First, my thanks to those who answered my last question. I epoxied the pipe and covered it with mastik. Still a few small drips but I think another coat will fix the problems.

Sink drains fine, tub drains fine, toilet is the one that causes the drips. My thinking is that the waste pipe has a partial clog. I've been here for over 20 years, lots of daughters who generate lots of hair etc. I've had the main roto-rootered a few times over the years but this one is off on a separate line.

Because of the patches I don't think roto-rooter is an option. There is a clean-out cap right at the end of the horizontal pipe and if I could get that open I'd probably be able to flush it out myself. But the cap is on tight - can't budge it with a monkey wrench.

Any ideas on how to loosen the cap?

First, my thanks to those who answered my last question. I epoxied the pipe and covered it with mastik. Still a few small drips but I think another coat will fix the problems.

Sink drains fine, tub drains fine, toilet is the one that causes the drips. My thinking is that the waste pipe has a partial clog. I've been here for over 20 years, lots of daughters who generate lots of hair etc. I've had the main roto-rootered a few times over the years but this one is off on a separate line.

Because of the patches I don't think roto-rooter is an option. There is a clean-out cap right at the end of the horizontal pipe and if I could get that open I'd probably be able to flush it out myself. But the cap is on tight - can't budge it with a monkey wrench.

Any ideas on how to loosen the cap?
Try tapping it (the monkey wrench) with a hammer in reverse (tightening) and then back it out by tapping on it again with a hammer.

If you can tighten it in a bit, you'll break up the pipe dope in the threads.

Hey there!

I had a similar problem, and I was really scared that I'd break the fitting...

Things I tried:

- tapping the outside of the fitting, and the plug with a hammer
- heating the fitting with a torch until it was way too hot to touch (I was very worried that uneven heating might cause the CI to crack)
- using a cold chisel and a hammer to 'drift' the plug around
- lots and lots of PB Blaster (penetrating oil) over two weeks time
- an 18" pipe wrench, with me (180lbs) literally hanging/bouncing off the end of it
- hammering on the pipe wrench with a 5lb sledge

What finally worked? Goo-Gone.
Amazon.com: Goo Gone: Home Improvement (http://www.amazon.com/Magic-American-Corp-Goo-Gone/dp/B0008DBQ70)

I soaked a rag in this stuff and draped it around the plug, where the Rector-seal was all gooped up (see pics in the link below). This softened the formerly-hard goo, and I was able to scrape a lot of it out and expose the female threads. Then, more goo-gone into the threads, and another four hours of soaking with the rag (cover the rag with a ziploc to contain the fumes).

FINALLY, the pipe wrench plus about another 2' of "cheater bar" and it came right out. I swear I thought I was going to break it.

Link to my post, with pics of nasty rector-seal:
https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/plumbing/cast-iron-plug-stuck-3-x-1-5-tee-101860.html

~aaron

What finally worked? Goo-Gone.

I soaked a rag in this stuff and draped it around the plug, where the Rector-seal was all gooped up (see pics in the link below). This softened the formerly-hard goo, and i was able to scrape a lot of it out and expose the female threads. Then, more goo-gone into the threads, and another four hours of soaking with the rag (cover the rag with a ziploc to contain the fumes).

BTW, they make a Goo-Gone sprayable gel as well.