Leaking I purchased a Kohler Essentials Package that includes a K-9511 diverter, a multifunction Shower head, and a hand held shower with hose. It is leaking from where the shower head screws onto the shower arm or what I think they call an adapter. Kohler is giving me mixed messages about how to correct. First they said plumbers tape, then they said no, then they said yes. Trouble is, you cannot get your fingers inside to wrap the tape properly. The last person told me to use tweezers which is ridiculous. I tried but still leaking ... when on. Fine when off. Would plumbers paste work? Should I get them to send me a new shower head or arm. I've already tried replacing the screen to no avail.

Not exactly sure what you are attempting. A quick-and relatively inexpensive way-would be to add an Alsons diverter to the shower arm. It is simply removing the shower head, adding the diverter, and reinstalling the shower head and accessory hand held shower. If you are looking for something different, there are myriad valves on the market that would allow for such change. However, changing to a new valve could get somewhat complicated. For example: you may need to increase the size of the supply lines that are feeding the shower; some diverters require a 3/4" feed.


Also, if you check the box stores, they have several shower/hand held shower kits that already have the diverter with the packaging. Again, I am not exactly sure of the end result in which you seek, but I hope this helps some.

just turn the water valve down some

You could have a restriction in the tub spout or just too much pressure. Diverter only restricts flow to tub spout so any restrictions to the tub spout will cause water to go up to shower head.

Assuming that your two heads are fed from the typical curved wall mounted shower pipe, what you need is a diverter valve. Removed both heads till it's down to just that curved pipe. Get a diverter valve from a plumbing supply store. Tell the sales folks that you want to install a diverter valve so that in one position, the hand held receives water and in the other, it cuts the hand held and puts it to the reg. shower head instead. They should give you a "T" sort of fitting. The female threads of this screws into that curved shower pipe. Then you will find two male thread ends. These connect to both your shower heads. Finally there will be a push/pull knob that is operated to control which head gets the water.
Nimsgame

If you're talking about the diverter just like the one in that picture, then no. You do not need to get a Kohler diverter, as Kohler utilizes the 1/2 NPT(national pipe threading) threads that most showers are compatible to. You can pick one up from your local hardware stores. Make sure you teflon tape all the male threads before you install them.

This unit will allow the function of the shower head or the hand held shower individually. You can make both operate at the same time but the performance will be dismall at best.

The cartridge has 2 or 3 o-ring type seals around it that feed the water through, it picks up both hot and cold and mixes them. Some cartridges are replaced as one, some you have to replace the seals, just take the faucet info to the hardware store and match it up. I think the diverter is for the shower. It sends the water up instead of out.

The best way is to cut a hole in the wall and fix it right. That will entail replacing the surface material, probably sheetrock. You could try some silicone sealant around the shower arm behind the eschusion. It will still move, but not much.

It sounds like there is dirt or other debris in the unit. Here is the installation guide. Take it apart and look for debris which would block the mechanism:

http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/pdfimages/5d/5d085947-93ec-433f-8f59-c8a23d2eb5ff.pdf

As a helpful hint , on these models, When installed some plumbers or home owners use plumbers putty to seal the threads and in some cases tape.
Most of the time the putty or tape gets pushed through the system if too much was used.
Check by removing the shower head and testing the pressure and blowing anything else through, then checking the head itself for foreign objects.
Kohler has a cleaning and care page on thier web site if it needs cleaned.