Repair Leaky Handle Outdoor Garden Faucet (self forming graphite silicon grease spigot leak drip)

[@sailingonasummerbreeze7892]

Thank you for this! I had the exact same faucet, and the exact same problem. You probably just saved me $hundreds by not having to have a plumber come out! Peace Brother!

[@bridgetbyrnes8994]

You rock!! My house is 113 year old - not sure when the plumbing went in. Home Depot and Ace Hardware were both miffed on what kind of "gasket" I should use. I wrapped the self-forming graphite around the stem (which on my house was not removable) and I screwed the cover (?) back on - replaced the handle and it worked. The Home Depot man wants me to report back to him tomorrow if it worked. Thank you so much - everyone kept telling me I had to replace the whole setup.

[@DIYTinker]

Cool. thats great it worked!

[@blueribb99]

That nut is called the bonnet washer and between that and the metal washer is the bonnet washer or bonnet packing. This gets compressed by tightening the bonnet nut and seals the space between the metal stem and the bonnet nut to prevent leaks. If you don't know the exact make and model of the hose bibb, then you can try different bonnet washers until you find one that fits and works. You should estimate OD, ID and thickness of the existing bonnet washer.

[@ChristopherBix2]

But why go to all that trouble to find a correct bonnet washer when this works fine no matter what the dimensions?

[@ashadow1836]

@@ChristopherBix2 Because it's not hard or expensive to get a kit with various sizes, and doing it the right way means you don't have to worry about it for another 20 years? But sure, go through the effort of taking it apart and then half-assing the fix. To each their own.

[@hallbepea]

This 100% fixed my old brass fitting from the late 60’s. Just used exactly what you put in the video. Only difference was I 1) needed to remove the old packing, which didn’t know if I needed to do. I just wanted to keep it clean. And 2) had major difficulty getting the corroded handle off of the stem. Guy at Home Depot just said wd40 and evenly pound off the handle from left snd right so I used a wrench in the wide setting. Works clean! No drips. No need to knee jerk buy a new sillcock or anything.

[@jampa9]

Very helpful. Thanks so much for taking the trouble to make this video. The funny thing is the larger hardware store (Lowe's) didn't have the teflon or kevlar string. I had to go to Ace who have their own house brand version that is colored white (a teflon blend of some sort). I squeezed four or five wraps around the stem between the metal washer and the cracked/checked rubber washer and the faucet/spigot works perfectly now.

[@NJDiMaggio]

Oh thank you thank you thank you!!! I’ve been searching for a video to show me how and where to repack, but the spigots were all different than mine. THEN I FOUND YOU! This was my faucet! Great explanation and up close visuals. I was able to fix my spigot, even with the Ace Hardware guy giving me wrong info.

[@mikewelch8379]

This type of faucet is called a "Mansfield style", main characteristic being the long stem. The purpose of the long stem is to keep the water retaining part away from where it could freeze which would cause it to burst, sort of like why you burry things below the freezing line on the ground. Have same issue, but unfortunately I already cleaned out the old graphite that was in there. Didn't know what it was but didn't think it was rubber. I bought some graphite string but didn't try packing a completely new setup just didn't see how it could work. Had to order a kit from home improvement center, but it was specific to a brand. $25 out the window for that, except it did have two graphite washers that I plan on starting with to see if I can get this fixed. Don't have any silicone grease though but have silicone spray. Hopefully that will work. Thanks for the video!

[@mikewelch8379]

Update: Using a graphite washer that came with a $25 kit that turns out only works with the manufacturer's variation of the Mansfield style faucet + graphite string got my faucet livable again though it still drips a little when I shut it off. Didn't think the graphite string would work so thanks for the video, it got me close enough I can live with it until I have time to get it right. Thanks!

[@ChristopherBix2]

Thanks for this. All the other vids I found dealt with bibs that had a separate nut just beyond the stem to tighten this packing. Mine, like yours, doesn't. Replaced the small washer at the far end, but this wadding under the bonnet nut clearly needs replacing as well. Now my only challenge is how to get the screw that holds the knob off. It's corroded and isn't budging.

[@seeker60]

I have an old outdoor faucet sillcock stem from back around 1998 or so. It only needed the bonnet re=packed but there are no bonnet packing pre-formed that fit this old stem and bonnet. I tried the caulking rope both silicone and graphite both did not do the trick 100%. I then ordered a package of rubber washers some beveled hoping I could find one that fit. There were some but the center opening was far too small for the stem to fit threw. I pulled out my dremel tool and used the cone shaped sander to widen out the opening on the washer. Held the washer in place with a needle nose plyer and slowly worked the hole larger. It fit like a glove once finished and I now have zero drip and a nice tight fit that should last for some time. Better than the rope by a mile.

[@eghost1548]

Awesome, been looking for this exact fix but all the other videos are for newer style faucets.

[@joshmorris8895]

Same here. Took me awhile to get here but this finally helps and I know what to do. Thank you!

[@rocbola]

This is the method i used to fix my leak, and it worked! I didn't post videos of the repair, but i have videos of the drip irrigation system i installed on my outdoor faucet both before and after i fixed it. It seems so be pretty much the same model you have. Thanks so much for this video!!!

