I removed the drop plunger so I could snake my tub drain. It was hard to remove, caked with greasy gunk, and had some crusty gunk on it, which I scraped off. I can't get it to seat properly when I put it back in through the vent - it won't drop down into the closed position, to close the drain. I put vinegar and baking soda down the drain, and brushed where the plunger should sit with a long flexible brush, but it still won't fit back in properly. Trying to push it down feels like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.

Any suggestions about how to get it in properly? I'd like to keep it, rather than installing some stopper right at the tub drain.

Mirror...Flashlight...Good Eye Sight

You have to know what you are dealing with, in order to fix it. If you have access, it would be faster to dis-assemble the drain.

There is an adjustment on the plunger, is it adjusted properly?



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I'll try to see down there with some small mirror.

I think the plunger is adjusted to the correct length. It is at least long enough to mostly close off the drain, if I could get it back in - it mostly closed off the drain before before I removed it.