[kny]

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

[SpaParts]

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.

[talaniman]

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.

[dcplumber]

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

[kny]

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

[talaniman]

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.

[kny]

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.