Description

San Marco Mini Tap Valve 3308R (3794R)

This valve, 3308R (aka SP3308) is the San Marco Mini Valve and it has 28 splines (there are lookalike valves similar to this out there in other Taps but that valve has 20 Splines and is NOT this valve here. See gallery for example of a 20 splined valve.

Provided you have an SMR Mini Valve with 28 Splines in your tap then you can replace it with either the 3308R with flat sides or the later 3794R with 6 sides i.e they are interchangeable. The only issue is really regarding the tool, if one is needed, to unscrew or screw in the valve because by nature of the flat sides , or six sides, they are not the same shape. The six sided shape is probably an easier one to access if you are a DIY but apart from that issue, once you have a 28 splined SMR mini valve, then one can be swopped for the other.

The product listed here is the 3308R with the flat sides and there is a link here for the 3794R Six sided mini valve, and also at the bottom of this page too.
The one advantage that the 3308R valve with white seal has over its later 3794R is that the white seal is usually a little thicker.

If you are having difficulty removing the 3308R Valve, please see Valve Removal Tool 4013R.  The later version of this valve, 3794R can be removed with a size 14 Hex Key. The Tool 4013R will NOT fit the new 3794R valve. It is only required if difficulty removing the 3308R Valve.

3794R and earlier 3308R (this is a manufacturer change). 3794R is also referred to as SP3794 and 3308R is also referred to as SP3308. These are just slightly different part numbers, but the SAME parts. SP stands for Spare Part.

Measurements: Height 38mm Diameter at thread:20mm, Splines:28, Nut Height: 9mm

Recently we have noticed that the new valve is a little stiffer to push the handle onto. We have reported this back to the manufacturer but they assure us that there have been no changes of any consequence and it is just to do with the tolerance on the machining of the valves. If this does occur we would simply recommend ensuring that your own handle is clear inside of any residual debris and that you push the handle on and off the new valve a few times to loosen the splines slightly. You won’t damage your handle.

Tightening your valve: We would also recommend that you do NOT over-tighten this valve. As a rule of thumb, tighten as far as physically possible by hand, and then tighten 1/4 turn with an adjustable spanner.

Our Sales Team is available for excellent after sales service. We have been supplying Kitchen Taps for over 30 years and accordingly can troubleshoot any issue with a Kitchen Tap. The most effective way to maintain your Kitchen Tap is to fix any issue as it arises. If you ignore a drip it can effect the inner workings of your Tap. It might result in the drip being beyond repair. Often Plumbers advise to replace the Tap. They do this because customers purchase the wrong part or the exact part is hard to source. But not if you contact us. If you contact us before buying, we will advise you on the correct part for your Tap. That way, if you are calling in a Plumber to fix your Tap, all the correct parts will be there for the Plumber to fix your Tap.

If you wish to fix the Tap yourself we provide DIY Guides on all our Tap Spares to assist you. They are on each part. Here are our most common ones:
Valve:Tap dripping from the Spout ? Guide to changing Valve here.
Brass Bush: Part surrounding the valve. More info here.
O Rings: Tap dripping where the spout meets the base of the Tap? Guide here.
Aerator: Found at the tip of the spout. Here is our Guide How to Remove your Aerator / Antisplash from your Kitchen Tap.