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View Full Version : Can I cut a cast iron tee wye after the hub?


curious001
Dec 7, 2008, 07:46 AM
I need to replace a toilet drain and think it would be easier to cut into the tee wye after the hub. Then reconnect the drain with PVC and fernco couplings. The lead bend that was originally installed 40 plus years ago does not sweep as lead bends I've seen before causeing a slow flush. That is the reason to replace the pipe before the stack.
The tee that is in place goes just under the flooring making it difficult to cut out the tee above and below in the cast iron stack. I appreciate any help and ideas to make this less labor intensive thanks.

Ron

massplumber2008
Dec 7, 2008, 07:59 AM
Hi Curious..

Yes, you can cut the pipe just after the hub. Here you will find a bulge just after the hub, this is a brass leading ferrule that the lead pipe was joined to by wiping/melting lead to join the lead pipe to the brass.

You would cut this where the bulge begins to taper off... then you would use a shielded clamp or a fernco coupling and then go to PVC.

The other options, so you know, are to melt the lead ring out from at the hub itself and remove the brass ferrule, then you would install a PVC MANHOFF fitting and either use a lead substitute to fill in the joint or could go as far as leading in a new joint here... let me know if you need info. On this... need large torch, fire extinguisher, safety goggles and other tools for this.

Other option is to cut the fitting out... this can be dangerous work and would require that you support the stack with a riser clamp before cutting into the stack.

Let me know if need more here...

MARK

curious001
Dec 7, 2008, 10:09 AM
Thanks Mark you were a great help.

massplumber2008
Dec 7, 2008, 01:32 PM
Anytime Curious... :)