Pull up drain stopper

**bufhal** · 11-20-2005, 07:37 AM

Hi. Hope I can get some advice.
I had a clogged bathtub and I removed the on the overflow, plunged the bottom drain. However, when I remove the flip-lever cover, the corroded screws broke off and now there are tiny nubs in the screw holes. I cannot access the pipes outside the tub and cannot drill new holes to place new screws.
Is there a workaround to this? We never fill the tub, just use the shower, so we don't need the tub filled. I would silicone the cover back on but I know this is also the overflow and might cause future problems if the tub backs up.
Please let me know what I can do to solve this.

Thank you

**plumber1** · 11-20-2005, 10:15 AM

You could have done as much without taking the overflow plate off.

No magic pill here.

I think you will have to replace the whole tub waste and overflow.

When you do, I think a good snaking would be in order.

**Cass** · 11-20-2005, 11:15 AM

One thing you can do if there is no way to access the back of the tub without spending a lot of $$$$ would be to buy a replacement cover with 1 screw in the middle of the cover then get a tap that matches the threads and size of the screw and the proper size drill bit for the tap. Drill and tap a hole in the back of the over flow and install the cover. If the screw is not long enough you may have to find a longer one. I am guessing that the overflow is older/brass and will have enough meat on it for the tap to do its job. It's hard to tell from here though

**plumber1** · 11-20-2005, 11:52 AM

If you do much drilling and pushing. I think that you will wiggle the overflow so as to make it leak down at the tee.........

**bufhal** · 11-20-2005, 12:14 PM

Please clarify one thing. If I can reattach the cover so not water can get in from the tub, can I just not use the over flow?

**bufhal** · 11-20-2005, 12:17 PM

you are both right. I cannot drill into it and it does give when pushed on. Cas, when you mention " Drill and tap a hole in the back of the over flow and install the cover.", do you mean close the overflow off and simply not use it anymore?

**Cass** · 11-20-2005, 12:57 PM

Originally Posted by bufhal

you are both right. I cannot drill into it and it does give when pushed on. Cas, when you mention " Drill and tap a hole in the back of the over flow and install the cover.", do you mean close the overflow off and simply not use it anymore?

No you are drilling and taping a hole for the screw that will come with the new cover that you buy at Lowes. You should be able to get 1 finger in the overflow pipe and hold it tight to the tub while you slowly drill the hole, the the tap will put threads in the brass hole that you just made to hold the screw that comes with the new 1 hole cover. The new cover is a replacement for tub overflows that have only 1 screw.

**bufhal** · 11-25-2005, 09:22 AM

Thanks. I will try to install the new, one screw cover. I will have to get the old screw nubs filed down because they are not coming out of there...
I appreciate it everyone...