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Shell_Lee · Oct 17, 2007, 12:04 PM

My fiancé and I bought a condo back in May. The stopper for the tub/shower was broken. We bought a new pop up drain to replace the old one. The old stopper had metal pieces that ran across. When we went to unscrew the old drain, the metal pieces broke off. Now we have no idea how to get the old drain out. Does anyone have any ideas that we could try before we would have to call a plumber?

Thanks

XenoSapien · Oct 17, 2007, 06:38 PM

The metal piece that has four cross pieces of metal that intersect at the center that is now broken? If this is the case, good luck if the cross-pieces have broken off.

However, take a pair of needle-nose pliers and try to align them up against the metal cross pieces that are still there. Then, take your hand or a pair of channel locks and clamp them on the needle nose pliers and try to unscrew it.

If you can't do this, they do make what I like to call, "stepper" pop-ups that you step on to open/close the drain. They don't need to be screwed in, as they only require that you attach the proper "O-ring", and they fit snug in the drain. Let me know where I have gone wrong here, as I wish to help you with this.

XenoSapien

Shell_Lee · Oct 17, 2007, 08:34 PM

Yup - that is exactly what has happened (The metal piece that has four cross pieces of metal that intersect at the center that is now broken) We have tried almost everything we can think of to get it out, but to no avail. We have been using a temp stopper for the time being, but we really would like to replace the drain :(

Thanks for the answer XenoSapien

XenoSapien · Oct 18, 2007, 03:59 AM

Then the best that you can do if you really want to remove it is... "However, take a pair of needle-nose pliers and try to align them up against the metal cross pieces that are still there. Then, take your hand or a pair of channel locks and clamp them on the needle nose pliers and try to unscrew it. "

Don't force it; take your time because you don't want to break off the rest of the metal. This pretty much is your only option unless you do another trick that is EXTREMELY risky:

Attempt to pry up a piece of the 'lip'. This is risky because you can chip the tub this way. But if you can pull up a big enough piece, you can then grab it with pliers.

Good luck,

XenoSapien

KISS · Oct 18, 2007, 04:27 AM

We discussed this same issue recently. The "shoe", where the drain is, has to be cut off carefully from the bottom of the tub. It's not an easy task.

ballengerb1 · Oct 18, 2007, 07:43 AM

You need to go to a home store and buy the metal socket made to remove this fitting, about $12. This is true for a tub or shower/tub, not a stand alone shower.

KISS · Oct 18, 2007, 08:17 PM

Bellenger:

Isn't it this thing: "STANLEY" TUB DRAIN WRENCH Stanley brand (licensing 76020 SUPERIOR TOOL COMPANY

It's doesn't work if the cross is missing.

ballengerb1 · Oct 18, 2007, 08:22 PM

Yep that's it and apparently twice the price I paid at HD. They broke the cross pieces with their needle nose or something but I have never seen one where all four pieces broke clean. There should be some "stumps" left to grab. There is even a cheaper $7 version mad that removes basket drains.