My Exterior Tap Handle Mod

[Jim Bennett]

Doing something about the fumbling to operate our exterior tap knobs has been on my mind for many years now. Then seeing what brjohnso did, I committed myself to figuring something out. I had looked in the past for a replacement handle but could find nothing small enough to work. I had tried to find a bar type handle to give good finger room to no avail. I had finally decided to do something with the existing handles but kept putting it off, until now.......

I had an idea to make a small piece of bar to mount on the handle and made a sample piece out of wood. Liking what I was coming up with I opted to buy some aluminum channel 3/8" wide and 1/2" tall for a big $8 CAD. I then modified the flanges with one set to go into the center hole and one set to fit snuggly into one of the 3 indents on the sides of the handle. This reduced the height to an appropriate height too. The pieces I made fit really well and actually stayed in place as first built but fearing losing one when in use I added a couple #4 screws to hold it fast. I made the bars 2" long because any longer would hit the quick connect.

You can clearly see the notches I cut for mounting solid here.



Here they are mounted. I am very please with how well they work. They are on there solid and make the use of the taps very easy.

 

[Ron in BC]

Ron

 

[Flat Lander]

That looks pretty interesting, a little off the topic I find my hot water V/V weeps when it is opened does yours have the same symptoms?


Neil

 

[CharlesinGA]

Someone on the Escape forum made a post about these 3D printed faucet knobs for the outside https://www.etsy.com/listing/1746911312/pop-out-faucet-knobs-for-external-rv?dd_referrer=

https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f8/pop-out-knobs-for-the-escape-external-shower-26577.html

Charles

 

[BravoDeltaRomeo]

I live it. Almost free too.

Thanks for the idea.

 

[Jim Bennett]

I'm not telling the thinking and planning time, but once I knew what I was going to do I made 3 sets in about 30 minutes.

That looks pretty interesting, a little off the topic I find my hot water V/V weeps when it is opened does yours have the same symptoms?


Neil

I do not find the valves leak, but the long flexible spout does, or at least wants to drain. We turn it to the side or even drain it if if would be an issue, which it usually isn't.

Someone on the Escape forum made a post about these 3D printed faucet knobs for the outside https://www.etsy.com/listing/1746911312/pop-out-faucet-knobs-for-external-rv?dd_referrer=

https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f8/pop-out-knobs-for-the-escape-external-shower-26577.html

Charles

This is why I referred to them in my original post here. These taps would cost me $50 CAD delivered which really doesn't matter as they only work on the newest taps, not mine.

I have under $12 CAD into my supplies and can make up to 17 pairs. Plus, they are rock solid and real easy to use. That, and I love doing mods. My taps, my choice.

 

[Ron in BC]

but once I knew what I was going to do I made 3 sets in about 30 minutes.

Looks like your brothers are getting a set,

Do you have the notch dimensions or am I going to have to use little blocks of wood to work it out?

Ron

 

[Jim Bennett]

Looks like your brothers are getting a set,

Do you have the notch dimensions or am I going to have to use little blocks of wood to work it out?

Ron

Quite likely.

I only cleaned up the part that shows. Leave a smidge extra, easy to file to final size.

 

[Ron in BC]

Leave a smidge extra, easy to file to final size.

You're right. Even though your photo had enough resolution for me to measure in 32nds it still needed a little tweaking.

But get it right and the screws almost aren't required.

I got lucky when wading through the large amount of aluminum scrap that I have and found a piece of channel 1/2"x1/2". No trip to Metal Supermarket for me.


So now folks have two options to improve those awkward taps. Hard core DIY can make their own and others can order the 3D printed ones.

Ron

 

[Jim Bennett]

You're right. Even though your photo had enough resolution for me to measure in 32nds it still needed a little tweaking.

But get it right and the screws almost aren't required.

I got lucky when wading through the large amount of aluminum scrap that I have and found a piece of channel 1/2"x1/2". No trip to Metal Supermarket for me.


So now folks have two options to improve those awkward taps. Hard core DIY can make their own and others can order the 3D printed ones.

Ron

Looks good, I like the rounded corners, something more pronounce with the slightly wider channel. I did have a short piece of 1/2 x 1/2 but Crappy Tire was close, and the stuff I got was surprisingly cheap.

I see you remounted your handle so the bar was level.

I almost left them without screws as the hatch lid would keep them on when closed. I thought about accidentally losing one and on the screws went. They do help hold it solid.

BTW, when I installed mine I put the cold on the right side, strange that Escape connects them what I consider reversed.

 

[BravoDeltaRomeo]

Now we need an anodized Red and Blue version.

 

[Ron in BC]

I almost left them without screws as the hatch lid would keep them on when closed. I thought about accidentally losing one and on the screws went. They do help hold it solid.

I found that with a snug fit into the notch the ends of the channel almost make a spine into the plastic. So, yes, they'd work without screws but it does make sense to do it right and make sure they'll stay on.

Thanks again for posting this mod, I don't use the outside taps much but I had noticed how awkward they were to operate. A classic case of wondering if the person that designed the knobs ever used them when they were recessed in a well.

Ron

 

[brjohnso]

I made the 3-d printed pop-out knobs. I discovered that Escape has used two different sets of hardware for the external shower. The one I have uses knobs with 6 flutes and has a D-shaft. The one you have uses 3-flute knobs and has a splined shaft. The knobs I currently have on Etsy work with the 6-flute version, but not the 3-flute version. I got ahold of the 3-flute fixture from Amazon, took it apart, and designed a version of the pop-out knobs that fit. I'll have those printed and up on Etsy in a few days. I'm printing the prototype right now as I type this. Once I can build up a little inventory I'll put up new listings with both types.

If anyone has an exterior shower fixture different than these two I know about, I'd love to know about it. I modified the 3d-model so I can add different socket types easily.

 

[brjohnso]

This uses half the plastic and prints twice as fast, but it doesn't telescope so it's less cool. Will post if there is any interest. :ermm:

 

[Ron in BC]

The DIY version doesn't have to telescope as the cross bars give a good grip. Best part is that they were free.

Thanks Jim for the DIY option.

Ron

 

[Jim Bennett]

The DIY version doesn't have to telescope as the cross bars give a good grip. Best part is that they were free.

Thanks Jim for the DIY option.

Ron

Mine were not free, but very cheap and lots of material left. They really do work great, I just now need to get out and use them.

Thanks, it was fun doing it.

 

[Mark B1]

Thanks Jim. A little paint helps identify hot and cold.

 

[brjohnso]

Uploaded my version to Etsy. Works with both 3-flute knobs and 6-flute knobs found on Escape trailers. https://www.etsy.com/listing/175487...366&click_sum=356a4430&ref=shop_home_active_4