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I need some advice on how to replace a bathtub drain lever. The tub doesn't drain unless you hold the lever in a certain position. I unscrewed the cover on the lever and started to pull out the guts - but thought - I better ask someone for help. It's a Price Pfister cover and the drain has a cross in it. I don't know if this helps or not. The guts that I started to pull out were two straight pieces that were connected - kinda like joints. I'm thinking they might be connected to something down by the drain. Do I need to come in from the wall side to repair this? Also, I wanted to replace the faucet while I was at it and I couldn't turn it at all. We have really hard water and it corrodes everything - I'm afraid that I might break a pipe if I try to hard.

Any help out there for me? I'm tried of taking a bathower and worried the kids might slip and fall!

speedball1

Good morning Eileen,

The trip lever doesn't need to be replaced, it needs to be adjusted. This can be done from the front.
If you have to hold the lever down to make it drain then it's misadjusted.
Remove the two screws securing the face plate and pull the brass linkage and the stopper out. You will see threaded rods and nuts. You need to adjust the linkage longer so adjust the linkage so that the lever is in a full upright position when the brass stopper is seated. If you've done it right the holes will match up and you can replace the screws. If not, keep trying.
Now the stopper should stay up and the lever remain down when you drain the tub.
The bath valve's a different story. Unless you have plumbing skills this is a job for a licensed plumber. If you have copper pipes he will have to evacuate the pipes and solder in a new valve. This requires a torch and soldering skills. Good luck and Happy New Year. Tom

eileen

I went ahead and took out the pieces. I adjusted it as far up as it the threaded post would go. I found that although the lever now caught, I didn't notice a huge difference in the drainage. So I tried to adjust it longer, but it didn't help either. I took it completely out and ran water and it still drained too slow. So I'm thinking maybe a hairball is in there - in combination with the trip adjustment. I'm going to the store and find some drain cleaner to see if that with the adjustment will work. The faceplate is pretty corroded, so perhaps I can replace this also.

I appreicate your advice - it gave me the confidence to try to repair it. Any thoughts on a drain cleaner?

speedball1

I have no faith in harsh chemicals. The only way to be sure a line's clear is to auger it out.While you're at the hardware store purchase a hand crank auger and run the cable down the open trip lever hole. About 18" down you will hit the bend of the trap. Push and auger your way around it and put out about 8 more feet of cable. This should clear out your line. Afterwards, pour 2 large pans of boiling water down the drain. This will loosen the grease and flush the gunk out into the mains. good luck and Happy New Year Tom

eileen

I'll give it a try - thanks again - and happy New Year to you!

eileen

Thanks for your guidance Speedball1 - My waterbills will be higher now that I can shower! The only snag I ran into was buying an auger - I bought one that was 20ft long and encased in a plastic case. I thought good deal - it will roll up and tuck neatly away - think again! I had to break the case to get to it and it didn't work anyhow - I wound up trying a coat hanger as a last ditch effort and whatever was lodged is gone. I also poured boiling water down the drain - just to clean it out. I think I'll be doing that at least once a quarter. I was so motitvated I decided to take apart the pipe under the sink. I first poured boiling water down it a couple of times and then took it apart and cleaned it out - it was disgusting! Now my both drains are running clear. Thanks again - my New Year is off to a good start - even before it begins! I'm recommending this sight to everyone!