THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING TUB DRAIN STOPPER 

You are a life saver. I inspect with an Amazon cheap endoscope (Depstech), I saw the stopper on my cellphone, lubed with liquid wrench, fish with a coat-hanger till it bottom then lift. It was out in one shot. It was a 1986 plastic or pvc tub stopper with the hook-eye broken. Thanks a lot for sharing... time to take a shower.

The stopper fell off the drain apparatus, and I fashioned a metal clothes hanger hook, and I was actually able to pull it out of the pipe all by myself! I have to say it was so amazingly satisfying to be able to do this on my own. Unfortunately, the drain apparatus was corroded and I was unable to reattach the stopper to the linkage so I ordered a new set on Amazon and it should be here on Wednesday. Thank you so much for your wonderful advice! I completely scored on this one!

Thanks for posting, I had the same issue but wasn’t sure how to approach the problem. I was lucky enough to snag it with a coat hanger. I felt like I hit the lottery! Thanks again!!

I’m dealing with this Exact issue right now! Lever arm snapped in half and is completely blocking drain. I’ve had to bail out my tub for weeks because I currently can’t afford a plumber. House was built in the 30’s. I had previously tried a coat hanger hook too. Same results. I’ll try your lube trick next tho. I have a cheap snake camera coming tomorrow for a better view I hope. My expectations are low-you get what you pay for. Praying I at least manage to dislodge the stopper like you did so I can stop bailing! Thank you!!!!

Thank you for taking us to work with you so we can learn things

Did the same thing today , used CLR let it soak and a bore scope to get a good visual , coat hanger hook worked great .

this is currently happening at my house. thanks for this helpful video. I'll keep on trying to get it out.

What I do in that situation is pull my mini borescope out and fish it out in a similar way, a small camera works great in that type of problem, Thanks Tim for sharing this video hope all is well 👍

I was sitting on the edge of the chair as that one unfolded. I was sure it was going to lodge somewhere disastrous. Glad it all turned out good!

Tim, Maybe you could have secured the new brass stopper to a coat hanger and fished it down to determine if the old one was still there, gauging the length of hanger sent down with the brass stopper, chances are your snake would not pass through the old stopper without great difficulty, seems the stopper was lost and the line was merely stopped up, the housing for those trip levers would never let it get further down the overflow tubing. But you got the job done, drain flows, The tear out can wait for the remodel. Great job as usual.

After several years, I tried the coat hanger and removed the stopper within 5 minutes. Thank you! Why did my plumber not try that? 🙄

I was able to fish the piece out with a coat hanger just now, and replaced the whole thing. Now its not stopping up, but at least it drains. LOL. I am sure I can go back in and adjust the length of the arm, but I'm tired. That will be tomorrow's project. Thanks for this video!

Thank you. Only video I found address my issue!

My house had same type drain originally. Snaking sometimes helps. Would the overflow be too low and blocking mine? Cut a hole in cabinet adjacent room put overflow on properly. Do I need a snake like yours? Its still slow.

I thought you would go with a shark hook. Some day you get lucky. You need one of those snake cameras. Thank you for the video, Tim. Stay safe and stay cool

I found a vid that showed me how to get mine out with a Sprinkler vale shut off key that cost me $7 at home depot, between that and a coat hanger to pull up I was able to break it loose and pull it out. It was frozen with corrosion and blocking 70% of my drain. Took 5 mins and I even had the option of using CLR to break the corrosion, but didn't need it.

Shoelace and a paper clip. Or small chain and paper clip

Nicely done!

Mine is clogged as well but i got the ball up but it wont get out and the drain is still clogged. Is it possible its broken?

I tried an s hook on the end of a chain. Pretty much gotta have one of those tiny cameras to see if it's even down there.

So my home was built in the 50's and there appears to be no plunger or piston an the lever appears like it actuated the tub stopper up and down to seal the tub. Ever seen this style ? Drains fine, hit the lever and a brass rod moves in the drain hole. Orgingal stopper long gone and now just have a screen, brass is still good. Have not seen one but guessing this is what you have as well. House has alot of custom stuff, so maybe a one off style of tub drain, dunno but appears to be how it functions. Let me know if you can know it's an old post. Due for a tearout, so will know then but think no plunger in this design.

Tim a bit of fishing 👍👍👍

I'm dealing with the same thing now took off the drain cover and the whole assembly was missing I've tried hooks I bought a chain put a hook on it I tried everything but it doesn't even seem to be in there but the water is not draining so it must be in there I don't know what else to try but the plumber said it would cost me $480 to bust a hole in my kitchen on the other side of the wall and get to the Overflow pipe there I don't know what comes next because I'm not a plumber but I see what's going on. I guess I'm going to have to go for the cash. Tired of having to drive 4 1/2 five miles to get a shower. Plus draining the tub into the sink is killing my back.

why didn,t you use borescope before to see what you were up against?

Hi

A magnet does the trick

invest in a small camera...txs for sharing

How do you take a bath now without a diverter

Im going to go with somoni took it out long time ago (Shelly)