Okay, so I’m so freaking happy with myself right now! lol. I FIXED the faucet leak in my bathtub! Yay me! 
Okay, so now that I’m done tooting my own horn….the problem WAS the seat…located behind the stem. I decided to post pics on how to fix an old seat. 
I’m equally as happy with Shane who found a package in the basement that contained….can you believe this?….THE PART WE NEEDED!
I KNOW!
First off….here’s the old seat…look at the worn facing. See those little bitty chips in the metal? That’s what enables water to trickle when the faucet is off.
I used this tool: a faucet seat wrench to take the old seat out, and put the new seat in.
Then…I reassembled the stem using the old fitting that threads into the pipe on the new stem part.
.
Then I hand tightened and used a grippy tool to tighten 1/4 of a turn. Then I just put my decorative faucets parts back on and WHALLA! We are back in the bathing bidness.
So for anyone needing to replace old tub fixtures that’s how you replace the seat and stem. Tip: take your old parts with you to the hardware store. Also, keep old parts and packaging from the new stuff. It’s easier next time you need to do a fix.
HAPPY NEW YEAR YA’LL!
I'm Sheila. In addition to raising 1 husband and 3 teens, I've founded 
I for one am incredibly impressed (this coming from a woman who doesn;t know how to turn the lawn moer on
.-= Maven´s last blog ..TH and the Things that Happen While Making Other Plans =-.
You forgot the most important step in the process. Call Dad for advice! LOL!
sheila Reply:
January 2nd, 2010 at 8:52 am
So true. And that IS the most important step. lol.
I wish I could replace my stem. It doesn’t accommodate the flow. I need a larger model! hahahaha!
.-= Otin´s last blog ..Cat Lady Larew (A story) =-.
Very impressive!
My shower water pressure has decreased………..so plumber woman, what should we do?
.-= Anita´s last blog ..Welcoming 2010 =-.
nice job! filing this one in case i ever need it…
.-= brian miller´s last blog ..resolute revolt =-.
This is the way
you show your happiness
and share your c reactivity,
glad that you are super happy about things,
it seems like you are
freshly
refreshed, rested, and restored…
first-class job,
I mentioned your site about showing dog’s photos in your blog in today’s post, hope that you never mind.
smile all the worries away.
.-= jingle´s last blog ..Dogs Can Take Vacations At A Shopping Mall =-.
I’m so freaking proud of you!
.-= Lynn´s last blog ..Orange You Glad It’s Saturday? =-.
Ooh doesn’t it feel so good! Makes you want to tackle so much more! You go girl!
.-= JamericanSpice´s last blog ..Happy New Year to you friends! =-.
Hi Sheila! thanks for stopping today. I love meeting new blogger friends and was fired up when I was your post today. My hubby and I are homesteaders and *try* to do as much for ourselves as we can. The pics you showed make it so much easier for me. I look forward to having coffee with your blog in the mornings
Namaste
Bravo to you. And your Dad’s comment made me smile and sounds like something my Father would say too.
.-= JennyMac´s last blog ..Take A Bite Of: Eggnog Bread Pudding =-.
Well done! I love it when I figure out how to do something, but plumbing seems a bit scary! Now I know what to do… call my Dad and bring the parts to the hardware store. Now the big question… where do I find a “grippy thing”?
Hee Hee! Well done!
Awesome!! I can work a lawn mower and change a tire, so this is great to have on my list too!
xo
Yay, you! Glad you got that fixed! Even with the pictures though I kind of got lost. I’m one of those gotta have the stuff in front of me so I can touch it and familiarize myself kind of people OR I could just blame it on the alka-seltzer night-time cold stuff I just took OR the fact that I’ve been foggy all day. Anyway, back to you, hooray!!!
.-= Marie´s last blog ..Life is Therapy–Give it a Try =-.