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I am struggling to turn off this isolation valve to our dishwasher. I have tried attaching a red plastic handle but when I turn it the handle turns but it doesn't turn off the valve. Any advice would be appreciated.

Patrickenter image description here

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  • How nice of you to include a clear, focused picture! You'd be shocked at the number of people who can't be bothered with that little detail...
    – FreeMan
    Commented Dec 5, 2022 at 14:36

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A pair of pliers should work if it turns. Slip joint pliers might be nicer to hold onto the flat sides.

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    An adjustable wrench (spanner) might be even better for the flat surfaces.
    – Ecnerwal
    Commented Dec 4, 2022 at 15:29
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    Turn the flat sided stem one quarter turn so the flats are at top and bottom ( with the orientation of the photo). It presently appears to be nearly fully open.
    – blacksmith37
    Commented Dec 4, 2022 at 17:54
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This valve stem was intended to take a metal knob or handle, held with a bolt through the middle. You can get a replacement easily enough. Or, as others have noted, just put a wrench of some sort onto it, though I'd worry about eventually rounding it off that way.

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    Often these come with a plastic handle but of course those are more likely to crack than the metal ones. That's probably what happened here.
    – Carl
    Commented Dec 5, 2022 at 8:54

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