Help! Kitchen sink lock nut on drain flange won't tighten!

[LadyFixer]

Hi everyone--just installed my first garbage disposal unit and unbelivably no complications--that is never MY plumbing experience--however, on the nondisposal side my sink drainer flange lock nut (the part that tightens the drain to the bottom of the sink) keeps coming loose (I hand tighten it and then when I think it is really tight, one more turn and it all comes loose again!)--very frustrating, because when I use the disposal side of the sink, water starts dripping out from the bottom of the nondisposal side--why this happens I'm not sure...
Anyway, I have used plummbers putty, rubber seals, and telfon tape to get the drain tight against the sink and still it won't tighten. The locknut is metal and so is the drain fitting. Any help to solve this problem would be GREATLY appreciated!

 

[DonL]

Welcome To Terry's Forums LadyFixer.

Get the proper tool and tighten it.

Or the threads are striped, and it needs to be replaced.

Have a great day.

DonL

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Plumber2011]

Hi Ladyfixer...

I'm wondering if your metal ring is the kind that is about 3.5" across (or so)?? If your metal ring is 3.5" or so, then I recommend that you go to a local home supplier and purchase a sink strainer with the basket and 1.5" nut on the bottom to tighten all up...see image. These strainers are almost "never-fail" strainers.

The basket strainers with the larger nuts are famous for "popping off" like you are talking about...real pain! Buy the basket strainer as shown below...quick, easy job!!

Good luck!

 

[LadyFixer]

thanks Plumber2011--yep, ater work tonight, I'm heading over to the depot for the basket strainer you have pictured--I appreciate the suggestion!

 

[Plumber2011]

Awesome...you won't be disappointed...promise!!

 

[DanT]

those strainers with the big ring underneath are crap. always liked the ones with the big cup spacer and the 1-1/2 nut on the bottom.

 

[Terry]

You can use the large nut baskets, but regardless, I buy the better ones anyway.
The ones on the low end of the payscale are hardly worth installing.

The one pictured by plumber2011 is the easier of the two to install. A standard set of plumbers pliers will work well on that.
Sometimes with some configerations, they don't allow the height you need, but that's rare. In those cases I use the shallower large nut basket. I carry both kinds on the truck.

I like these because they have a round pin with a ball that is easier to center up when you place the basket in.

 

[DonL]

I think a lot of the problems with the Big Ring, is that if you don't have the correct tool to tighten it, then it leaks.

Most people have a tool to tighten the 1.5 inch connections, and it should be much better for a DIY type person.

I would hope that they are made in the U.S.A., Most imports are cheap junk, Last a short time...


DonL

 

[LadyFixer]

had to buy this Kohler strainer (Kohler K-8799) for $40! (the only other one they had was for $12.00 made of aluminum...did not seem as sturdy to me) but it fit well and no more leaks! Now we'll see how it stands up to hard water

 

[hj]

I may be in the minority here, but I only REMOVE the strainers with the small locknut, NEVER install them, and I would also NEVER pay $40.00 for a Kohler drain, (in fact, since almost everything Kohler makes is overpriced I seldom use any of it, except when I need something special, which no one else makes, for my own house ). I use cast brass strainers with the large locknut. They ALWAYS tighten properly without leaks.

 

[Cwhyu2]

Hj, can you send a picture or name of the basket strainers?