California Faucets magnet iron ring tool

The problem:  The California Faucets model K51 has a magnetic spray head, which gives a satisfying ‘click’ when returning the spray head to the spout.  This stops working if the internal ‘iron ring’ unscrews itself and drops down.  You'll find it has dropped and magnetically attached to the spray head.

The solution:  You simply need to screw the iron ring back inside the spout.  But you need a very special tool to do this.

I have 2 tools here.  Included STL, STEP and Fusion 360 files.  I recommend printing with my 3MF files - parts are oriented correctly etc.

Option A

This is what I did and I DO NOT recommend this.  I disassembled the spray head from the sprayer hose and retracted the spray hose in the spout.  This way I could remove the iron ring completely, to measure it and model a tool to screw it back in.  So far, this option works great.

The problem is getting the sprayer hose back through the spout.  I didn't have the right tools to do it the conventional way and spent hours trying to thread it back.  See tips below if you need to do this.

Option B

I didn't need this tool, since I already used option A.  But I took the extra steps to make a tool that does not require any faucet disassembly.  Simply wrap both halves of the tool around the sprayer hose to mate with the ring and lift it into the spout and turn to fasten.  I don't have pictures of me doing this, since I already fastened mine really tight with option A.

Tips to thread the hose back through the spout:

So you already unscrewed the spray head and retracted the hose .. and you need to pull it back.

The best way is to disconnect the hose from under the sink, pull it all out and thread it from the spout side back under the sink and reconnect.

That wasn't an option for me .. it is way too tight under my sink and I didn't have the right tools at the time.  This is how you can thread it back from under the sink through to the spout side:

• Retract the spray hose and pull it all the way out under your sink.
• Get some strong string and tie a little bit of plastic bag or paper towel to the end
• Use a vacuum to suck the string through the spout .. from under the sink to the tip of the spout
• Tie the string on the sprayer hose around the black sleeve, just behind the metal sleeve.  Do not tie it to the metal part - it will be too thick and you will not get it through.  Trust me on this.
• You need two people, one pulling the string through the spout and the other under the sink pushing, twisting and manipulating to get it through.  It will be hard.
• Once you get it almost all the way through, you will see the hose tip in the spout
• The last few inches are really hard.  Use a chop stick that fits in the sprayer hose and shove it in to manipulate and center it and pull down hard