Delta Faucet Shower Handle Renovation Repair Trim Kit for Delta 600 Series Tub, Chrome RP54870

My 1990-era Delta Tub/Shower faucets (600 series) were beginning to leak from the stem. I knew I could probably just order the innards and replace those to stop the leaking, but the VERY dated crystal-style handle was just begging to be updated. This kit fit the bill perfectly. The first thing I did was searched for "Delta 600 series" on YouTube. The first video - by an uploader with the name of ramonasplumber - gave a very good, in-depth tutorial. Excellent assistance! The biggest challenge of installing this kit is being very careful in removing the old dome screw cap from behind the handle. If you try to turn it by brute force you WILL damage the underlying valve beyond repair necessitating a complete valve replacement. I simply used large channel locks and a rubber mallet. Once I had a good hold on the cap I hit the channel locks with increasing force until it gave way (much like an impact wrench does to stubborn bolts). With years of mineral build up on each of the 2 Delta faucets I rebuilt with this kit this method worked great with some patience.Once you get the cap off it's quite simple to do the remaining job. Another very helpful tip (which I learned from the YouTube video) was to use silicone plumber's grease (ensure silicone as it won't swell rubber o-rings) on all moving parts. After the completion of the job it made the handle movement very smooth and pleasant. Note: While installing one of these kits on a faucet I was sure I screwed something up. After greasing the steel ball with silicone the weight of the handle kept closing the valve on it's own (drifting downward from upward). I envisioned being in the shower and it turning off by itself. Once I tured the water back on to the house the pressure fixed it right away and kept it in place. No problem - whew!I've ready several complaints about the valve being opposite in turning on the hot and cold water. I'm not sure what they are talking about as the bottom of the long part of the handle points towards the appropriate temperature selection. Left for hot and right for cold. In the instructions for the kit there is a specific mention of ensuring the steel ball is installed a certain way to insure proper operation, so be sure to double-check when installing yours. The only real performance difference I noticed is a slightly reduced water pressure for each faucet out of the shower head. It wasn't enough to bother me, but I did notice it. This may have to do with increasing water usage reduction regulations, but I'm not sure as it didn't reduce it enough to make me research it.In summary, this high-quality kit gave me a new, updated faucet without having to replace the valve or rip apart the wall. It should be good for another decade or so before having to worry about it!

Easy install. Works great.

After installing, it looks like a professional job with solid appearance, much better than the (used to be) clear plastic knurled ball it replaced. I don't know how long this item will remain available, Delta doesn't use this style anymore, and a real plumber may be required, if they these disappear from the market.You must shut off the water to your entire home before installing this fixture. Part of our installation job required a small, reciprocal saw. I just happened to own one, new in the box, for a project my wife never started. If you're unfamiliar with this operation, watch the YouTube videos - two or three times. They will show you a couple of approaches to removing the retaining nut. These did not work for us, leaving the saw as the only alternative. It can be very frustrating to install, and IT IS VERY EASY TO DO SERIOUS DAMAGE to your plumbing. At one point, we were faced with the possibility that we had inflicted enough damage to require calling and waiting for a plumber while all our water service was shut off. Luckily, we hadn't.Following installation, the only problem we have with it, is that the handle points in the wrong direction. We are familiar with the end of the handle pointing through the center, like an arrow, with the center of the fixture being the arrowhead, aimed toward the hot (H) or cold (C) when you turn it on. Not this one. This one is the opposite. The end of the handle, at the bottom of the fixture, is pulled or pushed toward the H or C you desire. It's confusing, but works well once you get that. We found that this is our only option when installing, due to the design of a key part.

Great American made product and not the usual Chinese crap you get at the local hardware stores. Pretty much all the components with the exception of the packing is metal. Easier to replace than the old one. Since I was replacing a 24 year old faucet assembly, it was a bit a problem to remove the old metal cap as it was pretty much frozen in place. Let it soak in vinegar overnight, WD40, heating it, tapping it with an hammer nothing worked. Finally had to carefully cut across the cap ring using a Dremel saw and broke the cap. Be very careful if you have to do this as might end up cutting into the value. Also, do not ever try to twist it with brute force as you might end up breaking the valve in the back. If that happens you will have to shut-off the water supply to the whole house and call the plumber. So, all in all removing the old one was the worst part of the whole process. Installing the new one took less then 10 minutes. Looks great. One thing to keep in mind is that the handle direction is counter-intuitive. You will get hot water when expecting cold and visa versa. According to Delta the handle position indicates the hot or cold water. Anyway, this is a design flaw in my opinion but not a big deal. Need to get used it. I highly recommend using plumbers grease on all the fittings as it will make it easier to remove it in the future. Also the new ring-cap has notches in it so that you can use an adjustable wrench to screw and unscrew it. This is a big deal. the older did not have anything, it was smooth all over. The other thing you will notice is, if you apply grease to the ball, after installing it, the handle would come down on it own but that worked fine after I turned the water back on. All-in-all a great upgrade especially as the old was leaking.