Stripped screws in 3-way diverter valve, can it be repaired?

[puppychow]

I have an above ground pool that has a main drain and skimmer with sand filter set up. I was replacing the handle on my Waterway TruSea 3-way diverter valve. I took the cover off (not sure why) and when reinstalling the cover I may have stripped some of the screw holes. I think I did because the screws now can be put in screw holes easily and spin some - they do screw in but at first you can push the screw in the hole by hand. The other screw holes are tight. I did see some of the plastic in a spiral shape come out of the diverter screw holes.

Is this fixable or will I need to replace the entire diverter?

 

[ajw22]

A @Jimrahbe tip...

Take the top off the valve..
Take a screw and coat it with Vaseline.
Fill the screw hole with epoxy.
Screw the screw in the hole.
Wait until the epoxy is almost set and back out the screw.
Wait until the epoxy full cures and put the top back on.

You do have to make sure not to let the epoxy set above the top of the screw hole.

Or

Fill both holes completely with putty and let dry, then drill a pilot hole and then create new threads with the screw.

 

[wireform]

I like the second method. You need to use a drill that's the same size as the spine of the screw (solid part) and not the dimension of the threads.

 

[puppychow]

Thank you both so much. I will try the second method - fingers crossed! thanks for the help.

 

[kawilson]

I have an above ground pool that has a main drain and skimmer with sand filter set up. I was replacing the handle on my Waterway TruSea 3-way diverter valve. I took the cover off (not sure why) and when reinstalling the cover I may have stripped some of the screw holes. I think I did because the screws now can be put in screw holes easily and spin some - they do screw in but at first you can push the screw in the hole by hand. The other screw holes are tight. I did see some of the plastic in a spiral shape come out of the diverter screw holes.

Is this fixable or will I need to replace the entire diverter?

I put a stainless steel machine screw that was a hair thicker and longer than the original and two nuts on the bottom

 

[puppychow]

I put a stainless steel machine screw that was a hair thicker and longer than the original and two nuts on the bottom

I tried the epoxy method of fixing the screw holes but made a mess of that project. The diverter valve held water with no leaking. I went ahead and changed out the diverter valve to be certain it would last all summer and to make sure I can close off the drain this winter. Thank you and if this ever happens again, I will try the larger screws.