I used a power snake with 1/2 in cable, went in 10 - 15 feet and it wouldn't go an further.
Now the snake won't go in or out. How can I get it out. I bought a retrieval tool with a 3/8 inch cable. How do I use it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by imhigginscbs

I used a power snake with 1/2 in cable, went in 10 - 15 feet and it wouldn't go an further.
Now the snake wont go in or out. How can I get it out. I bought a retrieval tool with a 3/8 inch cable. How do I use it.

---

A retrieval tip,(see image) in only used when the cable's broke off in the pipe.
Is that the case here? If it's simply stuck then reverse the motor and pull back,** hard! Good luck, Tom

Yep, run it forward/backward, and on the backward pull hard, and if it breaks then you use the other tool. And if that does not work, you find it, dig it up and get it out.

Had a major blockage in my mainline 4" sewer line, cause: roots from a city tree. Called my plumber who turned loose the heavy snake to clear the blockage. Got stuck, could not retrack the snake, "Two" days of working it back and fourth, pulling, applying powder soap to lube it, nothing worked. Plumber called another plumber and sent down a camera. The first snake had punched through the blockage and was stuck in the thick roots; Remedy: mesured the camera line in distance to the blockage, sent a second snake with mesured distance and chipped away at the blockage little by little, success! recovered snake. Sent camera down again and discovered city tree had breached the cities 6" mainline pipe, and was creeping up to my home mainline. Sending bill to City Hall. If you have any questions about this call Gerri at Drain-All- Rooter- Montebello, California.

Thanks for the information anhd the update. Good luck, Tom