We were moving a old cast iron utility tub and needed to replace the drain pipes. When trying to loosen the nut locking the basket to the tub the pipe broke at the top of the locking nut, flush with the bottom of the tub. Now the only thing holding the basket to the tub is 50 or more years of corrosion. Seems simple enough to maybe just tap the thin pipe from the bottom or try to pry from above. How easily does cast iron crack, chip, or break? Any suggestions on how to remove the basket would be very much appreciated. Thanks!

The pipe doesn't matter, just keep working on that nut. It is a two piece basket, one piece from the top and one from the bottom. The nut holds the two pieces together and must be removed.

YUP! If basket strainer resembles the below picture... just need to CUT the old LOCKNUT off the basket strainer (use hacksaw or sawzall with metal blade), pop the nut off and remove basket strainer assembly.

Cast iron breaks/chips pretty easy.. so no CHISELS here! Just work from bottom of sink, cut nut, should be all set.

Good luck! Mark

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Thanks. The nut is off but the basket is still stuck. I'll try tapping it up from the bottom.

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Originally Posted by zeusters

Thanks. The nut is off but the basket is still stuck. I'll try tapping it up from the bottom.

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All that's holding it now is dried up plumbers putty under the lip of the drain.
Take a 2 X 4 block and place it under the drain and tap with your hammer and it should come right out. Good luck, Tom

You may also want to try plugging the opening and pour a healthy dose of Lime Away or a similar product in there and let it soak overnite. Next morning give it a few good raps all the way around the top with the wooden part of the hammer and then use the 2X4 underneath the drain pipe and it should come out fairly easy.

Don't know how hard your water is but that worked for me...