Hi there,
1927 construction. Separate shower stall has diverter that is supposed to switch between the overhead showerhead and the chest-level showerhead. The diverter has never worked in the 12+ years I've lived here. -- it will not turn no matter how much force has been applied.
The past few months, the chest-level showerhead has begun to leak cold water while she shower is running. Then I noticed a water spot forming on the ceiling of the room below the shower. I plugged the floor drain and ran the shower, and noticed the ceiling dripping. That confirmed that the leak was being caused NOT because of the drain. My suspicion is that the diverter needs to be replaced. I removed the handles, trim, and the brass escutcheon that screws onto the pipe stem (there is a bell-shaped rubber washer inside, but this model has no packing nut.) Under the brass escutcheon and washer, there is a flat brass "washer" or cover that is flush to the exterior of the pipe stem. When that is removed, you can see where the valve stem is seated within the pipe, but there is no way to turn it and no way to pull it out and no more parts that can be removed to get closer to it. I have lubed, heated, torqued, pushed, pulled, knocked it each way and I cannot get it to budge. How do I get this diverter stem out? I can't afford to hire a plumber right now and I am not keen on busting the tile on the tub wall opposite the shower knobs to replace the entire assembly. There just has to be a way to get this diverter stem out of the pipe housing....
Here is a picture of all of the parts removed in order on the diverter stem, and the hot water stem, which easily screws out.