bakelite sink lever

[jenniewren]

Hello - hoping some-one will advise me on how to fix the bakelite sink lever. It has a pce that has cracked thru and needs re-gluing near a screw at the top that attaches to the actual pump lever....what do I use? A plastic adhesive? How the devil do I pull it to pce's to clean and get it operational again?? Where do I begin...grrr...Or is it simpler to replace it with a new one? Have had a look on site but can't find anything on levers/taps! Most likely not looking in the right places...sorry! It is rather cute and would like to keep it if I can. The sink has "MIRRA" engraved on the front....There is a photo of it under "Wayfarer again..." in Member's site. Thanks to Dave I think we have determined it is really a "Franklin"...date??? No idea. I did find a name at last in the back pull up cavity - COLTMAN am assuming it is the builder's name....any info and help would be appreciated.....J

[cobber]

OK... c'mon you big butch restorers....help little ol' jenniewren out
with this rather cute little sink lever problem

Jenniewren..... if a bit of super glue with some fine wire wrapped around the weak bit doesn't do the trick (and it probably won't) you might have to make up a replica lever out of some sort of hard plastic material.
Don't panic yet.... somebody probably has a NOS pump laying around in his shed.

Cobber

[jenniewren]

Cobber - my knight in shining armour! I keep looking at it whilst scrubbing/dismantling things and have even stood with the spanner in my hand but don't know where to begin! After hand sawing the double bed frame in four pce's to get it out I was tempted to attack the sink lever with the saw - but NO I refrained! Ummm...make up a lever eh? So I fire up the barby place an old pot on top and dismantle the "little nipper" outer bakelite case of the radio that was destined for the vv and do a melt down??? Problem is the tap is cream and the "nipper" is red...mmmm. I will try the superglue & thin (fuse wire?) you have suggested and hold my breath! Hoping I don't stick my fingers to it! But how do I know what to do if this is successful in getting it to work? It actually levers up and down but seems a bit ummm...how do I explain...slack, wobbly, loose, sloppy - with no suction?? Does this make sense??? A thought! Probably should put some water in the tank - Der! Would that alter the feel of it? Would it have a seal inside that is perhaps perished? Should I try and dismantle it? Spray a little WD40 on the metal pce?? I am pretty good with a spanner/screwdriver!! Or another thought... the "boy" has a shed full of motorbikes -I could sneak in when he is at work... think he would miss a brake/clutch lever off the MV??? Thank goodness there is no wood rot - far out - that would really have me stamping my foot & scratching my head!!! So many questions I know, I know...

[DC3Td]

Hi Jenniewren. Not a particularly easy fix but....there is a glue that works extremely well on bakelite.Can`t think of it off hand,so that`s no good to you at this moment. However if you remove the screw & nut from the handpiece (saving the little bit thats cracked/broken,then have 'the boy' drill out that hole & insert a steel/metal/aluminium sleeve.A new screw/nut & that should be it. Yes, there`s probably a washer that slides up/down the pump shaft.Easily replaced by looking under the sink,removing the hose from the outer shaft,undoing the locking nut.Voila one handpiece to refurb. Now that wasn`t painful was it. cheers gordon

[jenniewren]

Another shining knight! - sounds simple enough Gordon - did I mention I am pretty handy with an electric drill as well!! What could possibly go wrong? "The boy's attitude (husband really)" haven't any spare time...you can do this...ummmmm...having self doubts the more I dismantle things!!! But anywho - shall give it a go - maybe I will ask at a hardware store about the adhesive??? Getting under the sink is a worry - good thing I am small! Thank you very much for your help/advice guys - shall let you know the outcome!

Guess when it is all complete & "Sassy" is ready for her first trip - I will step back with a HUGE smile and say "I actually did it!!!" Phew!

[kaybee]

Hi Jennie, your other option is to join the handle back together as best you can and then take it to a foundry and have an aluminium copy made from it. You can then either have it polished or paint it in a colour of your choice. It's not an expensive procedure and it's a better long term solution than patching up the oldie and having it break again the first time you go away in the van and need it , regards, Col.

[jenniewren]

Ooooo thank you, thank you Dave! Might need to take you up on that as looking at it and having a little play with it, it seems quite fragile...I will reglue the pce (you can see it in the photo just sticking up in the photo at the top!) Would not be so bad except it is right where the screw/nut meets to hold the shaft. I will cross my fingers and see how the repair goes...but put my name on that spare pump you have Dave...have a feeling the whole pump is tired!!! Won't be able to do a lot until this w/end when I can see what I am doing under the sink! Regards Jennie

[jenniewren]

Hi there Gordon! So sorry to post this on the "open" forum but can't seem to email you! Stupid computers. Okey Dokey...slow & steady she goes with the drilling! Firstly I shall try the re-gluing/wire trick, then, fill the tank and see if the "sloppiness" is my imagination, then crawl under the sink and unscrew the hose and check the washer! Then scream... If all the above fails I will purchase the pump/tap from Dave who has one. (What a sweetheart!) The next step will be to check the fridge carefully. Visions of the "elvis" photo haunts me. Being blown out the door doesn't appeal to my sense of humour...kind regards Jennie

[DC3Td]

Hi. I did receive your email. Must have as i replied. Or did i. Or did you. cheers gordon