Uh oh…Swapping Pillar Tap for 2-hole arch Mixer tap project All aspects of plumbing questions and answers, help, tips and information

[chrisinlondon1470]

Hi, I’m a Canadian in London whose limited plumbing skills across the Atlantic are completely inadequate to the challenges of my 1920s flat! :-)

I have a pedestal bathroom sink with pillar taps. I want to swap them for the arched 2-hole mixer tap I’ve purchased. I suspect, if you follow me on this project journey it will be a source of great mirth for you…

Head-scratcher #1: How to get the existing pillar taps off.

These are Aston-Matthews taps. See photo. I cannot remove the handle. I can see no retaining screw under the cap (1). I can remove the shaft-screw at (2) but this doesn’t seem to release the handle above. I can loosen the nut at (3) to release the skirt/cover below it, but I cannot remove the skirt without removing the handle above it.

I don’t want to damage the taps with my ignorance. Could anyone please tell me how these Aston Matthews taps secure their top handle?

[stoneyboy]

Hi chrisinlondon1470
You need to turn off the water and undo the taps underneath the sink. This will leave you with 2 tap holes but I doubt whether they will be at the right centres for a 2-hole mixer.
Good luck!
Regards S

[chrisinlondon1470]

Thanks stoneyboy — in fact, that's why I want to see if I can improve the handle-action on the existing pillar tap before I consider completing the replacement.

Back to my original question: do you have any insight into how to remove the top handle from the tap of these Aston Matthews taps?

[stoneyboy]

Hi chrisinlondon
Ok remove the screw at 2 then lever off the capstan head - I generally use two open-ended spanners.
Regards S