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kryostar
Jul 24, 2010, 09:50 AM
Think outside the box HELP Here we go Sixty feet 1/2 in. snake in pipe won't go in out or turn CW OR CCW really stuck tried removal tool one of my last desperate atemps hooked it to my truck and pulled till it broke I still have 5 feet hanging out of line put down a line locator its about 10 feet in depth and stuck right at the county tie in.I would have already dug it up but it's a nice new driveway.I am literally up SH_T creek.Any sugestions?

speedball1
Jul 24, 2010, 10:28 AM
What type of tip do you have at the end? Can you get it to turn at all? Can you hook onto it with your truck and yank it out? Let me know, Tom

kryostar
Jul 31, 2010, 10:59 AM
Thanks TOM!. I have a 2 in. root cutting blade on the end. It won't turn CW or CCW. It won't move in or out, I can't even get my cam down there to check it out. There is 60 feet of 5/8 in. snake still in the line it hasn't moved since it got hung up I already pulled it with my truck I thought it would break off at the tip cause the snake had a weak point there from bending but when I pulled it with my truck it streched and broke off outside the cleanout so I still have something to grab onto.I measured it out and I think I'm into the county line I put a call into them and I'll wait to see what they say when they get out.The line is draining now.Well got to go sweat some copper,yeah that's right no plastic for me,I'm old school run copper I say never seen a rat chew through copper. Thks for the replies I'll try just about anything once.Damn snake that was my good cable too.

massplumber2008
Jul 31, 2010, 11:50 AM
Hi Kryostar...

I know your pain... I know your pain!

Hey, one thing I've tried in these cases that works real well, is to take my 2 foot wrench (3 foot wrench worst case) and start to spin the cable. Be careful here as you can create some pretty good torque and that cable can spin back and hit you with the wrench... I know as it has come close to nailin' me a couple times!

Seriously, try this out, with any luck you may yet get that baby out!

Good luck!

Mark

speedball1
Jul 31, 2010, 02:15 PM
We've all been there. At one time or another we've all had a cable hung up or break in the sewer line. Trying Marks method I would torque the cable clockwise. As well as kicking back at you it can also twist and start to kink in the pipe so be careful.
It sounds like you're hung up in the county raiser, ( you should have caught the clog long before that) and the only fix might be to dig up the connection and pull it out by the cutter end.
Good luck and keep us informed. Tom

yahoomonday718
Mar 27, 2011, 09:42 PM
Hi I have the same problem. My sink clogged last night and we used the Rigid K-39 snake machine to unclog the pipe. Instead of unclogging the pipe, the whole snake went through the sink pipe and into the main pipe. We are talking about a 35 feet look snake in the pipe. Btw we live in the third floor of a multi-family apartment. What should I do?

massplumber2008
Mar 28, 2011, 04:42 AM
Hi YM718

Start by looking in the basement and see if there is a cleanout at the base of the waste stack connecting he litchen drains together... ;)

If there is a cleanout you should be able to open it up and work on retrieving the snake. If there is no cleanout then, most likely, you'll need to cut the pipe in the basement, remove the snake and then reconnect the pipe using a shielded clamp... see image.

If you cut into the waste stack in the basement be sure to support the weight of the stack above you for a safe result, OK? I would recommend using a RISER CLAMP for this situation.

More questions? Let me know...

Mark