Our tub drain started leaking yesterday so hubby started to remove and replace the old drain. The old drain came out easily enough and we bought a new pop up drain to go back in. The problem is that the new drain flange wont seem to seat properly on the tub surround. One side is a good 1/4" higher when we screw it in. When I looked at the pipe under the tub that the drain screws into, its obviously not in the middle of the hole, so I'm wondering if this is the issue. Its PVC pipe and we didn't do anything to it, so it must have been in that position previously. Do we need to get the drainage pipe perfectly in the middle of the opening to allow the new drain flange to seat properly?

Thanks



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Yes, you will need to center the drain. Do you have access below the tub so that someone can move the drain pipe into position underneath while someone else threads the drain in from above? Be careful of cross-threading on those plastic threads.

Yes I think we do have some limited accessability under the tub from the basement, but there is duct work on either side so you can't really get a good hold on the pipe. I can manipulate it at the bend and hold it in place if hubby is upstairs telling me when it's lined up. What exactly is cross threading?

Another quick question. Now that the new drain will have a pop up stopper..can we just put the new cover over the hole for the old lever? I tried to remove the "guts" but it wont budge.

Thanks so much for your help.



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It only needs to move a little. Cross-threading is when the threads of the drain piece do not square exactly with the plastic threads you are threading into. They are fine threads- make sure your new piece matches them.

The old cover plate has linkage attached to it so it will all have to come out. It went in, so it will come out.

I can remove the cotter pin to just take the face plate off. We have hard water, so the linkage may have deposits that aren't allowing it to come out. We've put some significant force behind trying to pull the linkage out without breaking it off and it's not budging. Would it be a problem to just remove the old face plate and leave the linkage in there? If thats not a good idea, does anyone have an idea of how to get the linkage out?

If it's not having any impact on the drainage of water from the tub, then leave it in and cover it with the new plate.

yeah !! Thanks M&M...you've been a great help. I'll report back when we get the drain in and know there are no more leaks.

That appears to be just a hub of a p-trap.

spray and soak the linkage with WD-40 and remove it whatever it takes

wiggle it side to side and up and down

it will come eventually

the overflow is the 'snake point' for hair buildup / stoppages

you 'will' need the access in the future

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"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638

You might be at the point where replacing the waste & overflow would be simpler and result in a better finished product. That may involve moving the p-trap a bit.

Just my 4 cents.