Have a triplever style tub drain with a frozen plunger due to hard water and calcium build up, I think. Have the face plate off (eyebolt and clevis have disappeared down inside) and have been spraying in CLR against the back wall of the overflow tube. Recently rigged up a long threaded rod with a nut on the end to catch onto the bottom or crossmember of the plunger, and on the top end of the rod capped it with a piece of wood. Attached another long piece of wood (both white oak) with a hole in it onto the rod so it could slide up and hit the top piece (eg. A slide hammer). Was able to catch the plunger with the nut and pounded quit hard assumming I was "lifting" the plunger. Didn't work, plunger still frozen. Question is; should I attempt to loosen the plunger by spraying something else (such as acetic or sufluric acid) down the overflow tube. Or does someone else know something else to break that calcium seal. Thanks!

Is there a access panel behind the front of the tub? Let me know, Tom

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Originally Posted by speedball1

Is there a access panel behind the front of the tub? Let me know, Tom

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No, bedroom wall, but years ago, did cut a hole through the sheetrock thinking I could free up or replace the plunger from the back. Had no idea what and how this type of drain plug worked. Push comes to shove I can cut back through the sheetrock again and expose the overflow pipe. The tub does drain now suggesting the plunger is frozen above the bathtub drain tube.
Thanks for coming on board! David

First let's see exactly how everything works, (see image) The plunger's hung up in the tee that connects to the tub drain. After you open up a access panel see if you can remove the assembly from the tee up by loosening the compression nuts and pulling the overflow tube and tee up and out.. You can now work from the bottom to free the plunger of purchase a new trip lever assembly and replace the entire assembly. If you find out that you must remove the tub drain click on back for instructions. Good luck, tom

Thanks speedball1, but.. . No slipnuts installed on the overflow tube; solid pipe. That's what I was hoping to find when I cut through the back wall years ago. I am now trying muriatic acid, putting it on the walls of the overflow tube and letting it run down to the plunger. I have secured the plunger with a wire so it cannot slip down further. Will wait couple of days to give the acid a chance to work, and then put another long rod in there, contact the plunger, and tap the rod to try and loosen the plunger, and then, if everything works, pull the plunger up the overflow tube. Will let you know what happens. (Muriatic acid is a dilute conc. Of HCl, and dissolves that carbonate very quickly.) No one would sell me acetic or sulfuric.

Let me know how you come out. If the plunger's stuck in the open position so the tub can drain why not simply install a "Touch Toe" stopper,(see images) Work for you? Tom

Not sure that drain opening will take that stopper. Will remove the plate and check. Certainly would be simpler! I put a rod down the overflow tube yesterday and pounded quite hard on the edge of the plunger; would not loosen. Now spraying acid down there and will continue for another week.

Most tub drains,(see image) will accept a toe touch stopper. Simply remove the old drain, run a putty seal around the lip and install the stopper. Good luck, Tom

I'm having the same problem as DavidJP. Just poured 28oz of CLR down the overflow drain, so I haven't gotten to the muriatic acid yet - hope I won't have to. I tried replacing the existing tub drain with about six different replacement drains, including a toe stopper. The problem I keep running into is that the threading is different on the newer models of replacement drain. My house was built in 1985 and has what look like copper pipes. I'll screw the replacement drain in about halfway and then it locks up. I can tell it's the threading and not gunk. Very, very frustrating to have a tub and not be able to use it - wait - very frustrating that my pregnant wife can't use the dang thing.

Hi Raleighjoe...

A universal toe stopper drain really should work there.. If not, then one other idea that I have seen is the Fit all tub stopper...click on link:

AOL Search

Scroll down to the bottom for the chrome tub stopper.

This tub stopper comes with 10 O-rings to assure the best fit and it looks pretty good in that your wife won't even have to bend over to use it... just another bonus... :) Cheap enough, too.

If you have trouble ordering it at the site provided take a few minutes and search AMAZON.COM and other sites like that for the fit all tub stopper... should pop up. I found it for $7.00 at one site.

Congrats. On the baby(ies?)

MARK

Thanks, Mark. Just one baby this time around! We're actually going to find out the sex of the baby a week from today, so we're pretty excited. It's our first. The *other* problem with the existing tub drain is that the, for lack of a better word, crossbars where you screw in the hair catcher are flush with the top of the drain. Here's a link to a tub drain I wish I had - http://www.terrylove.com/forums/atta...1&d=1105924191. You'll be able to see the "crossbars" I'm referring to. So I can't use the Flip-It, which I have definitely looked into. All of the universal replacement drains I've purchased have given me the same problem with not screwing in all the way. Here's how I can tell it's the threading - when you look at some of the replacement drains, they have, again for lack of better terminology, a threaded sleeve over the replacement drain threading that allows you to use the drain in a wider pipe. I hope this makes sense. If you take that sleeve off and try to screw my existing tub drain into it, it gets stuck halfway, just like it does in the existing tub pipe. FYI - I wanted to rate your answer, but the "Rate This Answer" button didn't pop up!

I ran into this once a long time ago. It was an ACE HARDWARE type of tub drain and nothing I tried worked either. You could always check a local ace hardware type store... may have similar brand to yours??

Otherwise, if a universal fit won't fit and the flip tops won't work then you either replace the entire tub waste and overflow assembly OR you go back to 'ol reliable... a rubber tub stopper... :p

Thanks for trying to rate the answer. We are using a new "SKIN" so guess that is an issue that needs attention.

MARK

Problem solved - visited a very obscure plumbing supply shop here in Raleigh and found out I had a unique drain - 14 threads per inch. Praise the Lord the guy knew just what I needed and had a stock in the back. My wife took her first bath in the house we've been living in for a year and a half! I'll sleep well tonight!