The brass shaft actually BROKE OFF the other day when using it normally!! I not only have to replace it, but I also have to figure out how to get it out WITHOUT ANY shaft to pull on. So any advice would be very helpful. I'm planning to do a lot of drilling to get the old one out, and may leave the water on to see if before I drill deep, pressure would force it out. [ When drilling, I won't hit the sides of the valve body itself. I've replaced two other "normal 1222's" before, so I know to burnish and clean the body before inserting the new one. ] AFTER I drill and get the inner parts out, I'm sure that I'll be left with the plastic shell. HOW do I get that out without destroying the sides of the brass body? Right now, I'm thinking "acetone" or even methyl alcohol. Any ideas out there??
Alan, I'm a certified plumber for over 30 years specializing in service. I hate telling you this but what you have is a Moen posi-temp and there is no tricks or easy way to remove it other than a cartridge puller which won't help in your case since it's already broken. Just break out your drill and carefully have at it, BUT don't leave the water on it won't help and may be dangerous and/or ruin your drill. For some reason on all Moens cartridges the rubber grommet tend to adhere themselves to the brass valve body's. Sorry, wish I had better news...
SOURCE: how remove the broken bathtub cartridge(Moen 1222)
The exact procedure to remove the old cartridge is with a plastic removal tool.With replacement cartridge you have to buy this plastic removal tool.Also there is same metal removal tool available.With the help of this tool you can easily remove the old cartridge.
Moen Cartridge Replacement Instructions
Moen shower faucet cartridge replacement is a project that will take some time to get done right. When is it time to replace a Moen cartridge? If you are like most people, you won't want to replace your old Moen cartridge until your old cartridge is starting to show its age.
Replacement is necessary, usually, once the old faucet starts to drip. Thankfully Moen faucet cartridge replacement is not difficult. However, if you are uncomfortable with doing the repair yourself, do not hesitate to call a professional plumber to do the job for you. This will guarantee that the job is done right.
If you follow these Moen faucet cartridge replacement instructions you will be able to replace your old cartridge by yourself. First of all, as with any plumbing repair, make sure that the water supply is turned off. Open the faucet to remove water pressure from the lines and let the remaining water drain from the pipes. You will then need to remove the faucet's handle by removing the decorative cover and removing the retaining screw. This will allow you to remove the handle.
Once the handle has been removed, work on releasing the splash plate from the wall. Generally there will be one or two screws to remove and the plate should release from the wall easily. From here the process begins to get a little trickier. Insert a shower stem socket onto the faucet valve's retaining nut and release the nut. Your Moen cartridge removal will be complete once you grab the cartridge with a pair of pliers and pull straight out to remove the old cartridge.
Clean any surfaces that you have access to and replace with the new cartridge. Follow all of the previous instructions in reverse order to re-assemble your shower faucet. Check to make sure that all the connections are tight before turning the water back on and testing the system out.
Now in your case the broken/cracked while removing the old cartridge so try this procedure carefully to get the stuck -up old cartridge out.
TAPPING the Threads into the Cartridge:
Carefully hold one tab on the cartridge tight against the brass lip on the faucet body with needle nose and try to drive the 1/2" tap into the smaller bore of the cartridge. It will take about 15 minutes to slowly work the tap in all the way (maybe 3 turns?). Then back out the tap... remove needle nose. [remember to turn the tap 1/4 turn back, for each 1/2 turn forward ... this clears the metal particles from the tap and makes the next 1/2 turn forward go smoother].
Next, assemble a 1/2" x 4" threaded rod, so it had threads all the way to the two jam nuts on one end)... If you use a bolt, get one with threads all the way up to the head. you may find it hard to find - so try a carriage bolt and spin a nut all the way up to the head .... continue:
next on the bolt goes a 1/2 nut (this is the "jacking nut") and a flat washer so the jacking nut can spin easily against the next piece, a 1/2 drive socket (7/8" ) with the square hole toward the washer and jam nuts ( bolt head ).
