cant remove the mechanis for the tub drain!! HELP

[greg275]

so i have a rental property.. the tub is enclosed and is probably circa 1920. the trip lever is gone, the drain is gone.. and i am left w/ the plug and the two connections in the tub. I am having problems disconnected the two rods. the stopper is in the down position w/ no pressure on it so the tub fills up and takes a while to drain. i can reach in and grab the rod that normally attaches to the trip lever and lift up and the drain works. so i have it temporarily rigged up w/ some wire.