I have a European bathtub drain that is the cable type. For 7 years I've had problems with the drain plug opening. It always seemed to sink lower, despite redoing the threaded drain post adjustment many times. To make it short, I've disassembled everything I can and conclude that the cable is too long. When the twist open/closed knob is in the full closed position and the up/down lever that controls the plug opening is in the full drain closed position, the cable "buckles" because it has nowhere to go; the lever has reached the full closed position. Thus, when I then twist the controller to full open, first the cable slack is taken up then there is but very little cable movement, leaving the up/down lever in a very short up position. What this translates into is that, with water in the tub, I have to get my fingernail under the plug opening while twisting the knob to full open to pry it upwards to drain the water. I can't figure out how to make the cable just a tad shorter. Can you help please?
Thanks.

Hi Lpsalamone:

All the cable operated tub drains that I work with are not dependent on the length of the cable to determine how far the pop up pops up, but instead it is the adjustment at the pop up part of the drain itself that is adjustable... see image below.

Here, pull the stopper/pop up and out of the drain and see if you can adjust the overall height as presented below. You may need a pair of pliers to hold at the post or hex nut.

Let me know what you think...

MARK

Mark,
In checking out cable drains, of which I have no experience whatsoever, I've found some that run from $500 to over $1000. Why so expensive and who would pay over a thousand bucks for a tub drain?? Regards, Tom

Most cable drains I've used have been on whirlpool tub installations... run about $100.00-$150.00 ish or so. I don't know why the ones you found cost that much? I think they make a couple for regular tubs, but most people won't spend the extra money and opt for regular tub waste assembly.

The ones I use are great. The overflow plate acts as overflow protection and it turns to engage the cable and pop the stopper up. All adjustments are made at the stopper. Of course, there are all kinds out there... hopin' lpsalamone's fix is that easy!

Thanks...

MARK

Here's a copy of what I've found.

HERBEAU CREATIONS Cable-Operated Tub Drain and Overflow
Item#: 3036-48

Price Range: $968.95 to $1,125.95 USD
Includes Free Shipping

Need it Faster?
Call Us for Rush Delivery
Toll free: 877-868-1369

Found a Lower Price?
Request a Price Match

Chrome

Hey! It even includes "free shipping." it's just got to be a gold pipe diamond studded
Tub drain. Cheers, Tom

Well, Mark, thanks for the reply. You might not believe this but I think the whole cable/shaft assembly was/is defective. I'd done as much plug shaft adjustment as I could. The problem was that the lever that the base of the plug rides on, the adjustable shaft-bolt, simply was hardly moving at all. You might not believe also that the solution came to me when I was trying to take a nap. I realized that the alternative to shortening the cable was to lengthen the shaft. So I cut it and made a splint of three 5" lengths of some thin stainless strips I had. Then, with a gap of about 3/4" of cable showing (under the strips), I taped (Gorilla Tape) the whole thing together, thereby making the shaft 3/4" longer. I wish I knew how to make a drawing for you to see.
It is perfect and the lever moves full travel, up and down now. Maybe not what a pro could get away with but I think it will last as long as I (or the tub) will.
Yes, it is a whirlpool tub.
Thanks again.

LP

Hey, sounds like a good fix! Glad you're all set!

MARK

Hi Mark,

Are cable drains as good or better than regular tub drains? How are they installed and do the catch the hair before it clogs the drain? How is it removed?

Thanks,
Teresa