I have an old tub. I have lived here 30 years and it was here before me. The drain is stopped up but I don't think it is a normal clog. I removed the drain lever and linkage but it still does not drain. A new on/off handle was installed about a week ago. Could that have any connection? What can I look for to solve the problem?

Okay, now that you have the trip lever/faceplate removed, along with the plunger and linkage, shove a wet towel down the overflow tube and have somebody hold it there nice and tight to seal that hole. While they are sealing the overflow, plunge the holy living heck out of the tub drain (make sure to have standing water in the but when you plunge it). Many times this will clear the blockage. If it doesn't do the trick for you, let us know.

Opps, Maybe I misread. Did the plunger come out with the trip lever linkage? Or do you have a pop up drain?

I never had too much luck with plungers. (Never even carried one on the truck).
In my opinion the only way to clear a blockage is to snake the drain.
Unscrew and remove the overflow plate,(The one with the drain lever) and pull out the tub stopper. You now have a clear shot at the trap. The way you were going in through the drain it ran you square into a tee that you can't get around. Now feed the cable( 1/4" best or 3/3" with a small tip. You can rent a Ridgid K50 sink cable.) About 2' down you will run into the bend of the trap. Crank and push at the same time to work around it. Your blockage will be found in the lateral pipe going to the stack. You shouldn't have to put out more then 10 or 12 feet. I have found tub and shower clogs to be mostly hair and the worm should auger into it and pull it back. After you snake pour a few pans of boiling water down the drain. This will loosen the grease and flush the mess out into the main. Hope this helps and thank you for rating my reply. TOM

A plumber without a plunger? That has got to be breaking some sort of law, lol.

I have a similar questions.. I have a pop-up drain in my bathroom tub, it is one with a lever and linkage.. My tub this morning stop draining, so I took over the over flow cover with the lever to open or close the drain and the linkage was not attahced anymore and when I removed the pop-up stoper only a few links were attached to that, so now I have the linkage and the large piece on the bottom stuck in my drain.

Any idea how to get it out. I have a snake and can not snake it, I had a coat hanger down the drain and believed I hooked on to it, but I put hard and couldn't get it to come out.

Any ideas..

Hi Jon

Use a coat hanger and fashion a hook on the end and go fishing... ;) There is a cross bar across the barrel plunger that should easily be hooked.

Good luck!

Mark