How to remove shower drain?

[Spookies]

Hi everyone,
I could not figure it out how to remove the shower drain hole (the metal part), someone told me twist it so it will come off but did not work.
I have a 1972 25ft Tradewind and here is the picture (you cannot really see the hole in the picture but it is on the left side, where that plastic piece is fallen on it)
I appreciate any help.

Aras

[dbj216]

Old shower drains are a problem. You are right, I can't see anything about the shower drain from your picture. But I do know what I had to do to get my 66 Trade Wind shower drain apart.

Maybe your shower drain assembly is like this. There is the piece that mounts to the hole in the shower pan. It may have a chrome flange surround that fits tight to the floor with puddy under it to provide the seal. It may have a "cross" in it. It likely has a down pipe with threads on the O.D. Then it may have a nut on the bottom to draw it tight to the bottom of the shower pan.

I made a tool that would engage the "cross". I think you could buy one. Then I engaged the cross with my home made tool and tried to turn the shower drain with a pipe wrench. No luck. My nut was rusted tight to the shower drain flange under the floor. Since I decided not to reuse the fiberglass tub in my Trade Wind, I gave up and cut it.

Old shower drain assemblies can be a problem to remove. You may have to gain access to it from beneath the subfloor.

David

[Ruscal]

The tool to remove the drain flange is available from Home Depot. It has a 4 prong insert that engages with the cross in the drain. You should be able to unscrew the drain using the tool with a large adjustable wrench to turn.
Russ

[cliffcharb]

Had to cut the pipe when we redid our 81. It would not budge.

[Chuck]

yeah...probably rusted solid to the tail piece, like mine was. who knew that could happen when one of the pipes is plastic. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
But yeah, the corrosion builds up on the metal drain piece, and it was frozen solid to the plastic pipe that threads over it.
The drain remover tool: yeah, that's "supposed" to work. On mine, it just snapped that cross right off. then there was nothing to grip.
I had to cut the abs from underneath, which allowed me to remove the shower pan. Tried every which-way to attempt to grip the pieces to get some torque on them...then realized that I have a dremel oscillating tool. Used that to cut the pvc pipe, and once dissected, I could see just how much corrosion there was on those threads. no way that was coming apart any other way.

[64airstream]

Aras,

We had the same experience as Chuck on both of our projects. The only thing I would add, is we couldn't find the drain adapter (the ABS fitting where the tub drain piece is stuck) locally and had to order it on-line.

Good luck,
Roy and Marie

[HiJoeSilver]

Originally Posted by cliffcharb

Had to cut the pipe when we redid our 81. It would not budge.

Same. AS had actually cemented the tailpiece directly onto the threads on the bottom of the drain with ABS cement. It was impossible to remove without cutting the bottom of the drain off with a hack saw.
I guess that's one way to not worry about a tailpiece leaking.

[Spookies]

Hello guys, today I decided to cut the plastic around the hole, so I removed the whole toilet! Metal part is still there and I will do whatever you guys suggested, thank you so much for help!
Aras

[Ruscal]

The typical plumbing project. First buy the $15.00 tool to grab the part. Then twist with 24" wrench. Part or tool breaks. Then get out the torch, Sawzall, and a few hammers. Soak joint in hazardous chemicals, then apply flame. Try to remember where you put the fire extinguisher. Use garden hose instead. Get out shop vac and suck water out of room. Use Sawzall to remove fitting and half of tub. Whoops, gut the floor joist, damn. It can be fixed. Go shopping for new tub, floor joist and drain fittings. Shot the heck out of that weekend....... Yep
Russ

[dbj216]

Ruscal: You have much experience in these vintage trailer plumbing projects! I really enjoyed your blow by blow description of actually what happens.

David