In 2016 I bought a shower very much like this one from victorian plumbing. Just recently the thermostat knob stared leaking unless it was turned to the right. The problem has gotten worse and I tried to contact them for info/spares and they have completely ignored my emails for the last 3 weeks so I decided to fix it myself,
I have contacted some spares people and they wanted a picture of the old cartidge so they can identify it and so I took the cartridge apart as follows.
Under the temp control knob I found a small plastic cover that I pulled out using a knife.
I then loosened a grub screw (flat head driver) in that hole and could pull the knob off.
This exposed a black plastic collar that was part of the stop mechanism to limit the knob movement.
This was held on with a clip which I managed to remove with a screw driver to push the clip sideways, whilst using a sharp knife to lever the clip up a bit since it was being caught on the black plastic.
I was left with two slotted lugs - one large to hold the black plastic bit, and one small one for the knob.
Looking online I found that some cartridges unscrew and some pull out after a grub screw is removed. Since I could see no grub screw I tried unscrewing but found that it wasn't turning... even with a lot of force. I found that it would rotate easily a few degrees each way but stopped suddenly - almost as if there was a grub screw involved!.
I lifted the panel off the wall but couldn't see a screw (even though it was awkward whilst holding it) and in the end unplumbed it from the wall to get a better look. There was no grub screw.....
So I then removed the collar holding the valve to the panel - it has four slots around the edge and luckily a few taps of a hammer on a screw driver got the collar to rotate. I then removed the chrome surround on the front of the panel and found the grub screw hiding under the collar - pretty much in line with the panel.
So by forcing the valve forwards through the hole I managed to get a 2.5mm allen key into the grub and remove it. The cartridge then easily just pulled forward... No unscrewing required.
So I am now ordering another one: I've just ben told the part i need is this one: https://www.divapor.com/spares/showers/thermostatic-cartridge/triton-83308580-compatible-thermostatic-cartridge-excellente-muse-dove-capella-senata.php (Product Part Number:NON-83308580) ...Which looks slighty different because it has flats on the area where the grub goes in and my one doesn't... but I guess that's not important.
The price range for these cartidges range from £125 down to about £50 (luckily). The shower unit costs over £200 so replacing the cartridge for £125 would really hurt - especially as reading about some people think they only last 2 years. Adding in a plumber - it would be a £200 shower that could cost £200 very 2 years... ouch. When I replace this shower I may well go for a manual temperature control next time.
So in summary:
Don't buy stuff from victorian plumbing - some of there products are badly designed, their support is useless - see their facebook page if you dont believe me - and ignore their trustpilot page which has loads of fake sounding reviews on it.
I have contacted some spares people and they wanted a picture of the old cartidge so they can identify it and so I took the cartridge apart as follows.
Under the temp control knob I found a small plastic cover that I pulled out using a knife.
I then loosened a grub screw (flat head driver) in that hole and could pull the knob off.
This exposed a black plastic collar that was part of the stop mechanism to limit the knob movement.
This was held on with a clip which I managed to remove with a screw driver to push the clip sideways, whilst using a sharp knife to lever the clip up a bit since it was being caught on the black plastic.
I was left with two slotted lugs - one large to hold the black plastic bit, and one small one for the knob.
Looking online I found that some cartridges unscrew and some pull out after a grub screw is removed. Since I could see no grub screw I tried unscrewing but found that it wasn't turning... even with a lot of force. I found that it would rotate easily a few degrees each way but stopped suddenly - almost as if there was a grub screw involved!.
I lifted the panel off the wall but couldn't see a screw (even though it was awkward whilst holding it) and in the end unplumbed it from the wall to get a better look. There was no grub screw.....
So I then removed the collar holding the valve to the panel - it has four slots around the edge and luckily a few taps of a hammer on a screw driver got the collar to rotate. I then removed the chrome surround on the front of the panel and found the grub screw hiding under the collar - pretty much in line with the panel.
So by forcing the valve forwards through the hole I managed to get a 2.5mm allen key into the grub and remove it. The cartridge then easily just pulled forward... No unscrewing required.
So I am now ordering another one: I've just ben told the part i need is this one: https://www.divapor.com/spares/showers/thermostatic-cartridge/triton-83308580-compatible-thermostatic-cartridge-excellente-muse-dove-capella-senata.php (Product Part Number:NON-83308580) ...Which looks slighty different because it has flats on the area where the grub goes in and my one doesn't... but I guess that's not important.
The price range for these cartidges range from £125 down to about £50 (luckily). The shower unit costs over £200 so replacing the cartridge for £125 would really hurt - especially as reading about some people think they only last 2 years. Adding in a plumber - it would be a £200 shower that could cost £200 very 2 years... ouch. When I replace this shower I may well go for a manual temperature control next time.
So in summary:
Don't buy stuff from victorian plumbing - some of there products are badly designed, their support is useless - see their facebook page if you dont believe me - and ignore their trustpilot page which has loads of fake sounding reviews on it.