If you have some rust the plastic doesn't want to go in the hole. I used a dremel to clean it and the plastic still gave up without any lube, a c-clamp and a small flat head screwdriver. There's a reason this comes with two packs of lube. Use it. Inserting a steel pipe through plastic is another problem. Here, too, there is an easy and a difficult way with the C-clamp. If the steel tube is pushing out the plastic at the opposite end, then you're on the wrong track. Also make sure both sides are