Tub stopper is stuck

[Paul Altaro]

Hello my tub switch (the thing that controls whether the water flows down or blocks water from draining) is not working and feels stuck or broken.

I have unscrewed it and am attempting to pull the drain out and no matter how hard i pull it wont come out. I saw videos and saw how easy it should be.

What could be wrong and how can I fix it? Please help.

 

[WorthFlorida]

Does the lever move at all when it is in place? Does the tub drain or not in its current condition? Does this lever move a stopper at the tub drain or is it just a drain strainer?

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Reach4]

I think your stopper is the kind where you don't see a pop-up when you operate the linkage, but instead has a hidden piston at the bottom of the linkage.

I had to tug really hard, but yours looks a lot newer than mine. I think I might have used a tool to assist the pull and use leverage.

You could maybe very slowly dribble some CLR down there in case it is hardness deposits holding

 

[Paul Altaro]

Does the lever move at all when it is in place? Does the tub drain or not in its current condition? Does this lever move a stopper at the tub drain or is it just a drain strainer?

The level does not move at all when its in place. The tub is currently draining extremely slow.
Im not sure of your last question.

Also i did add clr and it did not work. No matter how hard i pull it wont come out.

 

[Dj2]

I think you have a broken link somewhere in the overflow riser pipe.
If that's the case you will have to replace the drain set (average cost $25).
You will need good access to work under/side of the tub. A second floor tub or crawl space is easier to work on than a tub on slab.

 

[LLigetfa]

My wife's tub has the style that @Reach4 showed with the threaded rod. The lock-nut had come loose and over time the adjustment grew longer and longer until the cylinder got stuck. I think bits of corrosion fell down the overflow and jammed it. I squirted WD40 down the overflow and by working the link up and down, it finally came free.

 

[LLigetfa]

Since you say the dub drains slowly, I suspect the cylinder is lower than it should be. If you have a wet/dry shop vac, you might try sucking on the drain while spraying water into the overflow. It might flush out whatever crud is jamming it up.

 

[Fitter30]

Get something like this from your local hardware store they will pull the curd out
https://www.amazon.com/FlexiSnake-Drain-Weasel-Sink-Snake/dp/B01NB0729G

 

[Paul Altaro]

So I got this nice camera online for 30 bucks and this is inside the pipe.

 

[Paul Altaro]

So update. I have had 0 luck but have a photo of the issue I believe. This photo is from the drain pipe looking at the cylinder.