# Bathroom sink faucet question. Loose handles **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 7, 2022, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-sink-faucet-question-loose-handles/969258 "2022-08-07T17:55:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2022, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-sink-faucet-question-loose-handles/969258/1 "2022-08-07T17:55:18Z")
I’ve done more plumbing than I care to admit. But I have a weird question. Moen, bathroom sink faucet. Two handle. Handles are set into the counter top itself. The handles hot and cold are/have come off. The handles are machined on the inside going straight up to accept about a ~ 1/8 in machine screw. There are no hidden hex screws on the sides of this that would uncover a hex screw which is more typical. (I’ve looked and looked) The metal handle is ‘geared’ inside to fit over the nylon gear below it to open the valve. Supply lines go directly into the bottoms of the handles. Supply is all in line with the faucet. BUT it appears that the screws that keep the handles on have fallen out have dropped into the supply lines. Or the individual valves for the faucet. The handles just came off. The only way I can see is that there was a machine screw from the interior of the valve into the bottom of the valve itself. But that makes no sense. I thought that maybe it was a press fit for the handle, or it snapped on or something, but that’s not the case. Ideas welcome. I suspect I will just replace the entire unit. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2022, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-sink-faucet-question-loose-handles/969258/2 "2022-08-07T18:03:20Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > The handles are machined on the inside going straight up to accept about a ~ 1/8 in machine screw. Through threaded hole or blind threaded hole (not drilled all the way through!) ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2022, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-sink-faucet-question-loose-handles/969258/3 "2022-08-07T18:31:04Z")
Blind. From underneath. Going up into the handle. Appears to be if it fails you’re screwed design. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2022, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-sink-faucet-question-loose-handles/969258/4 "2022-08-07T18:46:36Z")
Any chance this is you (\< 2min) ? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/j5UlC7WmsyE/hqdefault.jpg "Tighten a Loose Lever on Moen Brantford Faucet") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5UlC7WmsyE) [ETA: doesn’t sound like it, but … maybe the mechanicals are equivalent ?] ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2022, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-sink-faucet-question-loose-handles/969258/5 "2022-08-07T19:01:19Z")
A picture would be worth 1,000 posts… ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2022, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-sink-faucet-question-loose-handles/969258/6 "2022-08-07T20:24:28Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > [ETA: doesn’t sound like it, but … maybe the mechanicals are equivalent ?] Im thinkind that must be what’s going on. I looked at the euestations below the handle but can’t unscrew them by hand. I need a strap wrench. There is no other way to get to the screw. I assume the part under the handle unscrews. Not sure. The conical bit under the handle must come off. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2022, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-sink-faucet-question-loose-handles/969258/7 "2022-08-08T11:42:00Z")
Discourse won’t let me imbed pictures. I’ll have to look into it. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2022, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-sink-faucet-question-loose-handles/969258/8 "2022-08-08T16:54:29Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Discourse won’t let me imbed pictures. The usual way is to put the images into a picture-hosting site like imgur and then link here to the album or individual pictures. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2022, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-sink-faucet-question-loose-handles/969258/9 "2022-08-08T19:42:16Z")
This is the faucet. It’s a Moan. No luck yet finding a manual/parts diagram. Or the model number. [![](https://i.imgur.com/7wnZyN0.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/7wnZyN0.jpg) I can pull the left/hot handle off completely. It’s just sitting there. Works, but needs fixed. The handle has ‘gear’ teeth that match the nylon gear in the lower part. in the center of the knob is a machine screw hole for a screw. I believe that a machine screw came up from lower part, through the center of the gear. I think the screw got lose/fell out into the lower part. [![](https://i.imgur.com/DG4zzR4.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/DG4zzR4.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2022, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-sink-faucet-question-loose-handles/969258/10 "2022-08-08T19:45:43Z")
You need to unscrew the escutcheon plate under the handle. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2022, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-sink-faucet-question-loose-handles/969258/11 "2022-08-08T19:48:12Z")
Thanks. That’s what I’m thinking. I’m gonna buy a strap wrench. Can’t do it by hand, and I really don’t want to grab it with a pipe wrench. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2022, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-sink-faucet-question-loose-handles/969258/12 "2022-08-08T19:49:52Z")
See if one of these is close to what you have: > **[How To Remove Moen Bathroom Sink Faucet Handles | Mr Kitchen Faucets](https://www.mrkitchenfaucets.com/how-to-remove-moen-bathroom-sink-faucet-handles/)** > > There are many reasons why you may need to remove your Moen bathroom sink faucet handles. Whether you’re attempting to pinpoint a leak, change the cartridge, ETA: or this: [https://www.plbg.com/forum/read.php?1,622595](https://www.plbg.com/forum/read.php?1,622595) ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2022, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-sink-faucet-question-loose-handles/969258/13 "2022-08-08T20:03:13Z")
Thanks beowolff. I was thinking about a rag and pipe wrench or channel locks. But may pick up a strap wrench when I’m in town. I’m trying to balance a lot of things. Sink works fine for the moment, but we are having a friend stay for a long weekend at the end of the month. Would be nice if it was fixed, but ahha, we just had a flood from upstairs to downstairs and the place is in disarray at best. I got the plumbing fixed that caused the flood and drywall and flooring that was destroyed torn out. Reconstruction will be while she is here I suppose. It’s been kinda a shitty few weeks. I think everything is solid at this point (looks around dubiously). Long time friend won’t care about house. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2022, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-sink-faucet-question-loose-handles/969258/14 "2022-08-08T20:18:30Z")
Good luck with everything. Plumbing is annoying. Connections that are fine for many years can suddenly start dripping. Arrgh… ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2022, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-sink-faucet-question-loose-handles/969258/15 "2022-08-08T20:40:15Z")
Oh boy yeah. Drain connection to upstairs shower decided to completely fail making quite a mess of things. This was during my Wifes morning shower. I was in my office in the loft above the upstairs bedroom. She saw the mess when she went downstairs. I asked if this was something I could look at in a few minutes. Ummmm… no. Ceiling came down on first floor and about 15 gallons of water with it. I thought I heard something… ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2022, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-sink-faucet-question-loose-handles/969258/16 "2022-08-09T03:11:04Z")
“The metal handle is ‘ **geared** ’ inside to fit over the nylon **gear** below it…” Splined, spline. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2022, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-sink-faucet-question-loose-handles/969258/17 "2022-08-09T03:14:48Z")
That second word should be splines, plural. ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2022, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-sink-faucet-question-loose-handles/969258/18 "2022-08-09T06:06:50Z")
Look at the centre of the splines (where it meets the faucet) on the handle…there’s a hole… push into there, the cap will pop out of the handle, and you will find the missing screw under that cap. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2022, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-sink-faucet-question-loose-handles/969258/19 "2022-08-09T12:06:27Z")
I’ll have to give that a shot. Sure doesn’t look like it comes off though. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2022, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-sink-faucet-question-loose-handles/969258/20 "2022-08-09T13:15:48Z")
Well, that isn’t it. The handle is a solid single piece. And the hole in the handle part is threaded. The screw must come from the bottom up. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-sink-faucet-question-loose-handles/969258.md?page=2)