BR Sink Revisited

[Dottie]

I have the diagram that was posted -- it is exactly like mine. The piece labeled Horizontal Rod & Clip comes across and into the Pivot Seat & Gasket -- well I can look down the drain (about 4 inches) and see a very small piece of metal (round) coming out about 1/8 of an inch. I do not believe it is long enough to support the Stopper (you see the little piece on the very bottom on one side that is a square cut out)... but I may be wrong. Does anyone know if there is supposed to be something more in there (it would have fallen down into the pipe and gone out) that holds the plastic square so that it goes up/down to open the drain? Or is that all there is? Then I would need to unscrew something and re-adjust it so more than 1/8" is hanging out. Thanks.

I am rather new to this do-it-yourself. My husband used to take care of things like this but his health is bad and he can't do it anymore. I have a choice between plumber and Handyman Connections -- and for plumbing problems I have found just calling the plumber is more economical. HC does fine for other stuff -- but not for plumbing.

[Frank]

You might try taking the part with the ball out and tapping the rod a little further through the ball. I would not do it in place as you might damage the fixture. After I bought a new one, I discovered I could had done this with the old. Also note that where rod goes into stopper is unsymetrical and maybe all you need to do is turn around to shorter side. You might even be able to pop it in without removing ball part by aligning from top and pushing in.

[Higgs Boson]

In your situation, where you have to deal with stuff that your husband used to handle, I suggest strongly that you ask around your neighborhood and your other contacts for whatever workmen/women you need. That's what I've ALWAYS done rather than just start dialing cold.

HB

[Robert Green]

I *used* to be able to do this sort of stuff but my knees say "hell no!" now. Before you call a plumber, check around and make sure there are no drips, no washers that need replacing and no faucets that take too much effort to lock down. I can usually kill two or three birds with one visit and get some preventative maintenance done by the plumber "as long as he's there anyway." I'll usually have him repack the outside spigots with teflon packing and replace the washers on the laundry tub and bathroom sink.

-- Bobby G.