Hi Chromeo!

This is a very common problem...with an easy fix! It's best to remove the strainer from the shell and then remove the lever assembly by taking off the two "E" clips. Place the lever on a hard flat surface and use a small hammer. Don't forget to protect the lever with a rag or shop towel. I've also had luck by inserting the lever into a small vice and then bending the upper portion until I'm satisfied that it's straigt!

I'm sure others will offer up their preferred methods to fix this common problem! Yes, it's more work to remove the strainer, but that's how I roll!!

-Mark

Thanks so much for the tips. I've never actually removed those 'E' clips before. How would one go about doing that? A vice grips would be handy. I don't actually have one myself. Hammer it is. It's hammer time, as they say.

My experience is that an "E" clip is easily removed with a small screwdriver. It's the reinstall that always got me annoyed. When removing, do it someplace where you can find it if it accidently goes flying; like not out on the back deck where it can fall through because they readily find those cracks.Hurting

Good advice. I removed the strainer. I'm just afraid to remove the E clips. I might be able to get away with it without removing the clips.

Here's what I'm dealing with.

Those E clips are really easy to remove with a small flat blade screw driver!

Thanks for posting the picture, which easily shows the issue. For myself, this would be an easy fix! I'd use my pictured vice (shown while I was repairing a Zoomatic knob!) to slowly compress the bent portion of the handle back to a straight profile. Easy peasy!

-Mark