The drain stopper in one of our bathroom sinks stopped working. I looked into it and found that the pivot rod, which was 20+ years old, had eroded and was no longer reaching the stopper. No problem. I contacted Moen and they sent me a new pivot rod. The new rod is slightly different from the old: The old one was a metal rod with a plastic ball, but the new one has a plastic arm extending from the plastic ball (for interfacing with the stopper).
When I installed the new pivot rod, the stopper did not move and I guessed that the issue was that the pivot rod was not contacting the stopper. I felt around inside the spot where the pivot rod connects to the drain pipe and felt a small piece of plastic (like a thick washer with one inside edge beveled). I removed the 'washer' and the stopper moved. Great. However, the stopper would no longer stay closed.
I suspect that the 'washer' provides the friction needed to keep the stopper closed, however, the pivot rod does not extend far enough when the 'washer' is in place. I can think of two possible solutions:
What would you suggest?
When I installed the new pivot rod, the stopper did not move and I guessed that the issue was that the pivot rod was not contacting the stopper. I felt around inside the spot where the pivot rod connects to the drain pipe and felt a small piece of plastic (like a thick washer with one inside edge beveled). I removed the 'washer' and the stopper moved. Great. However, the stopper would no longer stay closed.
I suspect that the 'washer' provides the friction needed to keep the stopper closed, however, the pivot rod does not extend far enough when the 'washer' is in place. I can think of two possible solutions:
- Using sandpaper, make the ‘washer’ thinner.
- Add something to the pivot rod plastic end to make it slightly longer.
What would you suggest?
