Franke Ascona SP3308 Tap Valve Adaptor

thingiverse

If you have a dripping Franke Ascona Tap, or maybe one of their other taps fitted with a SP3308 1/4 turn ceramic valve, you may find it difficult to remove the old valve. This is because the valve doesn't have a conventional hex head, it's rounded with just 2 flat edges 12mm apart, like in the picture. The valve is also inset into the tap body, so it's very difficult to get an open ended spanner onto it. I tried removing the valve but the spanner just slipped off. I also tried mole grips, adjustable wrenches etc, but nothing would give the grip I needed and the valve was starting to get mashed. Luckily I was inside my 5 year warranty, so Franke customer service very nicely sent me their 4013R adaptor - if you're outside your warranty, you can buy the tool from online retailers for £12, but looking at it, I thought there must be a better way. So, here is my Franke SP3308 Valve Removal Tool. It's a really simple design and fits inside a 17mm socket. Print it with 100% infill - I used clear PET. The plastic doesn't have to be "that" hard because it works by compression - it can't escape because the socket holds it all in place and that is what gives you the grip on the tap head. It took less than 10 minutes to print, costs about 10p in plastic and works a treat. Shown are pictures of the valve, the Franke metal adaptor, my plastic adaptor, plus the whole thing fitted into a 17mm socket. Note that Franke must've realised there was a design problem - the replacement valves came with an improved conventional hex head that you can fit a regular socket over. Tools required 1) My adaptor 2) A deep 17mm hex socket (preferably one with a straight "HEX" inner, not one of the multi adaptors) 3) A socket wrench 4) A T8 Torx bit to remove the small grub screw which holds the tap handle on the valve This thing was made with Tinkercad. Edit it online https://www.tinkercad.com/things/5Wp95v23bk4