Access to bath Waste & Overflow Pipe for replacement

sujsuj

I did below thread mid  2022 when there was some leak from bath tub after very old overflow pipe disintegrated.

Leak from bath! water dipping to kitchen, how to remove bath side wood?

At that time I fixed it in some crude way due to access issues. That fix is till OK but I am planning to use this holiday period to repair this to have a permanent solution.

See the  thread & photos for details.

 How could I get access to replace the overflow pipe..? I remember someone at that time suggested I could try to pull new pipe to the overflow hole by using string to get pipe to right  place etc..  I got walls in all 3 sides.. is there any other suggestions..? 
Please help..thanks.

 

ThisIsWeird

I suspect, still string. 
A good 2+ metres of it. Assemble the hose to the overflow fitting.
I would personally Stixall the washer in place too, and allow it to set, or else it'll almost certainly keep falling off at the most inopportune moments. Clean the mating surfaces well, and apply a thin smear to both to ensure full coverage, press firmly together, wipe away any extruderances from the inside and outside edges, and allow to set. Bear in mind that the adhesion is likely to be poor due to the 'waxy' materials.
Clean all the involved surfaces - eg the back of the overflow hole where this fitting will make contact.
Ok. Pass the string through the overflow hole, reach under, grab it, and pull it forward. Pass it through the assembled overflow fitting, with a good metre coming out t'end. 
Cut a piece of thick card and punch a wee hole in t'middle - pass the string through, push the card along until it makes contact with the hose end, and tie a couple of big knots to prevent the card from slipping past. 
From the bath end, thread the other washer and grill on to the bath end of the string.
You should now have access to both ends of the string, with all pieces on it, and on the correct sides of the bath skin!
You should hopefully be able to gently jiggle and pull that fitting into place, using the string like a loofah.
With a gentle pulling pressure being applied from the bath end, the rear fitting should be making contact with the back surface surrounding the hole. Use a thin screwdriver or whatevs to prise the rear fitting upwards and sideways until it's neatly in position in relation to the hole, and keep that gentle tension on the bath-end string to hold it in contact with the back skin of the bath. Align the grill similarly, and pass the screw through. Once it's caught, you've cracked it. With the screw connecting both parts, you can control the positioning of the whole assembly so it sits correctly. Fine-tune this as you tighten the screw up.
But don't do it up yet. Check the length of the hose - it ain't too long, is it? It isn't looping down before going back up to the bath waste, is it? If so, it's not ideal, as it'll always hold water after the bath has been emptied. So, it's trim time (as long as this doesn't damage the hose), but see if instead any slight excess can be accommodated by rotating both the overflow waste and bath wastes. Eg, if you turn the overflow  spigot to, say, 5 or 7 o'clock, the hose will still point 'down', but at an acceptable angle. Ditto rotate the bath waste to accept the hose from this new direction, hopefully swallowing up the unwanted dangly slackness. You can use the 'bottom' string to gently pull the bottom end of the hose sideways if needed.
I think that's it. 
Q - do plumbers use anything to coat the washers and fittings? 

sujsuj

Thanks very much. I was bit reluctant to touch this one as at the moment no leak but long term its better to fix this. I may have to do a trial run with existing pipe. Thanks

sujsuj

Thanks everyone for the inputs. managed to replace and complete job properly. It was easier than what I thought with string. All looking good and working well. Another trouble sorted. thanks very much.

ThisIsWeird

YAY!!!

Nice job. Now, leave a sheet of newspaper under there for a good couple of weeks