The open end of the socket faces the brass body of faucet and rests on the round brass lip... having the same inside diameter. This allows a space for the cartridge to be pulled into ( a cavity). Thread the bolt into the tapped cartridge and snug it up so the 7/8" socket is aligned with and resting against the brass body. If the cartridge spins smooth, the threaded rod is GREAT. You can just work with the 1/2" rod and use needle nose (or similar) to stop the cartridge from spinning, to get the rod threaded into the tapped threads in the cartridge... then, slip on the socket, washer and nuts.
Now snug it up tighter. Check socket alignment. Then begin turning the jacking nut ( the "extra" nut) until it contacts the flat washer and 7/8" socket. Now, as you continue to tighten the jacking nut, it will pull the 1/2 bolt (threaded rod) away from the faucet... and the cartridge will come along too. [You have to prevent the 1/2 rod from spinning while tightening the jacking nut. put a wrench on the bolt head.]
This procedure is bit lengthy and requires some appropriate tools,but this will release the stuck cartridge out.
Thanks. keep updated for any more
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SOURCE: After consulting with Moen re:
If the water is off but still coming through, open a tap or two on one of the lower levels.
Basically the old stem does come out thru the top of the valve. Hopefully Moen sent you the tool to do this job. The tool is a 3/4"diameter about 4 inches long. Even on one end and two little tabs on the other.
Take the handle off stem. Remove the upper retaining nut, usually chrome. Pull out the two plastic upper stem pieces. Insert the 2 tabbed end into the stem area. You will feel the tab drop into the retainer ring. Slowly rotate the retainer ring out Counterclockwise. After the retainer ring is out then put the long screw in the stem and pull it out. Sometimes a little leverage helps here.
You will have TWO retainer nuts. The first one is easy just under the handle, the second will require the special insert tool.
Please rate this response and good luck, Phil
SOURCE: New MOEN 1222 cartridge leaks
remove it and carefully inspect it, you might have scuff'd up the rubber's on the cartridge when you inserted new one.clean out,look in hous'ing for any foriegn mat.etc .you may need another new cart.
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OK --- Got it. I also doubt leaving the water on would blow it out if drilled, But I might first see if I can turn it a bit with pliers with 50 LBS pushing. If it blows, I'll be happy. What about the solvent idea?. I think I probably have an old valve to test the solvent method on. since it's a shower, I won't worry about contamination. Do you see any value (or danger in the 1/2 tap solution floating around? One online plumber smugly said that the tap idea wouldn't work, he knew how to easily do it, but other plumbers were too dumb to understand his explanation, so I should just hire a plumber. ... Hmmm, I probably would if I have a "regular plumber" that I used all the time in the past. I'm planning on drilling first, and I will be careful not to nick the body. Thanks again.
I finally replaced it in about 4 hours. First, the water pressure idea was crazy. I doubt SCUBA tank pressure would have worked at 3000Lbs. I did tap out the center brass control shaft with my drill, and used the "screw against wrenches / sockets" method. Unfortunately, my screw hole was a bit too big, so it didn't hold completely before bursting at the sides of the screw. But, it did work well enough to pull the thick 5/8" ? metal shaft out, destroying the front plastic piece. (Yes, it took THAT much force). Once I had that big shaft out, I could see inside, and there was a nice channel (between the valve body and the plastic cylinder) on both sides of the plastic that extended back to the inlets. Without scoring the valve body sides, I was able to use a common screwdriver and pound into the plastic cylinder, by pounding towards the inside center from the outside edge. That broke off a fair sized chunk and then I could use some strong needle nose pliers to finish breaking out the cylinder. I polished it up some, and replaced the cartridge--job done. NEXT TIME..... I recommend: I would of course buy a proper MOEN puller, since this would have worked in a normal situation. They appear strong enough to do most jobs and are only about $15 or so. However, if that didn't work, I'd repeat much of what I just did: Remove the large metal shaft, and break up the front plastic any way you can. Once you do that, keep an eye on your new cartridge so you know which areas that you can't score without tearing the wall out and replacing the whole valve body. Now you can just destroy that plastic cylinder fairly easily. Once one side is broken out, it comes out easily. I'd still like to see someone try the acetone or other solvent method of just dissolving the plastic parts. (Is someone that has an old cartridge body and some acetone willing to try it and report??) Even if it does work... think about it... if you have PVC pipes..... no, don't even think about it !!
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