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sfb · Oct 5, 2009, 03:26 PM

All,

I am removing a leaky and poorly installed drain on a fiberglass shower. Under the drain cover I found this hard yellow thing. It seems fairly solid -- I was able to ship it with a screw driver, and it appears to have a little bit of play in it.

What is it; and how do I get it off?

sfb · Oct 5, 2009, 03:29 PM

And of course; by "plastic" -- its probably something else. Its hard. Does plumbers putty harden?

massplumber2008 · Oct 5, 2009, 04:12 PM

Plumber's putty doesn't harden like that... ;) Can you post a picture of the underneath of this drain assembly SFB? There should be a nut that unscrews and releases all.

Thanks...

MARK

mygirlsdad77 · Oct 5, 2009, 04:14 PM

I see you already have the drain pipe pulled out. So just go to the bottom side of shower, there is an achoring nut that holds the whole shower drain in place, get that nut off, and remove the whole thing, then use plumbers putty to reinstall the new one.

sfb · Oct 5, 2009, 04:34 PM

I can't seem to get the "Achoring" nut off. There isn't room for (nor do I have anything that can reach around the 3" neck) a wrench or anything to fit around it.

sfb · Oct 5, 2009, 04:37 PM

mygirlsdad77 · Oct 5, 2009, 04:53 PM

A large flat blade screwdriver and a hammer will work. Place the screwdriver in one of the triangular slots on the nut and hit it with a hammer to unthread the nut counter clockwise, may help to have someone stand one the ring in the shower so the body itself doesn't spin, once you get it loose, you should be able to spint it the rest of the way off by hand. Good luck and please let us know the outcome. Lee.

sfb · Oct 5, 2009, 05:12 PM

Ok! That worked wonderfully. I managed to get the ring off! Now onto the fun part. I put a piece of 2x4 against the bottom and hammered on it firmly -- nothing. I went upstairs and pried a screw driver under the yellow piece and it went under a little easier, but didn't seem to want to budge (and I didn't want to break the shower). Thoughts!

mygirlsdad77 · Oct 5, 2009, 06:07 PM

Great, you got the nut off. Now make sure to tear off the rubber washer that was above the nut. Now, it sounds like the strainer was siliconed onto the shower base(this is why we use plumbers putty, to avoid this problem). Take that 2x4 and put it up against the bottom of drain body again, only this time, don't hammer on it, just push up as hard as you can with your hands(at the same time have someone in the shower prying up on the flange, as you have already tried). The two actions together will break the silicone loose, and you will be ready for the next step. Wouldn't hurt to run a sharp knife(carpet knife, or anything with a razor blade) between the shower strainer and shower base to cut as much silicone as possible before proceeding. You are almost there, please keep me posted. Lee.

sfb · Oct 6, 2009, 02:31 PM

MyGirlsDad77 - You are amazing. I tore off *2* rubber washers, to find a 3rd siliconed to the bottom of the shower. Interesting installation. I tore the first two off fairly uneventfully, and slowly scraped around the 3rd, pushing between the shower and plastic. I managed to get enough movement that I pushed up firmly with my palm and the unit popped right out of the shower!

Now -- since your helping! :). Are there any special things I should do to clean the edges? I am just scraping the silicon off; and plan to use a cleaner to give it a finishing touch. Then, I am going to use a primer + epoxy to "weld" the PVC pipe to the bottom of the shower drain. I am going to place it into place with the plastic washer under the rubber washer. From the top I am going to fill the hole with plumbers putty, and then screw the top into the bottom.

I am going to then primer+epoxy on a trap, and connect it back to the existing (not PVC? The black stuff) with a rubber 2" connector with metal "cinches" on the end.

Its almost vocabulary time isn't it?

mygirlsdad77 · Oct 6, 2009, 03:46 PM

Just make sure the shower drian hole is clean and dry, then put putty on underside of flange on new shower strainer... then, (and this is important), spin the anchoring nut on and tighten from under side of shower(just like you took the old one off), If you try to spin the top portion to tighten, you will not get it tight enough, and you will just spin out all of the plumbers puddy. Sounds like you have a glue shower stainer instead of a compression shower strainer, can you post a pic of your strainer? IF it is indeed a glue, then you just clean and glue the new pipe into it. The rubber adapter clamp to hook to existing drain will work just fine.. although most plumbers will suggest using a shielded clamp instead of just the rubber clamp with two hose clamps, but in this situation, either will work just fine. Lee.

sfb · Oct 6, 2009, 04:42 PM

Oh pucky. Know what I did? I just finished gluing all the parts together BEFORE attaching the anchoring nut/unit. This is going to be entertaining.

mygirlsdad77 · Oct 6, 2009, 04:48 PM

Ooooh, that hurts. Lol. Hope you have enough room between shower drain and trap to cut pipe(assuming pvc, at least I thought that's what you said), then just simply install and tighten nut (first thing up against bottom of shower is the rubber washer, then the paper washer , then the nut.), and use a pvc coupling to reconnect pipe(glued). Please let me know how things work out. Lee.

sfb · Oct 6, 2009, 05:13 PM

I did just that -- except I don't have a coupling piece tonight -- arg! Is there anyway to fashion a makeshift temporary connector that won't leak for 30 minutes of shower?

mygirlsdad77 · Oct 6, 2009, 05:23 PM

Duct tape and a bucket under the trap. Lol.

sfb · Oct 6, 2009, 06:46 PM

Ductape worked beautifully. Thanks again!

But seriously -- I called the inlaw's and they had a 2" whatever rubber thingy with metal cinches on both ends. I used that -- tightened everything up.. ran the shower for 15 minutes -- and not a spot of water.

You rock. Kuto's and a beer on me if your ever traveling through Vermont.

mygirlsdad77 · Oct 7, 2009, 03:39 PM

Sounds good. Take care. Lee.