How to Remove Bathtub Drain Stopper that Spins Freely

I needed to replace my tub stopper that wasn't holding water, but it just spun freely so I wasn't sure how to unscrew it. Apparently, there's a little set screw that holds it in place.

[@dmparrish-art]

you have no idea how hard i've tried to remove the stopper. it's been 2 years. thank you for your service, kind sir.

[@BroncoSolid]

"And if you loosen that guy...you'll drop it right down the drain and never have to worry about it again!" Those are the words that were in my head, anyway. I have this exact drain plug, and I just gave up. It's only by random chance that I found your video and now I know what I was missing. Thanks for posting!

[@sstrand]

Yep, lost the screw forever... 😅

[@Admiral8Q]

I kinda hate these drain stoppers anyways. A simple rubber plug works just as well without the hassle.

[@ThePoisonFlower]

THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS VIDEO. I spent so long just twisting it, not knowing there was a screw under it

[@angellicabankson-belcher6724]

Omg thank you! I have tried so many times to get that off! I had no idea there was a set screw there. I thought I wasn't strong enough to unscrew the cap lol.

[@leeknowsprincess]

Thank you so much, my drains been clogged for a month and I couldn’t get a plumber out here. Kinda sad my dad didn’t teach me this. Thank you 🙏

[@sstrand]

I have been looking for a solution for months! Thank you. Such an easy solution 😅

[@mackenziecoder9388]

Thank you!!! I've been trying to get hair out of my clogged drain for so long... A drain weasel can only do so much with that stopper in the way...

[@waylonwillie5736]

Thanks you saved me! Drain clogged, and I have been puzzling with this for days.

[@DefinitionofFailure]

Thanks for this, my drain was clogged and I had no idea how to remove this

[@AllieAndiAlex]

Thanks, Scott! You saved the day 🎉

[@cassidymoss8223]

Thank you so much!! My drain has been so slow and this worked for me! I just have to find some pliers to get the other part off but I got sooo much hair out of my drain!!

[@kylejones9925]

Thank you! This really helped!

[@ferretqueen2908]

Thanks so much, my bathtub drain was so full of hair!

[@jakeeheredia]

Mine didn't have that side screw but the top did. I held the rod in place with a wrench and twisted the top off to reveal a flat head that just needed to be unscrewed. Thank you!

[@michaelvezey]

Same here! Thanks

[@PatriotOne1]

I have the same plug, but the screw is too much of an angle to get the screwdriver in the screw. I gave up and used a hair removal device to unplug the drain. It worked.

[@DANI-bl9cm]

Hey what hair removal tool did you use?

[@_buhbuhbilly]

Ok I'm in the tub rn and it's full of water, and i tried to drain it but the thing won't budge and I've been trying for like ten minutes to get it up so i can drain the tub. I need help does anyone have any ideas? The stopper is stuck and i can't get it out

[@Scapes3]

What model of drain is that

[@robinier]

So figured this out by accident: instead of loosening the screw and removing the upper part- don't lift the upper part at all, but instead, while the drain is closed, twist the upper part counterclockwise to force the bottom part to unscrew, and then you can lift the whole thing as a unit. In other words, twist the upper part counterclockwise without lifting it too high (that is, don't lift it so high that it will spin freely)

[@ScottDriscoll]

Interesting, so is it just friction between the stopper and post that gives you enough grip to unscrew the post?

[@robinier]

@@ScottDriscoll yeah basically. I just uploaded a video that shows how to do it; do you mind if I link yours as an alternate method?

[@ScottDriscoll]

@@robinier sure. Can you put a link to yours in a comment here, too? I can add it to the description, also.

[@robinier]

@@ScottDriscoll Here ya go it's my first UA-cam video so might be a lil rough lol ua-cam.com/video/w7tilLgMRpE/v-deo.html

[@elizabethmisner4636]

This just saved me! My set screw was corroded shut, so this backup method worked. Many thanks.

[@nowthatssweet]

Thank you! 😅

[@melaniep0123]

You saved me from drowning! Thanks, hairball clog (🤢)

[@Skywalka67]

Thanks!

[@jessiway8213]

Mine doesn't have a set screw??? I don't know how to take it off to clean out my drain. Any ideas?

[@Admiral8Q]

Hacksaw? Maybe? ;P

[@thomasj3701]

The freaking screw is so damn tight! I can't loosen it...

[@KaMiMatthews]

My issue with this stopper is that it doesn’t hold water. Should I just replace it all together?

[@ScottDriscoll]

That was our original problem. We just pulled it out and put in a rubber stopper replacement rather than try to find a perfect replacement.

[@KaMiMatthews]

@@ScottDriscoll okay 👌 I’m actually going to do that instead.

[@83rdo389]

My screw got stripped… it’s a pain trying to get it off. Any tips?

[@rituk6090]

Same problem

[@thisisausernane]

mmm
batub🥰

[@dfisherroyston3418]

Mine has like a triangle on the inside of the drain a very long screw and I've been screwing it for 2 days it won't come out .uh that didn't come out right😂😂😂😂

[@daliOtter]

terrible design to keep you from snaking your drain when needed!

[@ScottDriscoll]

agreed!