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Moen bathroom faucet cartridge replacement to fix leak around the handle or dripping spout.

Discussion in 'The DIY Room' started by don2222, Aug 28, 2026 at 12:30 PM.

  1. don2222

    don2222

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    Hello
    Today I am trying to fix a leak around the cold water handle on the bathroom sink faucet. It is a Moen 2 handle wide spread newer model Caldwell 94349SRN faucet and part # 1234 cartridge with a lifetime warranty only for the original owner! They are betting I cannot do it[​IMG] I can see why now! LOL
    Not counting shower or tub cartridges, there are basically 2 different cartridges for the bathroom sink. The old white 1224 cartridge and the new black 1234 cartridge. Giving them the exact model of the faucet and the date it was purchased plus of it has the red and white stem extension. When installing you will see if the top of the stem extension has full splines or partial splines. A lot to learn here!

    They sent me 2 cartridges for the hot and cold because I had the sink model, the cartilage number, the receipt and I sent texted them a picture. Then they sent me a link to the instructions which had all the instructions for each model and each version so I had to figure out that I had the new version black cartridges and the colored red and blue stem extensions and the partial splines not the full splines. [​IMG]

    They also sent removal tool because Inasked about it. [​IMG] It did not go in all the way because it ran into a round lip protruding from the brass threads!

    I had to put in my vise and squeeze the gap in the seam along the barrel hard 2 times with my vise make the diameter a tiny bit less to fit past the circular lip then I could unscrew something and it was not the cartridge nut that this tool was made for! It turns out that the brass piece the handle screws into unscrews out and ended up on the removal tool! This was not explained in the instructions or by Moen support!

    After spending some time figuring that out, I could get the cartridge nut removal tool in to the black cartridge nut with the 2 tabs on the tool going into the 2 slots in the cartridge nut. However I had to grab the tool with some vise grips to turn it so I could pop the nut and then easily loosen the nut all the way. Then I could grab the stem and pull the black plastic nut and the black cartridge both out together!

    When putting in the new cartridge it must be seated in all the way with the tab on each side going into the slots in the brass valve housing. Then the black cartridge nut can be screwed in all the way and the stem extension be pushed back on the new stem. Then the brass thread adapter they never mentioned can be screwed back in and the handle can be screwed back on. In my case the new cartridge was fully open so I had to make sure the lever in the handle was facing out towards me.

    Has anyone’s done this with the lifetime warranty parts?
    Pic 1 - Cold water handle
    Pic 2- Leak around handle base
    Pic 3 - Moen OEM Cartridge nut removal tool 14272
    Pic 4 - Moen OEM new version black cartridge part # 1234
    Pic 5 - Removal tool with brass threaded adapter around tip of removal tool (Mystery Part!)
    Pic 6 - Black Cartridge Black Cartridge Nut Brass Threaded Adapter
    Pic 7 - New Cartridge installed and it works!
     

    Attached Files:

  2. JD Guy

    JD Guy

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    Not through warranty but I just finished battling a Kohler bathroom sink faucet and replaced the cartridges. Took me two orders to get the correct ones. Now find that there’s a leak somewhere else on the cold side and back under the sink I go to dismantle everything again:hair:

    Did I ever mention how much I hate doing plumbing work?
     
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  3. don2222

    don2222

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    Last edited: Aug 28, 2026 at 1:19 PM
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  4. JD Guy

    JD Guy

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    Pretty sure it’s at the connector at cold line and faucet but will have to check for sure. I have bad back problems so waiting for a day with the least amount of pain. I could call a plumber but I’m too mule headed:rofl: :lol: I’ve gotten myself into this project and by golly I’ll get myself out come he** or high water (no pun intended).
     
  5. Canadian border VT

    Canadian border VT

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    don2222 yes I have done it maybe not your specific model but as a landlord with in excess of 20 kitchens and twice that baths (hint have same fixtures in all units so 1 cartridge and set of tools) buy extra sets then just drive to plumbing store with bad one, they pull new one and hand it to you and that’s your spare. That way you don’t have to deal with getting right and calling etc etc