cannot see.

I would rather not because the faucet isn't dripping, and replacing the AVB is something I can try first..

You would need someone to hold the pipe inside. By doing so, you may invoke the mushroom affect.

 

[DIYGST]

The galv nipple does have exposed about 2" out of the stucco easily.

What is mushroom effect?

 

[Hardway]

The mushroom affect, when you start out to do a 10 minute repair that turns into an all day job!:laughing:

 

[Hardway]

The galv nipple does have exposed about 2" out of the stucco easily.

What is mushroom effect?

Then you may be able to hold the nipple with channel locks and replace the sill cock (faucet).

 

[djlandkpl]

I am going to try to drill it out without damage. how big of a drill bit do I use? A little bigger than the screw itself?

I have also heard of the inside thread is not a garden hose thread but a fine thread? I hope that is not true ..

Use a drill bit about the same size of the screw or a little smaller. There's not much to those set screws and it should come out easily. The thread is hose thread.

 

[TheEplumber]

Use a drill bit about the same size of the screw or a little smaller. There's not much to those set screws and it should come out easily. The thread is hose thread.

I googled and discovered another method- cut across the VB body with a hacksaw- don't damage the bib threads, Then pry apart the cut slightly. This relieves the set screws from the threads and you can unscrew it.

 

[TarheelTerp]

...inside is copper plumbing and galvanized 6" long nipple
coming out the stucco and the faucet is screwed on the nipple.

With TWO wrenches... one on the galv nipple and the other holding the fitting it is threaded into still... twist the nipple out of the fitting.
Spary it all with PB blaster and turn the water off in advance.

I would rather not because the faucet isn't dripping,
and replacing the AVB is something I can try first..

Now or later. Your choice.

Avoid the mushroom.

 

[funfool]

We have a lot of those old style hose bibs around town here, our plumber likes them because they are made well. Better then the Chinese junk you buy today.
He buys the stems and packing to repair them a dozen at a time and always have some on his truck.

I am interested in this thread because I also have the same problem with a vacuum breaker on a frost free hose bib, have the mushroom affect fixing it. Yours just has the regular hose threads, if you remove it, is your choice if you want to put another back on.
It is something that someone else added.
All the ones I looked at today that will not work for me because I do have different threads. None like yours had set screws and should just unscrew.
But some good ideas here to remove it if they are set screws.
Wanted to add, some I looked at today seemed to have some sort of a thumb screw on the side that may be fore releasing pressure or some other purpose.
But was not a set screw.

 

[TheEplumber]

funfool-- I've got a hose bib that looks very similar. I have rebuilt it twice over the years and plan on keeping it.
I did add a VB to it. Looks like this one. The set screw shears off when tight.
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...rd=vaccuum+breaker&storeId=10051#.USv4BKJ-m8A

 

[DIYGST]

Someone please help :furious:
I removed the old vac breaker by carefully sawing it without much noticable problem to the threads.

I bought the vac breaker linked above at home depot.

The problem is that it doesn't want to thread on very much before it feels cross threaded, I have turned it with a pliers but couldn't get very far, after sanding corrosion and applying some grease.

the thread on the facuet looked alot like the garden hose thread in size and thread count, but the edge of the thread is less sharp. All the garden hose threads I have seen is sharp. The original AVB goes on though.

Is it possible the faucet is another type of thread? The faucet doesn't leak otherwise and I don't want to replace it.

 

[DIYGST]

Here is a picture,
you can see the thread is dull on the faucet, so when it threads on the garden hose female it doesn't have enough room.

hard to believe this was stripped.

 

[TheEplumber]

Have threaded the new part onto a male end of a hose to check the new female threads?

 

[Ghostmaker]

Fun fool is your vacuum breaker built into the frost proof with a plastic cap? If so you can pry off the plastic cap and simply replace the washer.
There should be a manufacture name on it.