Price Pfister Flange is stuck, any suggestions

[bolt929]

Hi all,
I'm relatively new to DIY plumbing/home maintenance so forgive me for sounding stupid. I'm looking to replace the shower faucet handle in my bathtub that hasn't been replaced for over 20 years. Specifically, I've noticed some rust-color water deposits out of the handle valve area, which to me, indicates some type of failed seal.

I've successfully removed the handle but I'm stuck on removing the escutcheon plate because it's held down. After visual inspection, I was not able to observe any set screws or other methods by which this plate is fixed, so I concluded it is being held down by the center threaded flange collar. A quick internet search of price pfister show similar designs.

I can't get a grip on this thing to even twist it (the height of the collar from the escutcheon plate is less than an inch). I've tried vicegrips, but was unsuccessful due to the awkward positioning of the collar. See attached pictures.

Does anyone have suggestions on how to get this off? I'm also suspecting that the threading may be stuck due to corrosion.

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Jadnashua]

It looks like the remnants of some caulking that wasn't cleaned up entirely around the main flange. If so, then it's essentially glued in place and will take some careful cutting with a thin tool to remove. The inner ring may just be a press fit.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[bolt929]

Sorry if I'm not addressing your comment.

The main flange (what I'm calling escutcheon plate perhaps incorrectly?) is free and can spin freely about the center so there aren't concerns over the caulking holding it in place. When I attempt to lift the main flange, it is being held down at the center.

 

[Terry]

The center spins in to hole the wall plate. It spins out counter clockwise.

 

[bolt929]

Terry,
Thanks for the reply. I suspected as much. I can't get the center to spin counter clockwise to loosen even if I use vicegrips. Do you have any suggestions to loosen this?