Shower valve question

[rwe2156]

I posted a while back about my pulsing shower valve. What causes this?

We change out just the cartridge but no effect.

I noticed under the cartridge a brass collar that retains what appears to be a plastic assembly the sits in the brass base of the valve.

I removed the collar and fiddled a bit with the plastic body, but stopped short of removing it as it didn't just pop right out.

A plumber friend is coming to look at it tomorrow he thinks the whole valve needs replacing which means cutting a hole in the drywall.

I'm suspicious there is a foreign material in there somewhere as it started happening right after I had a well pump replace.  I thought maybe  apiece of pvc cement got in there, but that just a theory.

So long story short, can the plastic part of the valve under the cartridge be removed and inspected, or should I resign myself to cutting the wall open?

[Willyou]

In my experience, most valves can be taken apart in order to replace worn or broken seals. It is hard to believe that yours is any different.

[Philip1231]

Just a guess: something wrong with the pressure balance mechanism (assuming its a pressure balanced valve)?

[Roly]

Just a guess: something wrong with the pressure balance mechanism (assuming its a pressure balanced valve)?

+1 they are sensitive to debris in them and with the recent work very likely it is the problem.   Roly

[toolmiser]

May not be a solution to your problem, but I was having a noise issue with our shower, I thought it was the valve. Got a kit and rebuilt it and still a noise. My shower head had "limed up" and after a good Lime A Way soak, it was quite again.

[rwe2156]

Just a guess: something wrong with the pressure balance mechanism (assuming its a pressure balanced valve)?

This is what it was.  All covered with mineral residue.