View Full Version : Tub trip lever screws corroded
digeo
Feb 4, 2010, 04:45 PM
Cannot get the screws out the trip lever in the tub - they are corroded and we tried a special screw attached to a drill, but still could not get the screws out - please help
massplumber2008
Feb 4, 2010, 05:44 PM
Hi Digeo...
Take a steel punch and punch a small divet into the screw heads and then take a 1/4" drill bit and drill the heads off the screws. If necessary, use the next drill size up to finalize head removal.
Once the screw heads are drilled off the overflow plate will come off and you can take a pair of vice grips and really bite down on the remaining threaded stud of each screw to spin them out and remove them.
If this fails to work pop back and let us know... will go through the next steps involved.
MARK
letmetellu
Feb 4, 2010, 07:13 PM
I see this problem very often. Did you get the plate off or is it still in place? If you got it off you can drill out the old screws and reeplace with new ones. This is not an easy job and you have to have a very good drill bit.
afaroo
Feb 5, 2010, 01:54 AM
I believe the face plate is still not removed, follow as Mark says if that wouldn't work try a small chisel with hammer and try to work it out counter clockwise, good luck.
John