The New Hotness

The shower faucet handles have been getting looser, but once a decade seems reasonable. This time around, however, the setscrews had dug themselves so far into the splined plastic fittings that they had run out of thread:

American Standard Shower Handle rebuild - gouged setscrew sockets — American Standard Shower Handle rebuild – gouged setscrew sockets

Wipe out the crud, clean out what’s left with alcohol to encourage stick-to-it-ivity, and fill the cavities with JB Kwikweld epoxy:

American Standard Shower Handle rebuild - epoxy fill — American Standard Shower Handle rebuild – epoxy fill

When it cures, file a flat across the sockets:

American Standard Shower Handle rebuild - flatted — American Standard Shower Handle rebuild – flatted

Reinstall in reverse order with a dot of NeverSeez on the setscrews for good measure.

Just so you don’t have to look it up, this is what the cold water faucet innards looked like a decade ago:

Ought to be good for another decade, right?

The New Hotness

Shower Faucet Handle Rebuild & Tightening