Hi, Sounds like the short end of the rod broke off. First take it to a plumbing shop to get a replacement ( you want to take the old part with you because they come in different sizes.)

If that fails try this. Many ways to do this one way to drill a small hole in a board big enough for the rod but smaller than the plastic ball. Put The ball over the hole and with a hammer tap the rod into the hole about 3/4 inch.

Good Luck Woodbutcher

I appreciate your effort to help, but it's not clear how taking the rod to a plumbing shop would be any safer than taking it to a home improvement store.

Different people have different perspectives on Covid, so I'll expand on that aspect. My partner and I have both been vaccinated, but because my partner is immunocompromised, we can't tell how much their immune system responded, if it did at all. I could perfectly well bring home a breakthrough infection from a store that didn't affect me at all, but killed them.

A local handyman/plumber could probably help you with that where you show him/her a photo of what you're referring to and they coud get the parts needed.

So you have a friend or family member that could take the part to a big box or plumbing supply store?

Work with a locally owned hardware that has curbside. Drop your drain rod off and let them help. If their stock doesn’t match they’ll tell you the workaround.