[ruless]

I know this question has been answered, but I did not start to have a problem till recently. I use to be able to get the drain agur past the drain stopper, now I can't even get a coat hanger past it. How can I fix that? Whenever I put the drain down it sounds to be working, but it does not seem to be open any more than a sliver.

Thanks

[massplumber2008]

Ruless... are you talking about a bathroom sink drain?

[ballengerb1]

Yep, we need to know more. Is this a stopper operated by a lift handle or just a plug on a chain?

[ruless]

It's my shower drain and the stopper is operated by a lift handle. Let me know if you need more info, Thanks

[massplumber2008]

Do you mean your TUB and shower drain..? Any names on lift handle would help us...

[ruless]

Yes, tub and shower drain. The name on the lifter is Price Pfister bath clean out. It looks like two eyes and a nose.

Thanks

[ballengerb1]

Here is my guess Mark and ruless, you have been rodding your drain with the stopper mechanism in place, not good. It islikely you have broken or disconnected the linkage and now have much bigger issue. Try slipping a knife tip under the lip of the drain and then pop up. Try to pull the linkage out and tell us what you see. What do you think Mark?

[massplumber2008]

Bob... sounds like you may have it ;)

Ruless... does your pop up look one of my pics.. Which one..

[massplumber2008]

The idea as Bob (Ballenger) pointed out is to first, pull stopper up a little and see if can re-engage it to spring mechanism inside tub waste pipes. If not, may need to get access to pipes from behind the tub. Let us know.

[ruless]

Going from left to right it looks like the 2nd or 4th pick. I took off the plate yesterday and thought I would just lift out the trip lever and keep it from closing, but it is on a spring and I really do not know how to get it out.

Thanks

[massplumber2008]

Ruless... if you removed the screws from the face plate... you just need to kind of tug at that and should pull up and out... see other pic below... may need to lift/remove tub stopper first!

Try it out.. let us know... Mark

[ruless]

Can I get it back in if I pull it out, that is my biggest fear?

Thanks

[massplumber2008]

Yes.. but it may take some patience to get it to engage back into the mechanism. I don't think you have a choice here, really.

Try this out.. get back to us.

[ruless]

Ok I got it out. What should I do now?

[massplumber2008]

Ok.. you got the stopper out? Now I want you to loosen the screws at the face plate and remove the mechanism from pipe (as in my last pic.). Then clean and flush all.. see if draining has improved significantly or if drain is clogged at all.

[ruless]

Still draining slow?

[massplumber2008]

OK... take a wet rag and stick into overflow pipe gently, but hold firmly... now fill tub full with 2 inches of water and then using plunger, plunge the drain pipe. Idea here is to block the overflow pipe so pressure from plunger pushes on stuff in pipe instead of going up the overflow pipe.

Try this, be aggressive... let us know.

[ruless]

All done and it is draining really good now. I really appreciate all your help and patience, I really learned something today.

Thank You for everything!!

Ruless

[massplumber2008]

Glad to help! Me and Bob!