Bathtub drain trip lever linkage work?

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GregJ7

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I am attempting to install a bathtub drain trip lever for my mom. The tub was originally installed with a leverless face place. I bought a drain linkage kit with a hollow cylinder that presumably is supposed to block the water from draining when it covers the horizontal drain pipe opening. Through measuring, it seems that the range of lengths for the linkage should allow it to close the opening, but I've tried 8 or so various lengths and none of them even slows water from draining freely. I was suspicious of this design, because it doesn't seem to me that the cylinder should move easily (lever up/lever down) and also form a decent seal over the horizontal drain pipe. (But presumably this design wouldn't be in use if that was actually a problem.) In the positions I tried it moved easily when I toggle the trip lever.

Any ideas about what is wrong?

tub_drain_linkage.jpg
 
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hj

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Unless the "tee" was designed for a trip lever, ( a leverless face plate would seldom have that design in the first place because it would not need it), AND you have the EXACT "bucket/cylinder" for it, you will never make it work.
 

GregJ7

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Under the faceplate is the piping interface that I saw on the Internet for trip lever tubs. I thought that would mean the T was designed for a trip lever. That the bucket is the wrong size makes perfect sense. I got the one I did because I only saw 1 size on Amazo and at Lowe's. So much for my ability to make good assumptions.
 
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