flangesink
I'm trying to remove the drain/flange from a kitchen sink so that I can install a garbage disposal unit. I can not get the wide nut on the underside of the sink to turn. I'm assuming it's glued or rusted or painted into place. Is there any sort of special tool to help remove it or anything I can do to try and loosen it up? Right now I'm just using a 12 inch groove joint plier to try and remove it. It's just barely big enough to get a grip on it.
Attached is a photo of the underside of the sink
Don't bother with all that, just remove the U shaped pipe (The Trap) which should be a pressure fitting that can be easily unscrewed without any tools. Most of the crap will be in that U part of the pipe, the rest you can get out by sticking something like a toilet brush or pipe cleaner up the exposed pipe.
BTW: Be sure to put a bucket under the pipe before you unscrew it, some nasty water will likely leak out.
As for that pivot nut, if you really want to remove it, it USUALLY is easy enough to unscrew with your bare fingers, but if it is rusted you can use a pair of channel lock pliers. If it is just spinning however, it may be all the way off the threads and you just need to pull it back. It is attached to a rod that pivots in the middle of the pipe. You might need to shake it a little to get it loose, it will also probably help to detach the rod that goes from the sink stopper pull to that nut since it will get in the way.
I'm assuming you are referring to the large nut that compresses the drain basket to the sink. Grasp the tailpiece with some pump pliers and use a large wrench or second pair of pliers to turn the nut. If all else fails, cut the nut off and replace the tail piece and nut assembly.. Be sure to use some plumbers putty around the basket flange before you reinstall it into the basin. Tighten well so most of the putty squeezes out.
Best Answer
Tap (don't overdo it and break the "ears") with a hammer and nail or hammer and punch against the projecting "ears" - and do as many of them as you can easily reach, rather than only tapping on the most accessible one (at least until the thing starts to move.)
Scribe a line before you start that goes across both parts so you can detect even a small movement. The shock of tapping may start to move things where grabbing with pliers won't budge it.
If no joy, add heat - use a serious heat gun if you have one, or a torch VERY carefully and pretty much so far out that the flame isn't directly contacting the sink parts, at least at first.