Shower thingamabob question

Factual Questions
1

This is driving me crazy. I’m trying to put a name to something so I can hopefully buy one. My shower has one knob to control water temperature and a diverter directly under the knob (not on the faucet) to send water to the shower or tub. The diverter is a thin metal bar, with no button or knob at the end, just a notch that goes all the way round the metal, about 1/4 inch from the end of bar. It isn’t a problem to push the metal bar to turn the shower on. The problem comes when you try to pull the bar back out to turn it off. It’s almost impossible to do with wet hands and nails softened from the shower, and not much easier to do when you’re dry.

So, I’m trying to find something to put on the end of the diverter, like a knob or handle, to make it easier to pull out. But a google search for diverter handles gives me things that look like faucet handles. And diverter knob gives me hits for new diverters. Is there nothing I can buy to put on the end of the thin metal bar to make it easier to pull?

2

A vise grip?

3

Find a washer with a hole that will just fit the shaft. Get a “E” clip that fits tightly in the groove. Put the washer on the shaft and snap in the clip. There may have been a handle on the shaft originally, but it’s going to be very tough to find the proper replacement unless you at least know the manufacturer of the hardware.

4

How fussy are you about what it looks like? And how much resistance does it have to pull it back? And what diameter is the bar?

I can’t imagine you are going to find a product made to do the job but have you considered any DIY efforts?

I’m thinking like a metal ball, drill and thread both ball and bar and fix with a threaded bar?

Or if you really don’t care what it looks like, duck tape, elastic band, or any number of random items glued into place?

5

Why do you have to shut the shower off when you are wet? Most showers I’ve been in automatically go back to “tub fill” mode after you shut the water off.

6

His doesn’t, apparently, since he says he can’t easily pull up the handle when he’s dry, either.

But thinking about now, I wonder if that grove on the shaft isn’t what locks it in place when you push it down? I’ve seen similar mechanisms like that. If that’s the case, you don’t have to pull it up, you just push it to slip the groove off the edge it’s latched on to and it should pop right up.

7

Does it appear that the notch is there to give you something to grab when pulling the bar out? If so, you can just tie some cotton butchers twine around the handle inside the notch, wrapping it a couple of times, to give you something to grip.

Butchers twine is nice because it’s thick, soft, keeps a tight knot and isn’t slippery when wet…

8

Doh, I missed that part :smack:

Any chance of posting a picture so we can see what is going on?

9

New taps, hopefully with a less awkward design, are not that expensive. Having a new one installed might be your best bet.

10

I grew up using shower thingamabobs like that. They are supposed to go back to “tub fill” mode when you shut the water off, but they have a tendency to stick. I occasionally kept one of those rubber grippy pads (normally used for opening jar lids) in the shower, and that helped, but it’s not a real elegant solution.

11

Ceejaytee - do you have trouble with mineral scale and deposits? If so, and your shower is the sort I think it is, try squirting some CLR onto the diverter and work it in and out. Let it sit for five minutes, squirt on some more and work it some more. Rinse it out with water, and hopefully, that’s all your shower needed.

12

We do get some deposits. I could try that. I’m starting to wonder now if the diverter’s made to pop out automatically, and it’s just not working right anymore. When I got home I checked and it was made by Moen, so I’ll check with them to see if I can find something similar. If the CLR doesn’t work and Moen has no hints, I may just get a new one installed. I checked Q.E.D.'s idea when I got home, but the notch isn’t used to lock the diverter in position. Since it’s really too small to grab easily, I think the automatic pop-out theory is the best so far.

Thanks for the DIY suggestions too.

13

I think you mean something like this:

The diverter plunger thingy is supposed to pop down on its own, with just gravity, when the water is shut off. The water pressure is supposed to be what holds it up. If yours sticks, it’s not working right, so the CLR idea might work. You may want to try squirting it up from the faucet opening, but be careful because it’s pretty harsh.

14

If it’s a Moën, I can virtually guarantee it’s designed to release when the water is turned off. Definitely try the CLR.

15

I’ll put CLR on the shopping list then. Curt C, it’s not on the spout, it’s under the temperature control handle. A quick look at the site shows me that they probably don’t make 'em like that anymore. Thanks all.

16

Let me guess?
The Divertor Rod/Bar is a round rod about 1/4" in diameter and protrudes about 1/2,"
and pulls out to turn the water on to the shower. Look for a “Shaft Collar” with set screw, and don’t forget you’ll need a hex wrench or other tool. Ace, Home Depot, Lowes, etc.