My bathtub drain appears to be a Pfister 19 series ABS/PVC trip lever, overflo type. It's been draining very slow for a long time. I've read a number of the discussions about removing the stopper (bucket) by removing the overflow plate and pulling up on the rod. But this thing is really stuck - maybe because it's been years since we used the plug (just use the tub for showers). I'm wondering it the stopper is part-way closed, which could explain why it drains so slowly. In any case, I'd like to get the stopper out, but I'm concerned that I could break the stopper or the linkage, and then would have to open up the wall behind it. Any suggestions?

kny

Hot water is a good way to unclog a drain. Another very effective technique is to use either a bent coat hanger or drain snake. You can use baking soda and vinegar too for unclogging drain.

If hot water doesn't loosen that bucket assembly pouring a cup of vinegar, or CLR down the overflow using a funnel with a tub should in about 10 minutes. Then you can snake the line out, and put a mesh screen in the tub drain.

The clog is most likely hair and hot water will not clear it. It needs to be snaked out.

And to snake it out, I need to get the bucket out. If I pour something like CLR down the overflow tube, won't most of it just run through the bucket, which is hollow?

kny

Not if its clogged with hair and stuck. If you don't want to go through the wall, or leverage more pulling power, or have a crawl space or other access, then a 10 minute chemical try loses you nothing.

http://s7d1.scene7.com/is/content/Pfister/ex-019-02

A stuck stopper bucket would only make me pull harder to be honest.

Ha! Poured a tea kettle of very hot water down the overflow tube and the bucket popped right out. And that was the problem - it was stuck almost totally closed. Thanks.