Calling All Plumbers! Having A Major Headache Removing An Old Grohe Kitchen Mixer Tap

[BarnaWill]

Hi, all.
I'm changing the kitchen tap (old one is a Grohe mixer tap with hose pull-out) and I already have the new one (another Grohe mixer pull-out).
I've changed taps before, both kitchen and bathroom but this one has got me beat!
I didn't install it, it was installed by the kitchen installers back in 2007.
Normally, there's a vaguely M-shaped metal plate which holds the tap in place above. This is normally secured by a long nut, screwed onto the threaded part of the lower tap. Simples.

This one is driving me nuts (no pun intended).
The M-shaped plate underneath is actually the nut that supports the whole tap, on the threaded down-pipe of the shower-flex itself.
This is to say that there's no nut - the whole M-shaped piece has to turn - and this is the kicker - it can't turn - the 3 solid pipes (cold, hot, and water-out) of the tap itself are blocking the m piece from turning - in either direction. There's not enough room to bend the 3 metal taps out of the way, certainly not without damaging them - but it was installed and this must be un-installable.

I've put pics here to better show the problem, and also a video on my own site, for any super helpful folk to have a look at. I'm so confused; it makes no sense to me!

Many many thanks indeed for any kind folk who can have a look and let me know their thoughts.

Pics:
https://ibb.co/mcfY8PH
https://ibb.co/c2W1NRg
https://ibb.co/hdzH3wF
https://ibb.co/gFppXVT
https://ibb.co/Cw2NcbF
https://ibb.co/jkWtrqn

Vid:
https://shorturl.at/iEW02
(this might not be clickable, but works for the vid)

thanks!
Will

[The Builder]

God knows why they have to make a simple thing so complicated.

The only thing that comes to mind is to unscrew all the tails and pull them out.
It would be a bit of a struggle to screw them all back in again into the new tap.

[BarnaWill]

My thoughts exactly! Why so complicated.
I will try and see if the tails unscrew; didn't even know that was an option.
The new tap is much simpler, a large plastic sleeve screws onto a large threaded column (big enough for all tails etc).
Thanks!

[The Builder]

Should be something like this Will...................

https://www.screwfix.com/p/flexible-tap-tails-10mm-x-15mm-x-300mm-2-pack/4565G?tc=VT8&ds_rl=1249404&gclid=CjwKCAjw0ZiiBhBKEiwA4PT9z-UuXf5I1Rwr-T3v_48bRWatucgVyI3ce-84j-Q3J2BhDFKckr-1KBoCNzIQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

See the small threaded ends at the bottom of the pic. They seal with a small 'o' ring.

[nicebloke1]

Not ideal but it looks like a mini hacksaw job to me on the hot and cold pipes, then you will be able to get some sort of turn on the old tap from above to break the rust on the main thread. Spray some WD40 on to help ease the rust.

[BarnaWill]

Thanks guys, all good advice.
I've found the answer; Grohe got back to me with a model name and number, and I found a video on youtube that shows how it's done.
It unscrews from the top! I've never seen that in any tap designe before. Then again, I'm no plumber.
You simply pull of the top arm (once the shower head and hose have been removed) and then the whole shebang unscrews from the top.
To my mind, completely counter-intuitive, and not helpful of Grohe.
I have the PDF install instructions downloaded as well, and at no point does it show the assembly being screwed in from above, before the arm is pushed on. Blown away.
Thanks for your suggestions, as always.

[fender62]

i bet that got a few people scratching there heads, not common as far as iv noticed, but well done.

[Atheist]

She's dismantling a tap with two open plugholes!

[BarnaWill]

Cheers.
In case it's helpful and to aid the search bots (and hopefully also help other sods from scratching their heads for half a day) the model is the Grohe Ladylux kitchen mixer tap with shower spray and hose (or faucet, I guess, for the Americans).

[The Builder]

That's a new one on me Will.
I've only ever fitted a couple of Grohe taps, but they weren't like this :o)
(Very good quality though)

[nicebloke1]

I did wonder about the M shaped washer / spacer turning because I've never known one to have a thread on. Glad you got sorted.

[BarnaWill]

Thanks everyone.
What a great community this answerbank is.
:-)

[BarnaWill]

All done, new tap installed. Bloomin nightmare, would never have figured out to unscrew it from above. Ta all.