I have a single-lever Moen kitchen faucet that's 12 yrs old and I'm trying to replace the original cartridge. Moen sent a replacement cartridge (1225 B), that includes a removal tool. I've removed everything that is supposed to come apart up to this point, including the retaining clip that holds the cartridge in. The instructions at this point look like this:
The cartridge is completely circular, nothing keyed. It has O rings top and bottom to seal it. The removal tool is a plastic cap that fits around some wings in the top of the cartridge. You are supposed to use it to twist the body of the old cartridge. The only obvious purpose for this would be to sheer any built-up scale that might be stuck in the various openings, or just to generally loosen the body.
Inside the body of the cartridge, there is a stem that moves up and down for shut-off/flow volume, and rotates for hot/cold mix. Pulling up on the stem is supposed to pull out the cartridge.
The cartridge is frozen inside the faucet. The removal tool just deforms. I managed to turn the cartridge body maybe a few degrees and now it is stuck there. I tried using a metal tool to turn it without success, stopping short of enough pressure to damage the plastic cartridge.
I've used vise grips on the stem in the up position, tapping them up with a hammer. I've used enough force to knock off the vice grips but the cartridge body doesn't budge. I've also tried a small pry bar as a lever between the vice grips and the body of the faucet. Nothing budged, and I'm concerned that the cast metal body is too brittle, and that using the thin top rim for leverage is likely to break it.
There have been some other questions here about removing cartridges. A common theme is using WD-40 or CLR. Aside from the poisoning potential of WD-40, the cartridge is a very snug fit and O rings seal the area where scale could build up. So it isn't obvious how I could get enough to where it could count.
Any suggestions for extracting the old cartridge?
Best Answer
I have a Moen bathroom sink faucet Model Number 4570. It has been in place for about 25 years. I am the original owner. The cold water faucet finally failed and I ordered new parts from Moen (the cartridge plus various adapters and also their tool to aid in removing a cartridge nut. After removing the faucet handle and the cartridge nut, I then tried to extract the cartridge using needle nosed pliers as per the Moen instructions. After being in place for 25 years, it did not want to budge (not surprising).
I then looked on the internet to see if anyone else had experienced this problem and it looks like it has been a common problem. I read all the suggestions and tried putting vinegar on it to no avail. I was impressed with one proposal from an engineer in which he suggested attacking it from the underside by disconnecting the tubing and inserting a 5/8” rod and tapping it with a hammer.
I am 82 years old (also a retired engineer) and I did not feel like getting under the sink. I then tried to attack it from the top. I fashioned a loop out of some old pipe strap I had and I was able to attach the loop to the top of the cartridge with the screw that is used to attach the top extension to the cartridge. I then fashioned a lever arrangement using a block of wood and the lever that goes on my floor jack. See the attached photos. With this arrangement, the cartridge just popped out with very little effort.
Here is a photo of the Pipe Strap loop that I attached to the top of the cartridge. This photo shows the cartridge after extraction.
This photo shows the arrangement of the lever with the cartridge still in the housing.
I added some extra silicone to the two “O” rings on the new cartridge and then inserted the cartridge and finished the job. The valve turns extremely easily – maybe I did not need the extra silicone. Moen was very helpful in sending the parts (at no charge since I was the original owner).