A plumbing question

[RW99]

I'm trying to install an extension for my shower head and while tightening it, I managed to make the shower stem? turn 90 degrees (so it faces out of the shower). Any ideas on how to turn it back? I can't get good enough leverage on it to turn it back. And any attempt to clamp it is causing more damage. The plate covering it seems very secure. Any ideas? Because I don't know the terminology, this is the stem I'm referring to

[Rathji]

Pipe wrench?

[speede5]

Wrap it in a couple layers of duct tape, and tape the jaws on a pipe wrench and you should be ok. the cover is probably stuck to the wall with some silicone. If the jaws cut through that try gripping it at the bend for a bit more leverage. Depending on how it was assembled you might have a leak when you back it off to straighten it. make sure to have a look under the plate to be sure.

[RW99]

Like this one? http://www.homedepot.ca/product/10-i...wrench/903567#

Seems like it's just a clamper and would damage the end of the stem?

*edit* Thanks speede5, I'll try that out. Now I just have to buy a pipe wrench

[Flames_Gimp]

wrap a cloth around it and use vice grips

[surferguy]

Originally Posted by Flames_Gimp

wrap a cloth around it and use vice grips

This

[DuffMan]

use one of them jar lid opener pads and your hands .

[Bindair Dundat]

Originally Posted by surferguy

This

Or this... (a "strap wrench")




And also? I would not advise trying to take the "shower arm" (that's what it's called, BTW) around yet another 3/4 turn in this case. Remove it and retape the male thread (teflon thread tape: buy the "good stuff" [$3-4/roll, NOT the .89c one] and use at least 5-6 wraps) then re-install and retighten. NOTE: When removing it, count how many "turns" it takes. When re-installing, take it around to the nearest full turn that you counted (while removing) and stop in the position you want.

The reason for removing/re-installing it? If you try to "horse" it around the additional 3/4 turn you may easily cause damage to the "drop-ear" elbow, it's mounting hardware, or the solder joint inside the wall, and that opens a real can of worms... (i.e. call a plumber). Plus (by the looks of the picture the OP provided), your plumber may also end up having no choice other than going through the finished tiled wall to make the repair if there's no access to the shower head from the other side.

Needless to say, this is a far from desirable situation.

Or you might just go ahead, crank it around the 3/4 turn...put away your shiny new wrench, go crack a beer, and muse on the fact that that "bindair dundat" guy really has no freakin idea what he's talking about...

[RW99]

Thanks for the help. An inch thick layer of duct tape and a vice grip did the job. I also took the plate off and ran the shower for a few minutes. I couldn't see too much (lots of cut up drywall?, couldn't see what it was attached to) but I didn't see any leaks. I'll cross my fingers and keep an eye on the walls. And now I have a shiny new pipe wrench