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Author:
brandon82 (MN)
my dad was trying to snake out the drain in our basement it has a 4 inch pipe and goes into the sewer the flat snake broke and the other part got stuck in the drain help please.
we tried a 15 ft auger dint grab the flat piece of steel,
placed a hook on the end no luck and theres no way to see down drain water is flooding a white residue on the head pipe the 4 inch one and cannot see the snake or tell how deep it dropped.
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Author:
KCRoto (MO)
Call a professional. You have already made a problem about 8 times harder than it needed to be, and if you get hurt trying to get the tape out, or get the second snake stuck, you may be forced to excavate the sewer line instead of just getting a professional to snake the line. Just stop now and get the proper equipment and experience involved.
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Author:
bernabeu (SC)
Time for a pro.
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"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638
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Author:
hj (AZ)
Even a "pro" may not be able to do an "easy" repair, depending on why the steel tape broke.
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Author:
bernabeu (SC)
but a true pro WILL have an 'extractor head' with reverse wind for the Spartan type machine
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"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638
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Author:
hj (AZ)
I have an "extractor" but whether it would "grab a flat snake" pressing against the bottom of the pipe is another matter, and anything that would cause a steel snake to crack could be holding it to tightly for it to come back out. I would hate to have my extractor grab the tape and then not be able to pull it out OR unwind it from the tape. If so, we would have TWO devices caught in the sewer and would definitely have to dig it up.
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Author:
bernabeu (SC)
just as a 'back stop':
is your extractor 'reverse wound' so it grabs when the machine is in retrieval mode ?
our sponsor calls it a "corkscrew retrieval tool"
notice the reverse wind which, after grabbing, will allow the machine to be operated in reverse (extraction) mode to minimize kinking or 'jamming'
-- add a Spartan 300 --
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"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638
Edited 1 times.
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Author:
hj (AZ)
I do not use self feeding equipment so I do not "need" an extraction direction.
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Author:
KCRoto (MO)
last steel tape I got out, the daughter was trying to help her father and fed the pivoting handle down the line because the thought it was supposed to pinch the clog and pull it out.
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Author:
bernabeu (SC)
the actual cable wind is 'primarily' what feeds and extracts
the machine direction merely helps (as do the 'pinch rollers')
that is why the machine has two directional rotations
however
we BOTH know what we are doing
one day, remind me to tell the 'pooky' in the pocket story
(I have done my share of MAJOR stoppages)
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"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638
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Author:
Paul48 (CT)
Perhaps a change of diet is in order.
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Author:
bernabeu (SC)
would have been of no help .... it was not mine
? perhaps Tyvek ?
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"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638
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Author:
HughPerson (CA)
How did you finally get the tape and handle out?
Having no kids, and only a dog, I must confess I JUST LOST THE HANDLE DOWN MY ROOF PIPE. My first use of the flat tape. Usually I use the cables. The tape is a powerful spring and while balanced on the ladder, I fed the tape down the hole with one hand, and it sprung a bit off the reel so I let go of the handle and grabbed the reel and...
Tape is 1/2"/ Pipe is 3". Handle about 8 feet down? Flashlight can't see it. Got it about a foot up twisting counterclockwise. Now it won't go down or up.
If your young daughter found the answer, I am not too proud to take her advice!
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Author:
adm1974 (LA)
How did you get the handle out? I am asking because I too stuck the handle down the main line and now it won’t come out. I’m thinking will I have to call a professional and how will they get it out..
Edited 1 times.
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Author:
adm1974 (LA)
How did you end up getting the handle out? I too have a stuck handle. Mine is in my main line though. Did you have to call a professional? What was the solution? Was it expensive?
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Author:
FiremanEFD (LA)
Please help ! Has anyone figured out a way to get the snake and handle unstuck ?
My next step of action is to hook it up to my truck and pull. If someone has a better solution please let me know.
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