[@starlak8198]

Watched your video and now my faucet doesn't leak! Thank you for taking the time to record this DIY fix!

[@khaselman]

Should wrap the packing rope in the same direction of tightening the faucet. Good video!

[@PottersWork]

Thank you man, was thinking I would be replacing my whole faucet (I did that on my other one and it sucked) but think I will try this 1st! appreciate the video sir

[@DIYTinker]

happy to hear that. i actually bought that from Lowe's. Its good to know Ace carries their own brand. i need to shop there more often.

[@Missouribowhunter]

Success! Cheap and easy fix... great video for a new homeowner like myself who is still learning these things. Gotta love the internet!

[@Missouribowhunter]

I thought that had a DSLR feel to it! Stopping by the hardware store on my way home to get the supplies to try this myself. Thanks for the video!

[@williamh.6941]

Nice video. Helped fix my leak. Best wishes!!!

[@kimberlyannkasper]

This tutorial worked to fix faucet inside for washing machine. THANKS!

[@mgpvii]

Nice video. While you did the work to take off the valve you should have replaced the bottom washer even though it wasn’t leaking. Chances are if you stem was leaking the bottom washer doesn’t have much life to it

[@treksterjsc]

Just the video I was looking for. Very informative into the point thank you.

[@clintd3476]

Thanks. Able to fix both bibs. Super helpful instruction.

[@elgenerz]

Thanks for posting, I need to do this to one of my faucets but didn't know it was so simple. Cheers.

[@grandmastershek]

My house has the same exact faucet, main, etc! Thanks so much for the help!!!

[@grandmastershek]

All done! I used a different brand of graphite which was much fluffier and saturated in some solution. So I had to add more packing than it appears to have needed in yours. Also, I encountered a leak on the the threads after putting it back. You may want to include in the captions to wrap the threads in Teflon tape as this did the trick for me. and may not be apparent to most DIYers. Thanks again! It was a massive help and I learned something new!

[@gergemall]

Thx so much my house is 140 years old

[@sunnyskyez]

Great vid. thanks. But youtube needs to quit putting up the video's next in line before the present video is done. Im sure the leak was fixed but it would be nice to see it for myself instead of behind the next vids. LOL

[@DIYTinker]

wonderful! happy to know it worked for you.

[@adriansalinas1572]

I have the same exact valve stem as you except I need the screw and rubber washer that goes on the other end. Do you know we’re I can find it to replace?

[@pamrjohnson2493]

Thank you for making it understandable

[@polewatcher]

Very clear, very well done. Thx!

[@DavidWolf84]

Worked like a charm. Awesome vid

[@GradeABeaf]

Fuckin awesome!!! Thanks for the video, the guy at the hardware store gave me the graphite string and grease but I had no idea what to do with it until your video. No leaks now!!!!

[@spectre3492]

The flat blade screw holding the handle on for mine is like fused on there. How can I get it off? I can unscrew the threaded part and pull the cartridge out but I can’t get the handle off

[@NguyenThanh-hy6pv]

Thank you for a very helpful video!

[@chilichickSantaFe]

Thank you! I will.

[@aldosantos3255]

Thanks men👍

[@penguincomedy1]

great video, thanks!

[@schoolboy405]

What if the screw doesn’t come out? Tried wd40, nothing.

[@ultrakool]

muchas nachos. just what the doctor ordered

[@HipOperation99]

Can you buy all new internals for this?

[@choosakdiseriruk7928]

Thanks

[@DIYTinker]

@xpwex03 Its a canon T2i.

[@marksargent]

Thanks!

[@johnf4202009]

So the screw that comes off before the washer part is corroided!!!!! Need to replace the hole thing! Any ideas what I am looking for to replace?

[@johnf4202009]

Oh and I am not John, weird that was posted. Just a determined female homeowner..... The handle that turns on the water was not present when I bought the house and the place that would have attached the screw to the handle is bent and corroded. I think I need to replace the whole thing, any suggestions?

[@DIYTinker]

john frith John or Joan, it doesnt matter, bring the corroded part to a home center (HD, Lowes, ACE, etc...) and see if they have the replacement part. If they dont, then they can give you some suggestions. Worst case is to cut into the wall and replace the whole unit. i might make a video cutting into the wall someday in the near future because my brother has the same problem.

[@chilichickSantaFe]

can a leaky bathroom faucet handle be fixed in a similar way?

[@DIYTinker]

thx! you made my day :)

[@kansasdude]

our faucet handle doesn't leak.....water gushes out of it and gets worse everyday (I wonder if it's cause the handle is cracked cause it does have a crack where the screw is)

[@snailer06]

hilarious how you can't see it not leaking at the end because of YT promos over the top of your video.

[@God_is_my_savior-316]

Please use focus.

[@DIYTinker]

kind of... checkout my channel and search for "faucet". i have a video on bathroom faucet.

[@triumphmanful]

NO HELP FOR US WHO HAVE A WELL AND NO MAIN TO TURN OFF !

[@joshuabriggs5032]

Ho

[@DIYTinker]

wonderful! happy to know it worked for you.